Slice of Sea

About

Slice of Sea is a single player puzzle game. It was developed by Mateusz Skutnik and was released on November 11, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Slice of Sea" is a relaxing, underwater adventure game where you play as a fisherman's wife searching for her husband who has gone missing at sea. Explore the ocean depths, discover hidden treasures, and interact with a variety of sea creatures to help solve the mystery. The game features beautiful hand-drawn art and a soothing soundtrack, providing a calming escape from the stresses of daily life.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 458 reviews

music120 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features stunning hand-drawn art and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience.
Puzzles are well-designed, offering a good balance of challenge without being overly frustrating, encouraging exploration and logical thinking.
Fans of previous works by Mateusz Skutnik will appreciate the numerous references and the familiar eerie yet whimsical atmosphere.

The game can be tedious due to pixel-hunting mechanics, where important items are often hard to spot against the detailed backgrounds.
Some players may find the lack of clear objectives and narrative context frustrating, leading to confusion about the game's goals.
Backtracking through the large world can become cumbersome, especially if players miss critical items or paths, making it easy to get stuck.

music
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
35%
2%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively complementing the stunning hand-drawn visuals. Reviewers noted the soundtrack's ability to evoke emotions, with specific highlights on the eerie and melancholic tones that enhance the overall experience. Many found the music to be both soothing and captivating, making it a significant aspect of the game's charm and replayability.
- “The music from Thumpmonks is so astoundingly gorgeous, enchanting, and ethereal, and it makes me feel like I am totally immersed in Skutnik's world.”
- “Seriously, each screen is an individual masterpiece - and Thumpmonks' music, as always, fits like a glove: their ambient sounds help build the melancholic and eerie dreamscape of this seemingly post-apocalyptic industrial magic-punk world.”
- “The tasteful atmospheric music complements the gorgeous visuals, offering an immersive experience (especially with headphones).”
- “In Submachine, the music is very ominous and eerie, and the creaking of buildings or machines chills you to the bone.”
- “Although I appreciate how lovingly crafted this game is, in terms of art and music, I am finding it a bit wearisome to play, and for me, the fun factor has declined a wee bit.”
- “The end game was somewhat underwhelming, but Cat Jahnke's song in the end credits sort of made up for it.”
graphics
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful hand-drawn art style, which effectively creates an immersive atmosphere complemented by a captivating soundtrack. Many reviewers highlight the unique aesthetic that combines various artistic techniques, although some note that the cartoonish character animations can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay and puzzle-solving experience.
- “The beautiful art style brings out the previously mentioned atmosphere perfectly.”
- “This is probably his most beautiful game to date with amazing otherworldly yet familiar visuals and truly breathtaking sound design.”
- “The visuals and sound design are stunning, and the puzzles are a nice challenge without being too difficult.”
- “The one detracting point would be that in an effort to animate some of the character's expressions instead of his usual slideshow style, the graphics of the player character become very cartoony.”
- “If you are a fan of Amanita Design games you will be seriously disappointed - not only due to the lack of thinking it involves, but also on the basic graphics.”
- “Now speaking of art, the visuals can be a hindrance also.”
story
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
59%
13%
The story in "Slice of Sea" is characterized by its simplicity and minimal narration, leaving players to interpret the bizarre world on their own. While the atmosphere and art are praised, many reviewers express disappointment over the lack of a compelling narrative compared to previous works by the author, feeling that the game sets up a larger story but ultimately fails to deliver it. Despite these shortcomings, the journey of the seaweed character is described as enjoyable, supported by well-designed puzzles and a charming soundtrack.
- “You have to make sense of the world yourself, though the atmosphere reels you in, and I think it is sort of okay to not have a full story to it, since the world is richly built.”
- “Despite having a simple and straightforward story, this game still manages to keep you fully invested with its well-designed puzzles and unique art style and soundtrack.”
- “The story is also very simple, very straightforward, but it's all it needed to be; like it is said in the description, it's very peaceful and we are very happy to follow the adventure of this little seaweed.”
- “The other aspects of the game were so well developed, so it's disappointing to see the story of the game being overlooked.”
- “You never learn why you go there or where that suit comes from, have no goal, no story, no anything.”
- “Slice of Sea sets up a larger story and then fails to tell it.”
gameplay
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The gameplay is a blend of intuitive mechanics and artistic design, drawing inspiration from previous works by Mateusz Skutnik and Amanita Design. While the puzzles can be obscure and at times frustrating, the overall experience is enhanced by beautiful visuals and a casual exploration style. Newcomers may find the gameplay accessible, but familiarity with Skutnik's previous titles enriches the experience, despite some narrative and contextual shortcomings.
- “This game feels similar to Skutnik's other work, where not only are the puzzles and gameplay good, but the artwork feels immersive and beautifully creative.”
