Open Sorcery: Sea++

About

In "Open Sorcery: Sea++," players assume the role of a sorcerer's apprentice who must navigate a procedurally generated sea filled with mysterious islands and ancient threats. Utilize a variety of spells and abilities to defend yourself and explore the world, while uncovering the secrets of the sea and its inhabitants. With a focus on emergent storytelling and dynamic gameplay, each playthrough offers a unique experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

story9 positive mentions

graphics2 negative mentions

The game features an emotionally compelling narrative with deep character development and philosophical themes, making it a standout experience in interactive fiction.
The innovative gameplay mechanics, which blend coding and spellcasting, provide a unique and engaging puzzle-solving experience that encourages exploration and creativity.
The writing is exceptional, with rich worldbuilding and a variety of themes that resonate with players, creating a profound sense of immersion and connection to the story.

Some players found the puzzles to be overly complex or obtuse, leading to frustration and the need for external guides to progress.
The game can feel repetitive and drawn out, particularly in certain sections where navigation becomes tedious due to a lack of clear direction or map support.
Critics noted that the writing style may not resonate with everyone, describing it as self-reflective and potentially alienating for some players.

story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
57%
11%
The story of "sea++" is widely praised for its depth, creativity, and emotional resonance, featuring a protagonist whose journey through a magical world is both poignant and humorous. Reviewers highlight the game's impressive worldbuilding and engaging narrative, which intertwines themes of personal struggle and societal critique, while also offering a rich tapestry of interconnected storylines and character development. Overall, "sea++" is considered a significant improvement over its predecessor, delivering a heartfelt and immersive experience that stands out in the interactive storytelling genre.
- “A poignant story of magic, beauty, and suffering.”
- “This game is awe-inspiring in its scope, heart, and creativity, featuring a protagonist whose story, struggles, and sense of humor resonated deeply with me.”
- “An expansive interactive Twine story in the charming and wondrous world of Open Sorcery - it is absolutely vast compared to the original title(s), packed full with all the wit and charm, heartbreak and horror, love and loss we've come to expect from the series.”
- “You need to uncover all the secrets, map all the outcomes of your decisions, and plot a path that will allow you to achieve all the goals in a single run.”
- “However, I still did enjoy the first one, and it does tie to the overarching plot of the series.”
- “The whole story is read through a stylish mythological-occult-computer science lens, but the zones are otherwise about as different as it gets, and the main story ties everything together splendidly.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The gameplay is primarily text-based, featuring a straightforward navigation system that may feel limited but is complemented by engaging puzzles and a rich narrative. While some mechanics can be tedious, the game offers an intuitive experience that gradually introduces players to its systems without overwhelming them. Overall, it is seen as a significant improvement over its predecessor, providing a fun and enjoyable gameplay loop for fans of the genre.
- “The gameplay is intuitive and the puzzles are engaging, and the story and themes are really interesting.”
- “A truly excellent game, with a collection of moving stories and thoughtfully applied mechanics.”
- “Good story, fun gameplay, very active dev!”
- “I'm not sure what I expected - this is very much a text-only game, with clicking on text and navigation 'go north' style being pretty much the only gameplay.”
- “I will also say that certain mechanics may be kind of tedious or frustrating to some people.”
- “As for the gameplay itself, while it strives to give as many options as possible, don't expect anything ground-breaking.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deeply engaging narrative and the strong connections players form with both the protagonist and side characters, often leading to profound feelings and even tears. While some critiques mention issues with pacing and filler content, many players appreciate the heartfelt storytelling and the ability to explore complex emotional themes, making them feel less alone and more connected to the game's world. Overall, the game is praised for its rich emotional depth and the impact it has on players.
- “This was one of the most narratively interesting and emotionally compelling pieces of media I've engaged with in recent years, let alone in gaming specifically.”
- “With an emotional core that often left me feeling so deeply with the protagonist and the side characters, I cannot recommend this game enough.”
- “I cried many times, and I always felt better off for that.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The music in the game is highly praised for its atmospheric quality and perfect alignment with different areas, enhancing the overall experience. Many players found it memorable and enjoyable, with some noting its relaxing nature and ability to complement the visual elements effectively.
- “The music is great and perfectly matched to respective areas.”
- “The final traversal section was really fun and the music has been stuck in my head all day.”
- “Music, on the other hand, is very good and very atmospheric.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is praised for its impressive blend of funny, memetic, and sarcastic elements, seamlessly intertwined with body and psychological horror. Players appreciate the protagonist's relatable struggles and sense of humor, which resonate deeply, while the writing's tonal shifts—from whimsical to deeply sad—enhance the overall experience. The story is noted for being both touching and humorous, with clever references that add to its charm.
- “The way the author managed to mix funny, memetic, and sarcastic elements with natural body and psychological horror in this unique game is truly impressive.”
- “This game is awe-inspiring in its scope, heart, and creativity, featuring a protagonist whose story, struggles, and sense of humor resonated deeply with me.”
- “This setting lends the writing a lot of freedom, allowing the tone to vary wildly from whimsical to deeply sad and then funny depending on where in the web the player is and what they are doing.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The graphics in this text-based game are not photo-realistic, but the backgrounds are sufficient to create an immersive experience with some imagination. However, the limited artwork, sparse audio, and inconsistent sound effects contribute to a feeling of cheapness and outdatedness in the overall presentation.
- “As for graphics, well it's a text-based game, so don't expect photo-realism, but the backgrounds are good enough to immerse you in the world with a little help from your imagination.”
- “Pure text-based adventures feel cheap and outdated, and this game goes out of its way to make those facets worse than they already are through limited artwork, a sparse score, and inconsistent sound effects.”
- “As for graphics, well it's a text-based game so don't expect photo-realism, but the backgrounds are good enough to immerse you in the world with a little help from your imagination.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious and frustrating, particularly due to certain mechanics and word puzzles that can feel overly complicated or repetitive.
- “I will also say that certain mechanics may be kind of tedious or frustrating to some people.”
- “There are still issues in the game, particularly in a bit of moon logic with certain puzzles and the tedious word puzzles.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by excellent and immersive music, which significantly contributes to the overall experience.
- “The music is very good and creates a highly atmospheric experience.”
- “The game's environment immerses you completely, making you feel like you're part of another world.”
- “The combination of visuals and sound design creates an incredibly immersive atmosphere.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers significant replayability due to the freedom of actions available to players, allowing for varied experiences in each playthrough.
- “Time-wise, this game has a lot of replayability thanks to the freedom of actions given to the players.”