Stranded Deep

Starting at $10.98Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Xbox Games Store

Get on Epic Games Store

"Stranded Deep is a survival game set in the Pacific Ocean. After a plane crash, players must gather resources, craft tools, and navigate islands to survive. Face deadly wildlife, harsh weather, and the constant struggle for survival in this open-world adventure."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 22,380 reviews

graphics1,355 positive mentions

stability1,058 negative mentions

graphics
2,157 mentions
63 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Stranded Deep" receive a mixed reception from players, with many praising the stunning visuals, particularly the water effects and atmospheric lighting, which contribute to an immersive experience. However, some users report graphical glitches and performance issues, especially on lower-end systems, leading to a less enjoyable gameplay experience. Overall, while the graphics are often highlighted as a strong point, there are calls for further optimization and content improvements to enhance the game's appeal.
- “The graphics look great even on a Mac (which I mainly play this on, M1 MBP) and the game runs pretty smooth at 60fps after some tweaking.”
- “This game is really good if you like adventure and survival games, but what I am shocked about is its graphics because these graphics are incredible. The fact that shocked me the most about the graphics is that the game is only 2 GB.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, even on low and medium settings.”
- “Wow, these graphics are trash.”
- “The graphics are poor (none of the vegetation even blows in the wind), the menus and controls are awful and feel untested, and the resource amounts feel contrived.”
- “The graphics are outdated and the animations for third person are absolutely awful.”
gameplay
1,721 mentions
31 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Stranded Deep" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its immersive graphics and unique crafting mechanics, while others criticize its repetitive nature and numerous bugs. Players often find the initial hours engaging, but the lack of content and clear objectives leads to a sense of monotony after a short period. Overall, while the game shows potential with its survival mechanics and atmospheric setting, it currently suffers from clunky controls and a need for more depth and polish in gameplay.
- “The gameplay loop is satisfying, and the side content is there for those who look for it.”
- “The survival gameplay is also challenging, as you must explore other islands and forage underwater to keep yourself alive and create new equipment.”
- “The gameplay is very relaxing and fun, and can definitely be a challenge depending on how you play.”
- “Disappointing game really, a huge waste of time with bloated crafting recipes calling constantly for materials that are a pain to gather, as well as several bugs and blatant oversights that plague the base gameplay, such as nonsensical controls, lack of clear tutorial or HUD prompts on how to even drop items or bind them to the toolbelt.”
- “The tutorial is woefully inadequate; and you will spend much time learning game mechanics on YouTube and Reddit.”
- “The gameplay is slow, and the loading screen takes forever if you're on a Mac.”
stability
1,097 mentions
3 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players have experienced issues such as disappearing rafts, unresponsive controls, and game crashes, particularly in multiplayer mode, making the game nearly unplayable for some. While a few users noted minor glitches that did not detract from their enjoyment, the overall consensus is that the game remains in a frustratingly unstable state, even after years of development.
- “I love the mechanics of the crafting menu along with the HUD/watch to show the character's stats - health, levels, days survived, etc. I have come across little to no glitches/bugs and have thoroughly enjoyed just surviving and crafting.”
- “The game has been mostly bug-free with bugs getting fixed relatively quickly.”
- “The game is relatively bug-free (from my experience) and this is fairly impressive for an early access game.”
- “I was really excited for this game, but it's riddled with so many glitches that will literally set you back days worth of progress and it's nearly unplayable.”
- “This game is so buggy, it is completely unplayable.”
- “The amount of absolutely jarring bugs, glitches and absolute garbage you'll have to deal with just isn't worth it.”
story
748 mentions
15 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely criticized for being minimal or almost nonexistent, with many players expressing frustration over the lack of a compelling narrative or clear objectives. While some appreciate the freedom to create their own experiences in a sandbox environment, others feel that the absence of a structured storyline leads to repetitive gameplay and a lack of motivation to continue. Overall, the consensus is that the game needs significant improvements in its storytelling elements to enhance player engagement and provide a more fulfilling experience.
