Still Wakes the Deep

Still Wakes the Deep is wonderfully, authentically Scottish – even the carpets on the Beira D oil rig are tartan. It's also a singularly immersive and utterly memorable piece of work that's among The Chinese Room's very best.

84%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

replayability, stability

91% User Score Based on 7,208 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 28 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Still Wakes the Deep" is a first-person narrative horror game from The Chinese Room, the creators of "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" and "Everybody's Gone to the Rapture." As an oil rig worker, you must survive a violent storm, treacherous waters, and an otherworldly terror while searching for your crew and trying to communication with the outside world. The game is known for its atmospheric world-building, audio, writing, and acting.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,236 reviews

story2k positive mentions

replayability38 negative mentions

Stunning graphics and atmosphere that create a deeply immersive experience.
Exceptional voice acting and well-written dialogue that bring characters to life.
Compelling story that evokes strong emotions and keeps players engaged throughout.

Very short gameplay duration, typically around 4-6 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
Gameplay is linear and lacks depth, with minimal interactivity and repetitive mechanics.
Some technical issues, including performance drops and bugs that can disrupt the experience.

story
4,035 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The story of "Still Wakes the Deep" is a compelling blend of cosmic horror and emotional depth, centered around an electrician named Cameron "Caz" McLeary trapped on a malfunctioning oil rig. Players navigate a linear narrative filled with rich character interactions and atmospheric storytelling, though some find the plot predictable and the gameplay repetitive. Overall, the game is praised for its stunning visuals, exceptional voice acting, and the ability to evoke strong emotional responses, making it a memorable experience for fans of story-driven horror.
- “It legit made me cry, the story itself is captivating and it has its intense moments with a few jump-scares here and there so it's not completely saturated with them nor does it rely on them to make you clench with fear, so it's got everything a horror game should have.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly creepy, the story that goes along with it is incredibly moving and authentic, and so are the accents.”
- “Still Wakes the Deep is an amazing blend of storytelling and visuals with a very fresh dialogue that makes the characters feel like real people.”
- “Although this game has a unique setting, incredible visuals and sounds, and it starts on a really high note, the main story leaves a lot to be desired and you end up with a bit of 'well that was pointless' kind of feeling.”
- “The story isn't anything new or groundbreaking, but it is told competently and does a good job of getting you to care about the characters and their motivations.”
- “The story leaves a lot to be desired, none of the characters are memorable, you're just weaving your way through bland, visually uninteresting nonsense.”
graphics
1,427 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
1%
The graphics in "Still Wakes the Deep" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and attention to detail, particularly in creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. Many players noted the game's impressive use of Unreal Engine 5, which delivers high-quality textures, lighting, and environmental design, although some experienced performance issues requiring adjustments to settings. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics, excellent sound design, and strong voice acting contributes significantly to the game's engaging narrative and emotional impact.
- “The graphics are stunning, and the voice acting is top-notch, with performances that convey deep emotion.”
- “The visuals are absolutely fantastic, although some elements seem to animate at 30fps.”
- “The graphics, powered by Unreal Engine, deliver stunning visuals and effects that truly capture the atmosphere of the rig and its surroundings.”
- “However, it does have a minor graphic issue where stretched objects would go wild.”
- “In fact, most of the gore, gut meat, and other viscera strewn about the place looks like it’s from a PlayStation game, and it’s 10 times more noticeable when you’re running ultra graphics and the environment around you might as well be coming from a GoPro.”
- “Despite having at least the recommended PC requirements, in most cases better, I still had to turn down all the graphical settings to the lowest I could stand, and I was even then getting occasional frame jumps and big lag spikes, all while my poor PC's fans are running like a goddamn airplane the entire time - especially noticeable while entering the deck (perhaps the water graphics?) and especially whenever there were a lot of moving parts or people on screen.”
gameplay
1,424 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
68%
9%
The gameplay of "Still Wakes the Deep" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its linearity and simplicity, often describing it as a walking simulator with minimal mechanics. While the game excels in atmosphere, storytelling, and visuals, the gameplay is criticized for being repetitive and lacking depth, with most interactions feeling basic and unchallenging. Overall, it appeals more to those seeking a narrative-driven experience rather than complex gameplay mechanics.
- “I like how interactive a lot of the mechanics in the game are and it really feels like you're playing as the protagonist.”
