SUNLESS SEA

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,397 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
SUNLESS SEA Game Cover
Wonderful writing resting on top of infirm foundations. Almost a classic, Sunless Sea falls a few leagues short of its final destination.
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Sunless Sea is a literary role-playing game set in the Victorian-Gothic world of Fallen London. As the captain of a steamship, you explore a vast underground ocean filled with mystery and danger. Your choices shape your story as you face hunger, madness, and the constant threat of shipwreck.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,397 reviews
story802 positive mentions
grinding475 negative mentions
  • Incredible writing and atmosphere, with a unique Lovecraftian setting that immerses players in a rich narrative.
  • The game offers a vast world filled with intriguing stories and characters, encouraging exploration and discovery.
  • The legacy system allows players to pass on some progress to new captains, adding depth to the gameplay experience.
  • The gameplay can be slow and grindy, especially in the early game, leading to frustration for some players.
  • Permadeath can be punishing, as players lose significant progress upon dying, which may deter casual gamers.
  • Combat mechanics are simplistic and can feel unsatisfying, often leading players to avoid battles altogether.
  • story2,666 mentions

    The story of *Sunless Sea* is widely praised for its rich, atmospheric writing and intricate world-building, drawing players into a dark, Lovecraftian universe filled with unique characters and compelling narratives. Many reviewers highlight the game's strength in delivering engaging, text-heavy storylines that unfold through exploration and player choices, although some express frustration with the repetitive nature of quests and the slow pacing of gameplay, particularly when restarting after character deaths. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate deep storytelling and are willing to navigate its challenging mechanics for the sake of its narrative depth.

    • “The game is an incredible atmospheric storytelling experience, and I've gotten absorbed into it for hours on end.”
    • “Sunless Sea is a captivating experience that's perfect for anyone looking for a story rich with lore, an interesting world to explore, and dying at zee.”
    • “The story is rich, stylish, and somehow addictive.”
    • “It's a shame they dropped the ball on this aspect, as much of the game's true beauty lies in its mid and late game content, story-wise.”
    • “You will inevitably ask yourself whether the few fragments of story are worth the painful boredom of all those trips.”
    • “The story elements of Sunless Sea are part really great, but part a bloody mess.. the theme is all over the place with part Lovecraftian elements of slimy tentacular horror and parts weird social anecdotes about monkeys, rats and hamsters making a living on strange colonies.”
  • gameplay1,257 mentions

    The gameplay of *Sunless Sea* has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its slow pace and repetitive mechanics as significant drawbacks. While the game excels in storytelling and atmosphere, the core gameplay often feels tedious, involving long stretches of sailing with minimal action and a grindy resource management system. Despite these issues, some players find the unique narrative and exploration elements compelling enough to overlook the gameplay shortcomings, suggesting that the experience is more about the journey and story than engaging mechanics.

    • “It nails the concept of elusive storytelling: you are given bits of information about this world as you travel and, in a way, figuring out the puzzle of the world itself becomes an element of the gameplay.”
    • “Deeply satisfying gameplay, incredible music, gripping writing.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, providing the constant concept of managing supplies, fuel, and terror, which keeps you engaged enough to invest in the stories - dreamlike tales of those trapped in the underzee and how you, a zee captain, influence their lives.”
    • “The gameplay is painfully slow and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged after a few hours.”
    • “The gameplay loop is repetitive and lacks depth, often feeling like a grind rather than an enjoyable experience.”
    • “The mechanics are poorly designed and the gameplay is frustratingly slow, which detracts from the otherwise interesting narrative.”
  • atmosphere1,021 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Sunless Sea" is widely praised for its immersive, haunting, and richly detailed world, drawing players into a dark, Lovecraftian narrative filled with tension and intrigue. Reviewers highlight the game's exceptional writing, atmospheric music, and unique art style, which collectively create a sense of foreboding and exploration that captivates players, despite the slow pacing and sometimes tedious gameplay. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest asset, making it a must-try for fans of atmospheric storytelling and exploration.