- “I can only speak to the single player experience, but I had a great time playing through the story.”
- “The game pays some fun homage to the film but maintains its own story and concept.”
- “The story is interesting; there are various resources available for survival.”
- “The story in this game is almost nonexistent.”
- “There's no story to speak of; and though I love a good sandbox game, this one has very little progression.”
- “The survival and crafting part is well done and realistic, but I miss the storyline effects; 4 hours into playing, all you have to do to survive and gather things but there is no mention or note for a story or players' thoughts, which makes the game dull.”
grinding
311 mentions
1 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring players to engage in monotonous resource gathering and crafting with little sense of reward. Many reviewers noted that the limited inventory space and clunky controls exacerbate the grind, making tasks feel laborious rather than enjoyable. While some players appreciate the challenge and find satisfaction in the grind, the overall sentiment leans towards it being a frustrating experience that detracts from the game's potential enjoyment.
- “The survival aspects are difficult without being Dark Souls. The crafting system is the right level of wonk and sense that you need for a fun but not tedious survival craft. The controls are simple to understand without being press-button-to-win, and the enemies are balanced enough that there's going to be a bit of strategy on new islands even into the late game, without being unfair at low levels.”
- “Not too grindy either, just the right amount.”
- “Other than those two things, I really enjoy the game. Progression seems balanced and isn't too grindy.”
- “Overall, it's a bland and tedious experience with little sense of reward.”
- “The game constantly forces you to go through tedious and repetitive steps to do simple tasks, mostly involving popping in and out of the menus multiple times to perform simple things like cooking a fish.”
- “Even by survival game standards, this game is boring, drawn out, and tedious in the early stages.”
music
294 mentions
21 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its ability to enhance immersion and atmosphere, particularly during tense moments like shark encounters. However, some find the soundtrack repetitive and overly dramatic, detracting from the overall experience, while others express frustration over the inability to adjust or mute the music effectively. Overall, while the music contributes to the game's ambiance, its execution and frequency have sparked debate among players.
- “The soundtrack is great, especially while sailing at night.”
- “The music adds a bit of atmosphere, and the sound effects are generally okay, although the very limited voice acting gets repetitive quickly.”
- “A genuinely fun and grounded survival game, great atmosphere, soundtrack, and realistic experience.”
- “The soundtrack is repetitive and depressing.”
- “Another thing that is incredibly annoying is the fact that when you start up the game, the intro music is ear-numbingly loud and the settings aren't saved properly.”
- “The music is really depressing; I know you're lost and alone on an island, but come on, I'm here to have fun, not to kill myself.”
atmosphere
185 mentions
63 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and visually stunning environment, effectively capturing the essence of isolation and survival in a tropical setting. Players appreciate the dynamic shifts between eerie tension and serene calm, enhanced by realistic sound effects and beautiful graphics. Despite some technical issues, the overall ambiance and sense of adventure create a compelling experience that resonates with fans of survival games.
- “I loved the atmosphere and felt like the game delivered well on a real sense of aloneness and desolation.”
- “What really impressed me was the atmosphere of the game, the feeling of being completely stranded on my own in a hostile environment, fighting every day for my survival.”
- “The atmosphere and ambience is just right, with a sense of true isolation.”
- “But the bugs are creating a not playable atmosphere.”
- “The theme/atmosphere of the survival was destroyed.”
- “No atmosphere or immersion.. worst ever harvest animations..”
optimization
148 mentions
30 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
26 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, bugs, and poor frame rates, particularly on lower-end systems. While some players with high-end hardware experience smooth gameplay, others struggle with crashes and graphical glitches, indicating that the game is not well-optimized for a broad range of configurations. Overall, there is a consensus that the game requires further optimization to enhance stability and performance across various platforms.
- “The graphics are solid and the game runs smoothly.”
- “The developers have seriously improved the play experience and overall performance of the game.”
- “The optimization in this game is great.”
- “The user interface is terrible and completely unoptimized.”
