Sea of Solitude

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 545 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Sea of Solitude Game Cover
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"Sea of Solitude" is a poignant action-adventure game that follows a young woman named Kay as she navigates through her emotional turmoil and loneliness. Players explore a beautifully designed, flooded city and encounter various creatures, each with their own stories, while solving challenges that delve into deeper themes of humanity. The game's evolving world serves as a metaphor for Kay's emotional state, providing a unique and intimate journey of self-discovery.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 545 reviews
story153 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • Beautiful art style and visuals that create an immersive experience.
  • Emotionally impactful story that resonates with themes of loneliness, depression, and personal growth.
  • Simple yet effective gameplay mechanics that allow players to focus on the narrative.
  • Clunky controls and camera mechanics that can disrupt gameplay.
  • Voice acting and dialogue can feel forced and lack depth, detracting from the overall experience.
  • Short playtime (around 3-5 hours) may not justify the full price for some players.
  • story402 mentions

    The story of "Sea of Solitude" is a poignant exploration of mental health, loneliness, and personal trauma, conveyed through a visually stunning and metaphor-rich narrative. While some players found the plot predictable and the dialogue lacking depth, many appreciated its emotional resonance and relatability, particularly for those familiar with the struggles depicted. Overall, the game is more focused on storytelling than gameplay, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a narrative-driven experience.

    • “The story examines social and family dynamics with the use of metaphors and casual gameplay.”
    • “Wonderful story about trauma and mental health that spoke a lot to me personally.”
    • “The story is captivating.”
    • “The plot is 100% predictable and cliché.”
    • “Honestly, the story and voice acting are insulting to anyone with any struggles in life.”
    • “The story is bland, there isn't much character growth, the voice acting is 'meh' at best, and the gameplay feels like it's just there to make it more than a walking simulator.”
  • gameplay178 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and repetitiveness, often describing it as more of a walking simulator than a traditional game. While some appreciated the original mechanics and the integration of exploration with the narrative, others found the controls clunky and the gameplay tedious, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as primarily story-driven, with gameplay serving more as a vehicle for the narrative rather than a source of challenge or engagement.

    • “The gameplay is simple and puzzles are minimal, but tight controls and some okay platforming are enough to hold interest as you explore the main character’s mistakes in her life and how she works past them, both for the betterment of others and eventually herself.”
    • “The gameplay itself, is very straightforward with exploring small areas, avoiding monsters, collecting some items, etc.”
    • “I was pleasantly surprised with how much I found myself enjoying the mechanics, and I loved stopping and admiring the wonderful graphics.”
    • “You're more so fighting with the controls to get through the gameplay than you are with the actual monsters of the game.”
    • “The gameplay feels redundant the second the tutorial ends; every task feels more like a chore than an adventure, and the vague features and concepts of the game are incredibly frustrating.”
    • “The gameplay is horrible; they could not decide if they want a platformer or a walking simulator.”
  • graphics148 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful art style and atmospheric visuals, effectively conveying the game's emotional themes. Many players found the aesthetics captivating, with some noting that the visuals were the standout feature, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and optimization. Overall, the game's graphics are described as stunning and integral to the storytelling experience, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative.

    • “The game is beautifully done, with the visuals and the soundtrack.”
    • “The graphics of the game are great and they are the reason why I bought this game.”
    • “The graphics are amazing! The journey to discover more about each monster left me wanting more.”
    • “It controls like ass, is terribly optimized so gives awful performance for a game with such simplistic 3D graphics, and gives you almost no direction whatsoever.”
    • “While the story is interesting and the basic premise is sound, the game suffers from clunky graphics, mediocre visual effects, disappointing sound and music, cliched, but abundant dialogue, unconvincing voice acting, and very, very, very unpleasant gameplay.”
    • “This game has a lot of potential but kinda throws that out of the window with an art style which will not age well and already feels... cheap.”
  • emotional107 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its deep exploration of themes such as loneliness, depression, and personal growth, often resonating with players on a personal level. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, with some players reporting tears and reflections on their own experiences with mental health and emotional struggles. While the storytelling and visuals are celebrated for their beauty and impact, opinions vary on the execution, with some finding the writing lacking, yet the overall emotional journey remains a significant draw for many players.

    • “A short game that presents manifestations of emotional turmoil while making it hard not to be retrospective about your own life.”
    • “Overall, 'Sea of Solitude' takes you on an emotional ride, exploring the depths of loneliness and the strength to endure.”
    • “Heartfelt and relatable, it had me crying at the end without even consciously understanding why.”
  • music49 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its emotional impact and seamless integration with the visuals. While some critiques mention issues with voice acting and gameplay, the soundtrack is consistently highlighted as a standout feature that elevates the storytelling experience. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack creates an immersive journey for players.