- “Absolutely brilliant game, amazing graphics and extremely story-rich with excellent gameplay to go with it, would highly recommend!”
- “The gameplay is mostly walking based, but there are a few very good stealth sections, and overall I feel like it has decent replayability (especially if you're going for all achievements, which you should, they're fun).”
- “But it is a walking simulator, you're very much on-rails and there's minimal gameplay mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is effectively absent.”
- “The gameplay itself is barebones, because it is just a walking simulator, but I was very focused on the narrative and environment.”
atmosphere
1,077 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
31%
1%
The atmosphere in "Still Wakes the Deep" is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, effectively blending elements of cosmic horror with a claustrophobic setting on an oil rig. Reviewers highlight the game's stunning graphics, exceptional sound design, and top-tier voice acting, all of which contribute to a deeply engaging experience that keeps players on edge. While some note that the gameplay may be simplistic, the overall atmosphere and narrative depth make it a standout title in the horror genre.
- “Still wakes the deep is a masterclass in atmospheric horror that delivers a tense, memorable, and emotionally gripping experience.”
- “The sound design, visuals, everything works together so well to create such an unsettling, immersive atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly creepy, the story that goes along with it is incredibly moving and authentic, and so are the accents.”
- “The horror and atmosphere were terrifying.”
- “While the gameplay may not be groundbreaking, the story, atmosphere, and tension are more than enough to keep players hooked.”
emotional
377 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of the game has garnered mixed responses, with many players expressing that it effectively evokes strong feelings, often leading to tears during pivotal moments. While some found the character development and narrative depth lacking, resulting in a disconnect from the emotional stakes, others praised the voice acting and atmospheric storytelling for creating a genuinely moving experience. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to blend horror with heartfelt moments, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of its emotional impact.
- “This game is beautiful, terrifying, and made me cry.”
- “Still wakes the deep is a masterclass in atmospheric horror that delivers a tense, memorable, and emotionally gripping experience.”
- “What an incredible, emotional journey in such a short game!”
- “Boring story that made zero sense.”
music
276 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
43%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers praising its emotional depth and fitting integration into gameplay. While some noted that the music is used sparingly, its impactful moments contribute significantly to the game's tension and immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is described as haunting, beautiful, and perfectly aligned with the game's narrative and emotional beats, making it a standout feature.
- “The atmosphere, voice acting, and music are absolutely stunning.”
- “The music was perfect and fitting for the tensions, and string-pulling emotions during situations.”
- “The music, art direction, and characters are all amazing and even though the story's meaning goes over my head it didn't stop me from getting invested and enjoying the game.”
- “The music is ok, and also quite sparse, which is fine since it probably would have just distracted most of the time, especially with it not being particularly good.”
- “- pretentious sad music that's trying hard to make you feel sad and as a result takes you out of certain moments.”
- “Generally good sound design, I don't remember a single track from the music except the credits.”
optimization
245 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
49%
11%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly with frame rate drops and stuttering, even on high-end systems. While some users reported smooth performance with specific settings like DLSS, others noted that the game struggles to maintain consistent frame rates, especially in graphically demanding scenes. Overall, while the visuals and voice acting are praised, the need for further optimization and bug fixes is a common concern among players.
- “The graphics are stunning, and the voice acting is top-notch, with performances that convey deep emotion.”
- “The locations look amazing, characters are detailed enough and the horror is impressively rendered, plus performance was without issues.”
- “In terms of optimization, I played on ultra settings at 1080p with DLSS (DLAA), the game ran at a stable 60 fps, and I didn’t notice any drops.”
- “I would argue to say that the game is very unoptimized at times and has moments (particularly with the water) where the game absolutely tanks in terms of frame rate.”
- “I'm sorry but this game needs some serious optimization and technical updates because, for me at least, this game has some of the worst framerate drops I've experienced.”
- “No graphical optimizations have been made, the game runs terribly even on a decent setup.”
replayability
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
60%
30%
Overall, the game exhibits very low replayability, primarily due to its linear structure and short playtime of around 4-6 hours. Most players noted that once the story is completed, there is little incentive to replay, aside from achievement hunting. While some appreciated the narrative experience, many felt that the lack of choices and branching paths significantly diminished the game's replay value.