    • “The game is an incredible atmospheric storytelling experience, and I've gotten absorbed into it for hours on end.”
    • “It helps you immerse yourself into this strange world which has a dark and imposing atmosphere that's simultaneously seductively mystical in that it makes you want to explore and take risks despite the obvious dangers lurking out in the zee.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, and you will have a constant sense of dread as you explore uncharted waters, or are trying to make it back to port before running out of fuel or supplies...or your crew succumbs to madness and yeets themselves overboard.”
    • “The atmosphere is dark and menacing, very lovecraftian.”
    • “The atmosphere consumes you as soon as you set sail for the first time, with the darkness that is surrounding your ship and slowly driving you and your crew toward insanity...”
    • “The atmosphere, soundtrack, and writing (don't buy if you don't like to read) are brilliant.”
  • music564 mentions

    The music in "Sunless Sea" is widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the game's immersive experience. Many players find the soundtrack to be a masterpiece that complements the eerie and dark themes of the game, often describing it as unforgettable and evocative. However, some critiques mention that the music can be sparse or repetitive, occasionally leading to moments of silence that detract from the overall experience.

    • “In addition to the game world and storytelling, the soundtrack of this game is nothing short of a masterpiece.”
    • “The music matches the game's atmosphere so perfectly that it further immerses you into the game, and many of the songs are genuinely pleasant to listen to while you're sailing to your next destination or hunting that zee-beast you need for a story quest.”
    • “The music is haunting and mood-building.”
    • “The music is droning, repetitive, and boring.”
    • “The music will stop for long periods of time.”
    • “Sometimes the music doesn't seem to play, which is certainly a downside.”
  • grinding480 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players finding it excessively tedious and slow, particularly in the early and mid-game stages. While some appreciate the immersive storytelling and atmosphere, they often feel that the required grinding detracts from the overall experience, making progress feel frustratingly slow and repetitive. Overall, the game is seen as a challenging but grind-heavy experience that may not appeal to those who prefer more dynamic gameplay.

    • “The game, if played correctly, is not grindy at all.”
    • “It's great, if not grindy.”
    • “Ultimately, games should be fun and not tedious unless you find tedium to be fun?”
    • “Their worldbuilding is superb, their wordcraft is incredible... and they insist, time after time after time to lock the best parts of their game behind punishing, grindingly slow, dull and uninteresting gameplay.”
    • “The grinding and lackluster combat the game forces on the player killed my motivation to continue.”
    • “It's a grindy browser game.”
  • graphics440 mentions

    The graphics of "Sunless Sea" are widely praised for their unique, atmospheric art style that effectively conveys the game's dark, steampunk, and Lovecraftian themes. While some players find the visuals simple or lacking in detail, many appreciate the hand-drawn quality and how the artwork enhances the immersive storytelling experience. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics, haunting music, and rich lore creates a captivating atmosphere that draws players into its eerie world.

    • “The game's graphics are gorgeous and intricate, creating a sense of depth and realism that immerses you in the world of the Unterzee.”
    • “The artwork is beautiful, bringing this eerie and mysterious world to life, and the piles atop piles of lore will keep you invested in the universe.”
    • “The visuals are beautiful and atmospheric, working great as the first line of the game's worldbuilding.”
    • “Compared to Sunless Sea, the graphics are a bit dull; however, I would love a retexture update.”
    • “The graphics are minimal, but what there is is very polished.”
    • “The game doesn't have much of an atmosphere after you've quickly realized that the dark-green steampunk aesthetic will forever remain completely static.”
  • humor158 mentions

    The humor in "Sunless Sea" is characterized by a unique blend of dark, macabre wit and absurdity, often juxtaposed with elements of horror and mystery. Players appreciate the game's clever writing, which delivers both chilling and humorous narratives, creating an immersive experience that is both unsettling and entertaining. The humor is described as dry and British, with many finding it charmingly quirky, though some critiques mention that it may not resonate with everyone, particularly those who prefer more straightforward comedic styles.