    • “The game is beautifully done, with the visuals and the soundtrack.”
    • “Music was absolutely wonderful and coincided with the visuals very nicely.”
    • “The atmosphere, the music, the story.”
    • “While the story is interesting and the basic premise is sound, the game suffers from clunky graphics, mediocre visual effects, disappointing sound and music, cliched, but abundant dialogue, unconvincing voice acting, and very, very, very unpleasant gameplay.”
    • “I'll give it 3/10 and that's just for some of the art design and soundtrack.”
    • “I admit the decision to pay more than I usually would for a game this short was 100% due to the music in the trailer but in the end, if it ever occurred in the game, I never noticed it so... maybe don't fall for that like I did.”
  • atmosphere20 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful art style, immersive music, and strong emotional impact, creating a moody and melancholic experience. However, some players noted that certain elements, like dialogue and accents, can detract from the overall ambiance. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a visually stunning and atmospheric psychological adventure.

    • “Beautiful art style and nice atmospheric music.”
    • “Very atmospheric and imaginative psychological adventure/exploration game.”
    • “I really love the art style and the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “There are moments when it becomes necessary to step away, as the game's somber atmosphere can, paradoxically, sap your energy.”
    • “The strong German accent in the English version spoiled the atmosphere significantly.”
    • “The dialogue is just offsetting and destroys every bit of mystical atmosphere.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often requiring significant time investment for minimal reward. While some enjoy the puzzles and character designs, many feel that the lack of variety in tasks and dialogue detracts from the overall experience, making certain segments feel unnecessarily drawn out. Overall, the grinding can overshadow the enjoyment of the game, leading to frustration.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay is too tedious to enjoy the experience.”
    • “Some of these can go on for a bit and the number of fetch quests can get a little tedious.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its relatability and depth, particularly in the character of Kay, who stands out as a well-crafted protagonist. While the narrative is engaging, some players feel the game could benefit from less hand-holding to allow for a deeper exploration of its beautifully designed environments and characters. Overall, the character design is highly praised, contributing to the game's unique aesthetic.

    • “Not the best game in terms of gameplay, but the narrative and character development of Kay was very interesting and will feel relatable to a lot of people.”
    • “It's beautiful, the level and character design is quite neat and Kay is a nice main character.”
    • “This game has one of the most unique character designs and graphics.”
    • “Compounded with very basic explanations of the story and character development.”
    • “Creative character designs, though there are a few tedious spots.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The optimization of the game is highly inconsistent, with some users praising its graphics and performance, while others report significant issues such as stuttering and poor controls. Despite its appealing visuals and engaging story, many players experience frustrating performance problems that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game looks fantastic, the monster designs are super clean, the story is gripping, and performance was great.”
    • “Neat little platformer with good optimization and graphics.”
    • “It controls poorly, is terribly optimized, resulting in awful performance for a game with such simplistic 3D graphics, and provides almost no direction whatsoever.”
    • “Still, the game ran like a stuttering mess.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game has been rated low for replayability, averaging around 2-3 out of 10, primarily due to its short length and lack of engaging content that encourages players to revisit it, aside from collecting items. While some players acknowledge its worth, the consensus is that the limited replay value detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It's a short experience, with little replayability unless you want to find all the collectibles.”
    • “It's not the longest game out there, and there isn't really a replay value... however, it is very much worth it.”
    • “Eh... I'd say no despite all its positives because it's short and I don't feel like it has much replay value.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is marked by several bugs and graphical glitches that can disrupt immersion, including issues with character animations and visual inconsistencies during transitions between cutscenes and gameplay. While these problems are noticeable, they are generally not game-breaking, allowing for a playable experience despite the occasional frustration.

    • “Game mechanics are unrefined and a little buggy.”
    • “Gameplay is still a little buggy in some areas, but nothing game-breaking.”
    • “Immersion-breaking graphical glitches abound!”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is hit-or-miss, with some players finding the flat line delivery unintentionally amusing. Additionally, the juxtaposition of a bullying theme with a seemingly trivial achievement, like shooing seagulls, adds an ironic layer that some players find amusing.

    • “Not everyone sucked, but a lot of the time the line delivery was so flat it just made me laugh.”
    • “Does anyone else find it funny that a game that focuses on bullying has an achievement for shooing seagulls?”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
4-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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