Sharks and Minnows

About

Sharks and Minnows is a single player action game. It was developed by Collin and was released on April 14, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Sharks and Minnows is a survival horror game set in a haunted swim center where players must complete ten laps to escape. Exploring eerie corridors, players scavenge for supplies to manage stamina, as running out leads to deadly consequences. The unsettling atmosphere and sense of being followed add tension to this chilling, solitary ordeal.

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 250 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Sharks and Minnows offers a unique and terrifying experience that effectively plays on the fear of deep water and aquatic life, making it a standout in the horror genre.
The game features engaging puzzles and a well-designed atmosphere that keeps players on edge, with each lap introducing new challenges and threats.
Despite its short length, the game is packed with replayability through achievements and hidden secrets, making it a worthwhile experience for horror fans.

The game suffers from performance issues and bugs, which can detract from the overall experience, especially for players with high-end systems.
Some players found the gameplay to be overly reliant on trial-and-error mechanics, leading to frustration during certain sections.
The game is relatively short, and some players felt that the price point was a bit high for the amount of content provided.

gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The gameplay is characterized by a deceptively simple yet effective core loop that keeps players engaged, despite its relatively short length of around 5 hours. While the mechanics are intuitive and the atmosphere is immersive, some players noted a decline in replayability after mastering the game, alongside frustrations with certain elements like the energy mechanic and endless corridors. Overall, the combination of horror, fun mechanics, and meaningful depth makes for an enjoyable experience, especially given its affordable price.
- “The core gameplay loop is deceptively simple, yet remarkably effective.”
- “The atmosphere is great, the tension builds fast, and the gameplay keeps you on edge in all the right ways.”
- “It has a number of new elements it introduces as you progress, and they add meaningful depth to gameplay.”
- “The experience is relatively short, and once players have mastered the layout and mechanics, replayability can diminish.”
- “The stuff I didn't like as much were the endless corridors, blocked areas, and the energy mechanic.”
- “The gameplay may seem simple, but there is abundant technical nuance in order to make it out of the pool and facility lap-by-lap.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The graphics in the game are generally described as decent to good, with a cohesive aesthetic that enhances the overall mood rather than focusing on high detail. While some players experienced performance issues on certain systems, many found the visuals engaging and well-integrated with the gameplay, contributing to an immersive experience. Overall, the graphics received mixed but mostly positive feedback, with scores ranging from 7/10 to 8/10.
- “The visuals, set pieces, and audio all do a tremendous job of immersing you in the game's uncanny and hostile world.”
- “The graphics are great and the gameplay is engaging; the game does a great job of splitting up swimming sections with other segments.”
- “I loved the storyline and it had amazing graphics.”
- “The visuals are not highly detailed, but they are cohesive and purposeful, prioritizing mood over spectacle.”
- “Visuals - 7/10 (not the best graphics but you know what is about to kill you...)”
- “The graphics are decent, the gameplay is sound and fun, and overall I see plenty of room for expansions or additions.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
9%
27%
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, effectively creating a sense of dread and tension through its abandoned swimming facility setting. With minimal exposition, players are immersed in a haunting experience driven by water effects, lighting, and sound design, which collectively enhance the psychological horror. Reviewers praise the game's ability to evoke fear and maintain suspense, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric horror.
- “Moody, atmospheric, and dripping with dread (literally and figuratively).”
- “Set almost entirely within an abandoned indoor swimming facility, the game builds its horror not through complex storytelling or elaborate set pieces, but through atmosphere, vulnerability, and the constant pressure of a simple but demanding objective.”
- “The lack of explicit exposition or lore strengthens the atmosphere, allowing the player’s imagination to fill in the blanks and making the setting feel more disturbing through implication alone.”
- “Water effects, lighting, and environmental textures work together to sell the oppressive atmosphere, while sound design plays a crucial role in maintaining tension.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The game's story is minimalistic, focusing on atmosphere and tension rather than complex narratives, as players navigate an abandoned swimming facility with a simple objective of escape. While some players appreciate the unsettling environment and the engaging side missions, others note the lack of a clear introduction or detailed storyline. Overall, the combination of graphics and the eerie setting effectively enhances the horror experience.
- “Should actually be more than what they're asking for but the graphics and story really drew me in and gave me a good number of scares.”
- “I loved the storyline and it had amazing graphics.”
- “The game offers no introduction or story, just an unsettling plunge into a quiet swimming pool where your only goal is to leave.”
- “Set almost entirely within an abandoned indoor swimming facility, the game builds its horror not through complex storytelling or elaborate set pieces, but through atmosphere, vulnerability, and the constant pressure of a simple but demanding objective.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable and engaging due to hidden achievements and new discoveries, others feel that once the mechanics are mastered, the experience can become less compelling. Despite this, many still find themselves returning to the game, indicating a level of charm that encourages repeated play.
- “Amazing horror game, it's easily replayable and new things to find are always a great addition, as well as some hidden things in the base game to get other achievements, making it super fun to play.”
- “Achievements play a major role in replayability.”
- “The experience is relatively short, and once players have mastered the layout and mechanics, replayability can diminish.”
- “Doesn't seem intended for replayability, and yet I keep replaying it.”
- “There are certainly more replayable ones out there, but I was still genuinely impressed with this game at multiple turns.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some praising the relaxing and atmospheric tracks, particularly the outro music, while others criticize the credits song for being reminiscent of a track from Silent Hill 3. Overall, the sound design effectively enhances the gameplay experience, especially during underwater moments.
- “There's jaw music the moment you're in water.”
- “The game takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours to beat, and has great outro music as well.”
- “The credits song is a blatant ripoff of 'End of Small Sanctuary' from SH3, and while I really like that song, it gets a boost from me out of pure bias.”
- “There's jarring music the moment you're in water.”
- “Relaxing music and scary fish.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with users reporting consistently poor performance regardless of settings. Many describe it as unoptimized and akin to "shovelware," detracting from the overall experience.
- “Poorly optimized.”
- “The performance is really bad.”
- “My only complaint is that the performance is atrocious, no matter the settings.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that while there are some minor bugs, such as clipping and environmental glitches, these issues do not significantly impact gameplay, indicating a generally stable experience.
- “I have encountered a few bugs, such as clipping outside the map at one point and glitches with the environment, but besides that, I haven't encountered anything game-breaking.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
- “I experienced several stability issues, including random freezes and lag spikes that disrupt gameplay.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its unexpected charm, as players find it amusing despite initial fears or negative associations. It serves as a lighthearted reward, adding a comedic element to the gaming experience.
- “I had a nightmare as a kid, and when I saw this game, I thought, 'Absolutely not.' So naturally, I thought it'd be funny to get this and play it as a reward for reaching a milestone on my stream.”
- “It's funny.”

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Sharks and Minnows
€7.79
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3h Median play time

2h Average play time

1-3h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sharks and Minnows is a action game.

Sharks and Minnows is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Sharks and Minnows.

Sharks and Minnows was released on April 14, 2025.

Sharks and Minnows was developed by Collin.

Sharks and Minnows has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its replayability.

Sharks and Minnows is a single player game.

Similar games include Amenti, Kraven Manor, From The Darkness, Welcome to Kowloon, Monstrum and others.

Sharks and Minnows

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