    • “Everything about this game oozes personality from its gorgeous art to its antiquated style of darkly humorous writing.”
    • “The writing is superb with dark humor and genuine horror.”
    • “It's darkly humorous, rather than bleak and grimdark, full of interesting locations.”
    • “If you're looking for fun with this game, you might find cannibalism, and believe me, it's not funny.”
    • “It's not funny at all.”
  • replayability141 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its random map generation, diverse story branches, and the ability to pass on wealth and traits to heirs, encouraging players to explore different strategies and outcomes. Many players appreciate the depth of choices and the unique experiences offered in each playthrough, although some note that the game can become repetitive over time. Overall, it is recognized for its immersive world and engaging narrative, making it a favorite for those who enjoy exploration and storytelling.

    • “One of my favorite all-time games, it has something that no other game has ever provided me: insane replayability. Playing late at night, dimming the lights, and losing myself in the zee with the amazing soundtrack is really hard to beat.”
    • “All in all, this will always be one of my most favorite games I've ever played for the sheer amount of choices and ways things can play out. It has almost infinite replayability, and every playthrough and choice leads to a very fascinating side of the world you haven't seen before.”
    • “The shifting map ensures that every new character will have a different exploration experience, ensuring replayability.”
    • “In the end, this may be a 'power through it once' kind of game, but it's not what I wanted or how it's advertised as a highly replayable trade/exploration sim.”
    • “While the game has some replayability, you can only do the same things so much to just get different endings on different storylines.”
    • “I don't know if the replayability works out as well as the designers hoped, since although you can pick up with a new character after you die, you still have to spend hours grinding through the exact same stories you went through the first time, and that can be a bit soul destroying.”
  • emotional30 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players experiencing a wide range of feelings from joy to heartbreak, particularly through its storytelling and character development. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions, such as sadness from unexpected losses and nostalgia from revisiting the game after a hiatus. However, some players also note that frustrating gameplay mechanics can detract from the emotional investment, making it a bittersweet experience overall.

    • “It's a much bigger emotional roller coaster than the average roguelike, and feels almost similar to Darkwood in the best ways.”
    • “Permanently losing a captain is heartbreaking, and although that is an impactful message through gameplay, it really kills your will to keep going.”
    • “It's one of the most atmospheric games I've ever played, and can in the space of a few hours be horrifying, beautiful, heartbreaking, and surprisingly funny.”
  • stability17 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, including issues with save/load functionality, random freezes, and combat glitches. Despite being over two years old, many players feel it remains in an unfinished state, likening it to a buggy beta or early access title. While some users claim the game is relatively stable, the overall consensus points to significant stability problems that detract from the experience.

    • “Some bugs with save/load and random freezes.”
    • “"Continue" doesn't work; it just freezes the game.”
    • “Ultimately felt buggy, unfinished, unpolished.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, the optimization aspect of the game is seen as a gradual process that benefits from player knowledge and strategy, with users noting that performance and stability are strong. While there is potential for replayability, achieving optimal playthroughs may require avoiding external guides and relying on the game's stat system for success in challenges and combat.

    • “Performance and stability are great.”
    • “It's a slow, steady process which may require some foreknowledge and optimization to really pull off.”
    • “There's lots of room for replay here as long as you don't decide to Google answers for optimized playthrough.”
    • “- a stat system with both a % chance to complete challenges, and ship combat performance based on your stats.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for being misleading, with users feeling it resembles a cash grab rather than a fully developed game. Many believe it should be marketed as a visual novel to align expectations, suggesting a lack of depth and effort in its creation.

    • “Seems like a lazy cash grab and nothing a couple of computer science grads couldn't make in a few weeks on Unity with the help of an artist and musician.”
    • “I want to like this kind of thing; a lot of people seem to be getting a lot of fun out of it, but I cannot recommend this 'game' until they start advertising it as a visual novel.”
    • “Truth in advertising.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Overall, reviews indicate that the game lacks substantial character development, with many players feeling that it does not meet the expectations of a true RPG. While there are interesting characters and narratives, the depth and growth of these characters are minimal, leaving them largely unmemorable.

    • “I believe the game has too little content and character development to be a real RPG.”
    • “It's just that none of that matters, and very little character development occurs after that point.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

Buy SUNLESS SEA

Play time

22hMedian play time
55hAverage play time
19hMain story
116hCompletionist
6-80hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 69 analyzed playthroughs

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