Sunkenland
- August 25, 2023
- Vector3 Studio
- 16h median play time
Get on Steam"Sunkenland" is a post-apocalyptic survival and exploration game set in a water-covered Earth. Dive into sunken cities, scavenge resources, and build your underwater base while defending against pirates and mutants. With a modular building system, customize and protect your base to ensure your survival in this submerged world. * Navigate underwater environments, gather resources, and avoid dangers * Customize and defend your base using a modular building system * Fight against pirates and mutants to ensure your survival in a post-apocalyptic world
PC
Windows
Cloud
NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Reviews
- gameplay1,131 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Sunkenland" offers a mix of crafting, exploration, and survival mechanics, creating an engaging experience, particularly in co-op mode. However, many players note that the game is still in early access, with clunky mechanics, repetitive gameplay loops, and various bugs that detract from the overall experience. While the underwater environments and building mechanics show promise, significant improvements are needed in combat, AI behavior, and overall game balance to fully realize its potential.
“Its stunning underwater environments and engaging survival mechanics create a rich, immersive experience that’s both visually captivating and intellectually stimulating.”
“With its waterworld-themed setting, modular base building, sunken city scavenging, and intense bandit invasions, Sunkenland offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience unlike any other.”
“The gameplay loop is fantastic and extremely fun.”
“In particular, the quest design is very mechanically rough and also boring.”
“Most survival aspects disappear entirely and are replaced by tedious grinds that add nothing to the gameplay or interest in the game.”
“The gameplay itself feels repetitive and lacks originality, making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in the game.”
- graphics759 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning underwater visuals and overall aesthetic appeal, particularly in early access. However, there are significant concerns regarding graphical glitches, low-resolution textures, and the need for optimization, as some players feel the graphics do not meet modern standards. While the game shows potential with its visuals, ongoing improvements and fixes are necessary to enhance the overall experience.
“The graphics are stunning and will get even better once the update on the PTR goes live.”
“The game is fun and the graphics are pretty good (specifically the water which looks amazing).”
“Great graphics, cool idea mixing underwater elements of Subnautica with the graphics and visual style of Rust and the crafting and building mechanics of Curse of the Forest.”
“The game has a lot of potential but the gameplay and graphics look like a game from 2008; hell, 2008 probably has better graphics than this and everything is wanky.”
“The graphics, or lack thereof, are an assault on the senses.”
“Poor quality graphics, lack of content, coupled with terrible controls makes this a title to steer clear from.”
- story703 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is currently minimal, with many players noting a lack of compelling narrative or quests, leading to a repetitive gameplay experience. While there are missions available, they often feel underwhelming and disconnected from a larger plot, leaving players hoping for future updates that will introduce a more engaging storyline and meaningful objectives. Overall, the potential for a rich narrative exists, but it remains largely unrealized in the current early access version.
“There's more of a quest line with some story and lore than I thought there would be this soon in early access, so I am super pleased having some direction to drive me forward.”
“The lore and backstory of Sunkenland are rich and well-developed, making me feel like I was part of an epic adventure.”
“With further development and adjustments, particularly in gameplay balance and storytelling, Sunkenland could become a more compelling entry in the survival game genre.”
“There's no plot/story yet.”
“The story is completely missing.”
“And finally, the game just kind of ends once you complete all the missions - there's no acknowledgement of the success or failure of the revenge quest that's been the framing device for the whole plot.”
- stability414 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting various bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, such as freezing, crashes, and issues with enemy AI. While some users find the game enjoyable despite these problems, many agree that it requires substantial work to reach a polished state, especially given its early access status. Overall, while there are fun elements and potential, the current level of instability may deter some players from fully engaging with the game until improvements are made.
“Runs great on my old dinosaur PC also.”
“It runs great, it looks great, and so far I haven't really found any game-breaking issues.”
“Not buggy at all for me for early access either.”
“Far too many game-defining glitches to have justified distribution in its current state; it could be a fun game eventually, but it needs a lot of work.”
“The game is fun/good but does start to suffer from glitches and kicks you out of the game or freezes completely.”
“It's so buggy it doesn't even render anything but a black screen and the GUI - it's been five patches and still no word from the developers on if they'll ever fix this issue I and others keep having.”
- grinding354 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it can be excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly in resource gathering and crafting. While some enjoy the grind as part of the survival experience, others find it detracts from overall gameplay enjoyment, especially when it feels repetitive or unproductive. Overall, the game offers a significant amount of grinding, which may appeal to dedicated fans of the genre but could deter those seeking a more streamlined experience.
“Not grindy and the progression is exciting in my opinion.”
“I found the trading system novel, with the gameplay intuitive and not too grindy.”
“I have to work just a little harder to get the things I need to upgrade/craft what I need, but it's not grindy at all, which I really appreciate.”
“Most survival aspects disappear entirely and are replaced by tedious grinds that add nothing to the gameplay or interest in the game.”
“The only complaint I really have is that the end game requires so much iron it gets super grindy.”
“Grinding feels like a Sisyphean task, with rewards so paltry that even a scavenger would turn up its nose.”
- music154 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as peaceful and atmospheric, effectively signaling danger with changes in intensity, which enhances gameplay. However, many players find the soundtrack repetitive and lacking variety, often suggesting the addition of more tracks to enrich the experience. While some appreciate the calming nature of the music, others recommend turning it off in favor of personal playlists, indicating a mixed reception overall.
“The music perfectly complements the atmosphere and enhances the emotional impact of the game.”
“Absolutely gorgeous, and goodness gracious, this music combined with the atmosphere of the game is so calming.”