- “The gameplay is mostly walking-based, but there are a few very good stealth sections, and overall I feel like it has decent replayability (especially if you're going for all achievements, which you should, they're fun).”
- “While this game is on the shorter end (~5 hours for me while taking my time) and probably doesn't have a lot of replay value, that's not a criticism.”
- “A bit on the shorter side with limited replayability, but boy did I laugh, cry, and enjoy this treat of a game!”
- “There's also the fact that there's not really a lot of replayability considering once you've encountered everything once it kinda gets predictable.”
- “The game is very linear which removes most of the replay value.”
- “The lack of replayability, unless you're achievement hunting, or just bored & want to replay it, is agonizing, and with a ~5 hour play time, I really couldn't imagine paying full price for this, hence why I'd recommend waiting for a sale.”
stability
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including soft locks and frame rate drops in certain areas. While some users experienced minimal problems and praised the overall performance, others found the game significantly buggy, particularly in mechanics and interactions. Overall, while the game runs well for some, many recommend waiting for patches to address the numerous stability concerns.
- “Looks great, runs great.”
- “Aside from a few minor hiccups, my experience was relatively bug free.”
- “Getting into the game itself, the visuals are fantastic, and the game runs great to boot (at least in my experience).”
- “Too many game-breaking glitches.”
- “I encountered three times some weird glitches that soft locked me momentarily from proceeding the story further and required me to reload the checkpoint.”
- “I deeply wish that I could recommend this game, but with the current glitches I feel like I have to tell people to wait and save their money until the developer spends the time fixing the bugs.”
humor
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with relatable character interactions, particularly through the use of Scottish accents and witty dialogue. Players found themselves laughing at both intentional jokes and unintentional moments, such as humorous glitches and absurd scenarios, which added a unique charm to the horror experience. Overall, the balance of humor and horror enhances the game's narrative, making it both entertaining and engaging.
- “The banter between the characters is excellent - there were two moments in the second half of the game that genuinely made me laugh out loud - and the dialogue in more serious moments can be quite moving.”
- “I was taken away by the immersive feel of the game, the incredibly funny dialogues and speech, love it how the game translates a lot of phrases and slang from Scottish dialect.”
- “The voice acting is divine and hilarious!”
grinding
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
7%
85%
Overall, reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game can be quite tedious, with repetitive tasks and mechanics that detract from the experience. While some players appreciate the visuals and narrative, many find the gameplay loop lacks engagement, often feeling like a chore rather than an enjoyable challenge. However, there are moments of tension and excitement that break up the monotony, suggesting that the game has potential despite its grinding issues.
- “The gameplay isn't tedious, and it doesn’t have time to get boring since the game ends right on time.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game overstays its welcome and turns a neat concept and scary setting into something that just feels tedious.”
- “I know it's a walking sim - I get that and it's a genre I normally like, but my goodness this game tests your patience with moving you one tedious task to the next and they are all strung together with the same janky and unsatisfying parkour that at times gets so ridiculous that it actually robs from the game.”
- “Honestly though, this became so tedious to play.”
character development
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
34%
28%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising strong connections and emotional depth, while others criticize a lack of meaningful growth and attachment to characters. Many reviews highlight that the player character's backstory is overly exposed early on, detracting from a genuine emotional journey, and some games are noted for having exceptional voice acting and design despite their shortcomings in character development. Overall, while there are standout moments and some well-crafted relationships, many players feel that character development is either insufficient or inconsistent throughout the experience.
- “The character development, plotline, and presentation are all stellar.”
- “I liked the character development, and the well-written connections between the characters that added depth to the narrative.”
- “With its strong character development and deeply unsettling atmosphere, Still Wakes the Deep is a must-play for fans of horror and narrative-driven games!”
- “There’s not any real character development, as too much of the player character’s backstory is exposed in the beginning, but this is more survival focused with elements of a backstory rather than a genuine emotional journey.”
- “Overall, it's a beautiful game with a great set design, amazing sound design, amazing voice acting, bland gameplay mechanics, no real puzzles or any challenges but an interesting little horror story lacking character development outside of the main character.”
- “I'm pretty upset I spent £26 on a 5-hour game with no lore, no world-building, no character development, a mediocre story, and barely any gameplay.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is praised for its integrity, as players appreciate that it prioritizes quality and vision over exploitative practices commonly seen in the industry.