- “Flying animals, falling through level, random encounters that can fling the player across the world map, and stuttering issues have all been present since the beginning.”
- “I've never seen a game with such terrible performance; I can't get anything close to a playable framerate on low settings with an RX 4700 XT. This is ridiculous.”
humor
139 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous glitches and bugs, which players find more amusing than frustrating, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews highlight hilarious moments, such as flying animals and bizarre AI behaviors, contributing to a lighthearted multiplayer experience. While some players express frustration with the game's mechanics, the overall consensus is that the comedic elements enhance the enjoyment, making it a fun, albeit flawed, survival game.
- “Absolute bug central on multiplayer but leads to a hilariously enjoyable experience with mates.”
- “The spawning in of creatures can sometimes be... strange... piggies falling from the sky etc. but stuff like that is more funny than bothersome.”
- “I really love survival games, and this extra realistic game with a copious amount of hilarious bugs like the 'palm tree rocket' or the 'land shark' and if you're really looking for a fun time, the 'flying coconuts'.”
- “I used to love this game, but it's just not funny nor scary anymore. I wish there were an option to go back right before they changed it all.”
- “This game has so much blur it’s not funny, even removing motion blur and any lens filters do nothing to fix the ghostly shadow that everything has as you move, tested from min to max settings and it remains the same.”
replayability
106 mentions
23 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting a lack of depth and repetitive gameplay that diminishes long-term engagement. While some appreciate the procedural generation and user-created content that can enhance replay value, others feel that the finite resources and limited objectives lead to a quick sense of boredom. Despite its potential, many reviews suggest that significant improvements are needed to elevate the game's replayability beyond a few hours of play.
- “The replay value is absolutely through the roof.”
- “Great fun and very replayable.”
- “The random island generation is great, making for unlimited replayability.”
- “Almost no replayability; it gets boring and tedious very quickly.”
- “Otherwise, you might get a good 20 hours out of the game with very little replay value.”
- “For me, replayability is an issue; I've wanted to jump back in several times but feel I've done and seen everything already.”
emotional
32 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, often likening their experiences to the heart-wrenching moments from "Cast Away." Many recount tearful moments tied to their in-game relationships with animals and the sense of loss when they encounter danger or separation. The game's ability to evoke strong feelings of attachment, fear, and nostalgia is frequently highlighted, making it a memorable emotional journey for players.
- “I will never forget the heartbreaking moment when we both accepted and knew that we would never be able to sail the ocean together.”
- “To grow up with the game, and then see the potential and spark in the game's eye fade is rather heartbreaking.”
- “Never have I experienced such a heart-wrenching game as this.”
monetization
25 mentions
12 % positive mentions
-8 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to deceptive advertising and a lack of meaningful updates since its early access release. While there are no microtransactions or pay-to-win elements, players feel that the developers have prioritized profit over delivering a polished and complete experience, leading to disappointment and frustration. Overall, the sentiment suggests a lack of trust in the developers' commitment to the game's future.
- “There are no microtransactions or pay-to-win elements at this time, which is fantastic.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a complete experience without requiring additional purchases.”
- “They ported the unfinished, unpolished game to consoles for a cash grab and then proceeded to create and release poorly planned, rushed, time-exclusive content to consoles that does not make sense or fit the game so they could claim that the game had a half-assed ending.”
- “The game needs a lot more work, and yet it seems like the developer is going for a cash grab by taking PC early access funds and using them for cross-platform development.”
- “3 years in early access, literally nothing has changed since release, classic early access cash grab.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with reviewers noting a general absence of a compelling storyline and NPCs, leading to a gameplay experience that feels more like a chore than an engaging narrative.
- “Not recommended due to minor bugs, minor issues, and a general lack of storyline and character development.”
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
- “There is a significant lack of NPCs, which contributes to the feeling that character development is non-existent.”