Submerged: Hidden Depths

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 518 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Submerged: Hidden Depths Game Cover
Submerged: Hidden Depths is not only beautiful to look at, it offers a nice change of pace from the open world RPG titles out there.
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"Submerged: Hidden Depths" is an underwater exploration and adventure game. Players navigate a sunken city, solving puzzles and discovering secrets while avoiding dangerous sea creatures. The game features beautiful visuals and a serene atmosphere, making it a relaxing yet immersive experience.

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

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 518 reviews
story91 positive mentions
optimization6 negative mentions
  • Beautiful and charmingly stylised visuals that enhance the exploration experience.
  • Relaxing gameplay with no combat or danger, making it suitable for all ages.
  • Improved graphics and level design compared to the first game, with a more engaging story and additional collectibles.
  • Gameplay can feel repetitive and simplistic, lacking challenge and depth.
  • Technical issues such as frame drops and character getting stuck in the environment.
  • The story is minimal and predictable, with some players feeling it lacks substance compared to the first game.
  • story314 mentions

    The story in "Submerged: Hidden Depths" is generally described as simple and minimalistic, focusing on the exploration of a post-apocalyptic world through the eyes of siblings Miku and Taku. While some players appreciate the environmental storytelling and the integration of collectibles that reveal the lore, others find the narrative lacking depth and coherence, often feeling disjointed due to the open-world structure that allows for non-linear progression. Overall, the game is seen as visually stunning but with a story that may not satisfy those seeking a more complex narrative experience.

    • “The story is simple but engaging.”
    • “Beautiful visuals, interesting story.”
    • “The story has Miku and Taku exploring a submerged city that is corrupted by a strange black mass, and as they explore they discover the reason and how to cure it through the images and symbols that are revealed.”
    • “There is basically zero story (I don't understand what happened at all) and the game is just plain boring.”
    • “The story is... well... terrible.”
    • “I felt that the story was very lackluster compared to the first game, even though both are very minimal.”
  • gameplay160 mentions

    The gameplay in "Submerged: Hidden Depths" retains much of the simplicity and mechanics of its predecessor, focusing on exploration and climbing in a visually stunning post-apocalyptic world. While the central loop of boating and exploring is described as addictive and relaxing, many reviewers noted that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks significant innovation, with some mechanics feeling derivative and overly simplistic. Overall, it offers a casual experience that may appeal to fans of the first game, but it could benefit from more varied and engaging gameplay elements.

    • “The gameplay is very good, while it is generally the same as it was in the first game.”
    • “Excellent game, the music was great, gameplay simple but fun and there is plenty to explore and secrets to find.”
    • “The gameplay seems much smoother and varied, with the ability to customize your character and your boat being a very nice addition.”
    • “The gameplay is very similar to the first game, which I would call an 'on-rails climber.'”
    • “Apart from that, it seems like nice exploration, but again, it's a jump and run - keep looking for a ladder etc. kind of gameplay, and at the end, it's just boring...”
    • “The 'puzzles' in the game are beyond simplistic; most gameplay revolves around collecting things, the thin story is nothing you won't have already heard before, and the open world, despite some efforts, still comes across as lifeless and dull.”
  • graphics159 mentions

    The graphics in "Submerged: Hidden Depths" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, vibrant colors, and improved lighting compared to the first game. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the environments, which create a beautiful and immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. While some users noted minor performance issues, the overall consensus is that the graphics significantly elevate the game's appeal.

    • “The atmosphere and visuals of this game are absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “The graphics are stunning... quite a markup from the previous game.”
    • “The world graphics are beautiful, the way the light reflects off of the water, the half-submerged buildings and statues make the world come alive and it's gorgeous.”
    • “Instead you're getting a rehash of the previous game with somewhat adequate graphical update and just as things start to get interesting in the final 3 minutes, it's all over.”
    • “Graphics are improved but it does not add to the game style.”
    • “The only thing it has going for it is pretty graphics which I guess was enough to warrant the very positive rating it has.”
  • music108 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and calming atmosphere, enhancing the immersive experience with well-crafted tracks that fit the visuals. However, some players noted issues with repetitiveness and a lack of variety in sound effects, leading to a somewhat muted audio landscape. Overall, while the soundtrack is a highlight for many, opinions vary on its impact, with some finding it merely decent or even cheesy at times.

    • “The music was very good; each track was well made and fits the whole game very well.”
    • “Accompanying the gorgeous graphics was soaring orchestral music, which made traveling along the boat quite a cinematic experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is a major part of the immersive experience, a must-have for me.”
    • “The music is overwhelming, and the whole world is kinda 'mute'.”
    • “Very few to no sound effects, almost nothing is voiced, and the few things that are are 'sims-language' gibberish; the rest is just music.”
    • “The audio is fine except for the endless repetition of the same music.”
  • atmosphere40 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its gorgeous visuals and captivating soundtrack, creating a relaxing and immersive experience. While many players appreciate the charming world and the sense of time conveyed through atmospheric elements, some feel that the narrative lacks depth, making the environment feel generic at times. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, enhancing the enjoyment of casual gameplay and exploration.