- “I love how smooth the gameplay feels, and the difficulty level is just right.”
- “Gameplay-wise, the game is very smooth and intuitive; the things I liked the most are the inventory system, which is especially suitable for a game with many items like this one, and the fact that the game prevents you from solving puzzles by trial and error.”
- “Even beating the game feels anti-climactic since the intro gives no context to the game and this context is not developed during the gameplay either.”
- “But no, this game's puzzles are baffling and nonsensical and so scattered with hidden item type mechanics, that I kept getting stuck and having no clue how to proceed.”
- “10/10 for atmosphere, art and nostalgia, but gameplay and story are lacking this time.”
atmosphere
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
34%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful artwork, immersive sound design, and cohesive world-building, creating an eerie yet captivating experience. Players appreciate the rich, textured visuals and the hauntingly soothing music that enhance the overall ambiance, making it a standout feature despite some critiques regarding the narrative depth. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as both nostalgic and artistically compelling, drawing players into its uniquely crafted environment.
- “The beautiful art style brings out the previously mentioned atmosphere perfectly.”
- “Every detail is eerily beautiful, and the music and animations create a perfectly peculiar atmosphere.”
- “The tasteful atmospheric music complements the gorgeous visuals, offering an immersive experience (especially with headphones).”
- “The atmosphere of MS's games, especially this one, is always worth your time and money, and if this is any indication of polish, then I can't wait for the remastered Submachine collection.”
- “A fantastic world with a distinctive unsettling atmosphere, inhabited by both cute and bizarre creatures, and filled with - of course - mind-twisting puzzles.”
- “This is just a minor niggle and likely very subjective, but I thought it could have been wrapped up in a manner more consistent with the general atmosphere of all that preceded it.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game offers notable replayability, a rarity for puzzle titles, due to randomized item locations, changing NPC positions, and achievement challenges that encourage different play styles. Players can enjoy multiple runs to explore the game's mysteries and complete various objectives, enhancing its overall replay value.
- “It makes the game replayable quite a few times, a very rare thing for puzzle games.”
- “Some replay value due to achievements wanting you to do both a find everything and touch only the minimum number of items runs.”
- “The items and their locations are also randomized, and there's at least one NPC that changes position depending on the playthrough, so there's a bit of replayability as well.”
- “There is a lot of replay value not only for the achievements but also to wander around this world and discover its mysteries.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while inventory management and scene travel are efficient, the latter half of the game becomes increasingly tedious due to an overemphasis on finding hidden items rather than engaging logic puzzles. Despite the availability of teleportation for quick backtracking, the repetitive nature of the tasks can lead to frustration.
- “The inventory is quick to use, and traveling between scenes isn't tedious.”
- “Backtracking is not tedious; there are teleports that allow you to reach any location within a few seconds.”
- “The puzzles are outrageously tedious and frustrating.”
- “After the first half of the game, it becomes incredibly tedious.”
- “This is less about logic puzzles and much more about finding hidden items, which can make this game very tedious at times.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to evoke a mix of calmness and nostalgia, with an eerie undertone that enhances exploration. The soundtrack, particularly a song by Cat Jahnke, resonates deeply, eliciting strong emotional responses and gratitude from long-time fans. Overall, the game successfully combines wholesome elements with a sense of emotional depth.
- “Great soundtrack too, and the song by Cat Jahnke made me feel things.”
- “I send my heartfelt thanks to the artist for all these years of games and gnomes. Like many 'old' fans, I've been here since elementary school! 2006, I think? Pretty crazy when I think about it. Here's to many more fruitful and artistic years!”
- “The game is calm and wholesome, yet eerie enough to keep you interested in exploring the world and bringing little seaweed home.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is highlighted through its charming and unique character designs, which contribute to the surreal and nostalgic atmosphere of Daymare Town. The blend of beautiful art and a dreamlike experience enhances the emotional depth of the characters, making them memorable within the game's bleak setting.
- “Daymare Town is a more surreal, dreamlike experience that feels very bleak and nostalgic at the same time, and has some really great character designs.”
- “The puzzles are challenging and satisfying to solve, the music is beautiful, the art is gorgeous as always (the watercolor and inkwork is just phenomenal), character design is charming.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor often arises from unintentionally funny scenarios, such as the absurdity of needing to solve a puzzle to lower a drawbridge by pressing a button located on the opposite side, creating amusing moments for players.
- “This leads to some unintentionally funny situations, like when your path is blocked by a raised drawbridge and you need to solve a puzzle to lower it... by pressing a button that's on the other side of the bridge.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players report a high level of stability in the game, encountering only a couple of minor glitches throughout their experience.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is generally viewed positively, with users noting that it is not perceived as a blatant cash grab.