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
Cloud
NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Reviews
- Great atmosphere and graphics, especially underwater.
- Engaging crafting and base-building mechanics.
- Fun gameplay loop with exploration and resource gathering.
- Gameplay can feel clunky and unpolished at times.
- Enemy AI can be frustrating, with issues like aimbot accuracy.
- Frequent crashes and bugs, especially after updates.
- gameplay576 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Sunkenland" presents a mixed bag of experiences, with many players noting its potential but also highlighting significant issues such as clunky mechanics, repetitive gameplay loops, and unbalanced systems. While some enjoy the engaging crafting, exploration, and survival elements, others find the combat and building mechanics lacking, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game shows promise with its unique underwater setting and cooperative play, but it requires substantial refinement and balancing to fully realize its potential.
“The gameplay and atmosphere switch between the most beautiful and relaxing oceanic exploration and gathering game, to a tense survival situation that likely ends in the player just making it with one bullet left and bleeding in shark-infested waters.”
“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.”
“The gameplay feels stiff and clunky, and doesn't feel even a little smooth and fun.”
“The gameplay is boring and it's hard to find a reason to really try and play this game; I got bored within 10 minutes of collecting resources.”
“The gameplay loop is incredibly boring and unrewarding.”
- graphics394 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning underwater visuals and overall aesthetic, while others criticize the optimization issues and inconsistent quality of textures. Many users noted that while the water graphics are particularly impressive, other elements, such as character models and certain environments, appear outdated or poorly rendered. Overall, there is a consensus that while the graphics show potential and have improved over time, further optimization and refinement are needed to enhance the overall experience.
“The graphics are stunning and will get even better once the update on the PTR goes live.”
“Beautiful graphics, and the controls are intuitive; I did switch up the action key bind to 'e'.”
“The graphics are excellent, but as with any early release game, there are things that need to be worked out.”
“At maxed graphic settings, I was not impressed - only some stuff looks right, while other objects are weirdly unfocused and un-rendered.”
“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 visuals are so outdated that I've seen more cutting-edge graphics on my grandmother's flip phone.”
- story359 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is currently minimal and lacks depth, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of a compelling narrative or meaningful quests. While some missions exist, they often feel disconnected and repetitive, leading to a sense of aimlessness in gameplay. Players are hopeful for future updates that will introduce a richer storyline and more engaging content to enhance the overall experience.
“With a great storyline and interesting crafting and goals, I really enjoyed this a lot.”
“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.”
“Everything in the game is randomly placed, so nothing tells a story anywhere - this makes exploration take the final nosedive into not existing as there is just... nothing to find?”
“There's no actual story; the running around gathering stuff, chopping wood, etc., all feels very stiff and what I call arcade-y.”
“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.”
- stability208 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that impact gameplay, such as freezing, UI issues, and enemy AI problems. While some players find the glitches amusing and manageable, others express frustration over game-breaking issues and a lack of polish, particularly in early access. Overall, while the game shows promise and is enjoyable, it requires substantial work to address its stability issues.
“That said, the setting is cool and it's bug free for the most part.”
“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.”
“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 still quite buggy since it's in beta currently, and I noticed that a lot of people say it's no more than 25 hours of gameplay, but I am personally a slow game explorer who also works outside of playing Steam games, and I haven't even explored half the map on single player.”
- grinding179 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some appreciate the depth and challenge it adds to crafting and resource gathering, many find it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in terms of collecting materials and upgrading equipment. Overall, the game offers a significant amount of grinding, which can be enjoyable for some but may deter others seeking a more streamlined experience.
“Gathering resources is also fun and not tedious (think Subnautica).”
“Not grindy and the progression is exciting in my opinion.”
“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.”
“The enemies are laughable, the workbenches are bugged making you lose resources that you spend hours grinding on.”
“Most survival aspects disappear entirely and are replaced by tedious grinds that add nothing to the gameplay or interest in the game.”
“Grinding feels like a Sisyphean task, with rewards so paltry that even a scavenger would turn up its nose.”
- music77 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as peaceful and atmospheric, often shifting from calming melodies to intense battle themes that signal danger, enhancing the gameplay experience. However, many players find the soundtrack repetitive and lacking variety, with calls for additional tracks to be added. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, it could benefit from more diversity to maintain player engagement.
“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.”
- optimization76 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, particularly on lower-end hardware, leading to high GPU usage and occasional stuttering. While some users report smooth gameplay and good performance overall, especially in single-player mode, others highlight the need for further optimizations and bug fixes, particularly in co-op mode. Overall, the game shows potential for improvement as developers continue to address these concerns through updates.
“The performance is very stable, even in co-op mode with 7 friends playing together.”
“Beautiful, well optimized, and enjoyable in both solo and co-op modes!”
“Despite being in early access, the game is very much playable and well-optimized.”
“Great game has great potential but it's very badly optimized; very heavy on GPU, my 3090 Ti goes crazy on low settings even.”
“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 stutter/lag and camera sluggishness is still as bad as on day one.”
- humor37 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous glitches and absurd mechanics, which players find entertaining rather than frustrating. Many reviews highlight the comedic value of bot behavior, character animations, and unexpected game interactions, making it a fun experience, especially when played with friends. Despite its rough edges and early access status, the game's quirky charm and humorous elements resonate well with players who appreciate a lighthearted approach to gaming.
“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!”
- replayability23 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed positively, with many players appreciating the variety of content and multiple paths that encourage repeated play. However, some users express concerns about the lack of endgame content and resource respawning, which could limit long-term replay value. Future updates and enhancements are anticipated to significantly improve replayability.
“I feel it's easily worth the box price as I believe there's plenty of content and replayability that the cost to value is in a good spot.”
“Replayability: Sunkenland offers multiple paths, choices, and outcomes, which encourages replayability.”
“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.”
- atmosphere19 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and beautifully designed environments, combining elements of relaxation and tension effectively. Players appreciate the attention to detail in lighting and sound, which enhances the emotional experience, although some find certain aspects, like repetitive music, to detract from the overall ambiance. Overall, the game successfully creates a captivating atmosphere that draws players into its sunken world, making exploration and crafting enjoyable.
“The gameplay and atmosphere switch between the most beautiful and relaxing oceanic exploration and gathering game, to a tense survival situation that likely ends in the player just making it with one bullet left and bleeding in shark-infested waters.”
“From the moment I stepped foot in this sunken world, I was immediately drawn into its breathtaking landscapes and atmospheric soundscape.”
“Combat feels awful, everything looks jank with very little atmosphere.”
“Absolutely gorgeous, and goodness gracious, this music combined with the atmosphere of the game is so calming.”
“I absolutely love the environment and overall atmosphere of this game.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism from users who perceive it as a cash grab, particularly due to the presence of intrusive features like the green reticle and the overall quality of the game being likened to unfinished products. Many players feel that the game exploits players' nostalgia and the current gaming market's trends, leading to frustration over perceived greed and lack of genuine content.
“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 absolute greed of the Valve Corporation by allowing people to 'publish' and sell unfinished games as alpha or beta garbage or pre-release nonsense.”
- emotional4 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 development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in Sunkenland is praised for its well-crafted characters with distinct personalities and motivations, but players express a desire for more depth and variety in character customization options, including hair, build, and appearance. Additionally, there are calls for improvements in gameplay mechanics and environmental interactions 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, and there needs to be a big expansion of character design (hair, build, looks, etc).”