    • “The atmosphere and visuals of this game are absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “Atmospherics add to the prettiness of the game world, and a sense of the passage of time is implied in a mist that slowly builds without creating any kind of urgency.”
    • “Again in combination with a really outstanding soundtrack, you get an atmosphere that easily lets you dive into it and forget everything around you.”
    • “Despite the charming world and relaxing atmosphere established in the first game, there's almost nothing building upon that foundation.”
    • “Might have gotten a free pass on atmosphere alone if it weren't for the story going nowhere.”
    • “And the most frustrating thing is that the world itself doesn't feel lonely or mysterious; they did something to the atmosphere so it feels generic and boring.”
  • optimization16 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance on high-end hardware, others experience intermittent stuttering and frame drops, particularly during terrain loading and transitions. Despite these issues, many users find the game visually stunning and manageable on older systems with adjusted settings. Overall, it appears that while the game is well-optimized in some respects, it still suffers from notable performance problems.

    • “Well optimized”
    • “Even with my 2+ year old desktop PC (albeit with a strong video card), the game, with all graphics options set to max and set to 60 fps, is very well-optimized and looks absolutely breathtaking.”
    • “Submerged Hidden Depths is a nice sequel overall, but it has some of the problems the first game had (performance issues when loading new terrain and using too many transitions that cut the rhythm of the gameplay).”
    • “There are some problems with optimization - the game will stutter a little bit after loading, at the central hub, and when using spyglass, even on high-end hardware.”
    • “The game mostly runs smooth, but there's intermittent nasty stuttering and frame drops while exploring with the boat (loading chunks of the city? looks like a bad streaming issue).”
    • “Submerged: Hidden Depths is a nice sequel overall, but it has some of the problems the first game had (performance issues when loading new terrain and using too many transitions cutting the rhythm of the gameplay).”
  • emotional13 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming narrative and soothing soundtrack, which evoke feelings of discovery and wonder. While some characters may come off as overly emotional and the gameplay mechanics can feel clunky, the overall experience is described as powerful and fulfilling, leaving players with a sense of completion and joy. Despite some criticisms regarding clichés, the game successfully delivers an emotional journey that resonates with players.

    • “This is wholesome, this is soothing, this speaks to our sense of discovery and wonder, and is making us feel good in all the good ways.”
    • “I really enjoyed my time playing as both the siblings in a small game restoring the power of nature over malice, listening to heartwarming and soothing soundtracks that Submerged: Hidden Depths has offered.”
    • “Very powerful and emotional game, wonderful.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly when collecting achievements and items, with some noting that the process can feel like a slog. However, improvements in game design and mechanics have made the experience more enjoyable compared to the previous installment, despite the abundance of collectables and limited movement options. Overall, while the grind can be frustrating, it is manageable, especially with the option to revisit areas after completing the game.

    • “In the end, it was a little grindy to get all the collectibles and achievements, but once you finish the game you can go back in to mop up the missing pieces.”
    • “There are even more collectibles than in the previous game; being a boomer, I didn't care at all for all that junk, and it looked tedious to walk back through full levels looking for things in the corners while the game limits your movement.”
    • “This soon becomes tedious (particularly if you were close to where you wanted to go before the game moved you) - even with boat upgrades.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game exhibits notable stability issues, with users reporting frequent bugs that disrupt movement and gameplay flow, particularly in navigation and sailing mechanics. While the visuals and story are praised, the glitches detract from the overall experience, making it challenging to engage fully with the game.

    • “Nice story, the graphics are quite good, but there are glitches, and yes, there are areas where you will shuffle around trying to find the area you can walk on, climb on, or cling to, which kind of breaks the flow.”
    • “The sailing gameplay would be decent as the boat has good weight to it, if it wasn't for the fact that it's buggy and doesn't register that you already pressed 'W' to go forward.”
    • “Bit buggy moving around, but other than that, it's a beautiful, enjoyable, and achievable game.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game lacks significant replayability, with many players noting that the plot feels repetitive and not immersive enough to warrant multiple playthroughs. The game's length and similarity to its predecessor further diminish its replay value.

    • “However, like the first game, it doesn't really have any replayability.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviewers express a strong appreciation for the character designs, noting significant improvements compared to the first game. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth.

    • “I am in love with the character designs; they look so good compared to the first game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

53% average critic score

Buy Submerged: Hidden Depths

Play time

8hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
8-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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