“The soundtrack is meditative and relaxing; a perfect complement to the time spent scavenging, building, and surviving.”
“Once you defeat the last base/island, the passive music starts again and there's zero sense that you accomplished anything meaningful.”
“What it lacks is a decent soundtrack.”
“Hopefully new music gets added to the game because hearing the same 2 music tracks for hours on end gets understandably old.”
- optimization150 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, including crashes and stuttering, particularly on higher settings or with multiple players. While some users report smooth gameplay and good performance on lower-end hardware, others express frustration over the game's heavy GPU usage and lack of polish. Overall, there is a consensus that while the game shows potential, it requires substantial optimization improvements to enhance the overall experience.
“While still smoothing out some rough spots, such as occasional bugs and performance issues, 'Sunkenland' is on a promising path reminiscent of 'Rust's' early days—initially rough but continuously improving with each update, thanks to the developers' commitment and responsiveness to feedback.”
“Beautiful, well optimized, and enjoyable in both solo and co-op modes!”
“The optimization for my rig is absolutely superb; I play on what is basically a potato yet I am able to play on the highest settings.”
“As much as I want to recommend the game, I can't do it before they fix the performance of the game.”
“The game is poorly optimized but has a lot of potential; I will check it out again in the future, but for now, it had to be refunded.”
“Because the game is still horribly optimized and the game stutter/lag and camera sluggishness is still as bad as on day 1.”
- humor72 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous glitches and bugs, which players find amusing rather than frustrating. Many reviews highlight moments of laughter shared with friends, such as ridiculous animations and unexpected game mechanics, making the experience enjoyable despite its rough edges. Overall, the game's comedic elements, including quirky AI behavior and absurd scenarios, contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere that resonates well with players familiar with early access titles.
“I saw a friend clip through a wall so violently that I was coughing up phlegm from how hard we were laughing.”
“Me and my friend have been laughing at the axe hit animation for hours.”
“Boating around and fishing with guns is hilariously fun!”
- replayability44 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players find it fun and engaging with multiple paths and choices, concerns arise regarding the lack of endgame content and resource respawn mechanics. Some players feel that once certain areas are cleared, replay value diminishes significantly, though future updates and dedicated servers could enhance the experience. Overall, the potential for increased replayability exists, but it currently requires further development to fully realize it.
“Replayability: Sunkenland offers multiple paths, choices, and outcomes, which encourages replayability.”
“This makes the game more replayable without having to start over as you can do the raid again later.”
“One of the best alpha releases I've played, and with the roadmap of things to come, a lot of replayability in the future.”
“It is lacking in endgame replay value and has a long way to go in terms of development.”
“The enemies in island outposts don't respawn; once you clear it, that's it. You can only ever come back for scrap piles and loot boxes. I would like them to respawn together with the loot for the replayability factor.”
“Replayability may be an issue after you have cleared all of the current islands/landmarks.”
- atmosphere35 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and well-designed environments, particularly in the context of a post-apocalyptic setting. Players appreciate the attention to lighting, sound design, and music, which enhance the emotional experience and create a relaxing yet engaging atmosphere. However, some critiques mention that certain visual elements can be tiring on the eyes, and combat mechanics detract from the overall ambiance.
“They've paid a lot of attention to lighting and atmosphere.”
“From the moment I stepped foot in this sunken world, I was immediately drawn into its breathtaking landscapes and atmospheric soundscape.”
“Absolutely gorgeous, and goodness gracious, this music combined with the atmosphere of the game is so calming.”
“Combat feels awful, everything looks jank with very little atmosphere.”
“A very nice classic survival/crafting game set in a quite well-designed scrap post-apocalyptic atmosphere.”
“Played a number of survival games in early access, Sunkenland just hit the spot with the topic, atmosphere and gameplay.”
- monetization16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players perceiving it as a cash grab that exploits unfinished products and lacks essential gameplay features. Users express frustration over intrusive elements like the green reticle, which detracts from the experience, further fueling the sentiment that the game prioritizes profit over quality. Overall, there is a strong sense of disillusionment regarding the game's financial practices and its perceived lack of value.
“This game is starting to seem like another cash grab.”
“I feel it will come to nothing and may well be seen as a cash grab.”
“This is just yet another implicit 'cash grab' monopolizing on the Valve Corporation's absolute greed by allowing people to 'publish' and sell unfinished games as alpha or beta garbage or pre-release nonsense.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find that the game successfully fosters emotional investment through its storytelling and character relationships, enhanced by a fitting musical score that deepens the overall experience. However, some users express frustration with the game's mechanics, which detracts from their emotional engagement.
“As you progress through the game, you'll become emotionally invested in their stories and relationships, adding an extra layer of depth to the overall experience.”
“The music perfectly complements the atmosphere and enhances the emotional impact of the game.”
- character development4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in Sunkenland is praised for its well-crafted characters, each with distinct personalities and motivations. However, players express a desire for more extensive customization options, including character design features like hair and body types, to enhance the overall experience.
“Character development: the characters in Sunkenland are well-crafted with distinct personalities and motivations.”
“Melee combat is a bit sketchy, boats need vastly more options and the ability to be upgraded, a boat/boat combat system is needed, more sea creatures, land animals, interactive furniture, snap points on some things (ladders, stairs), ability to drop items, needs a big expansion of character design (hair, build, looks, etc).”
“Melee combat is a bit sketchy, boats need vastly more options and the ability to be upgraded, a boat/boat combat system is needed, more sea creatures, land animals, interactive furniture, snap points on some things (ladders, stairs), ability to drop items, needs a big expansion of character design (hair, build, looks, etc).”
