Swallow The Blue: Remastered

About

An eerie horror game set in a weird hotel plagued with bizarre beings and interesting characters. The game utilizes a never-used before environment alongside brand new horror mechanics, one of a kind graphics/art style, and an unnerving story with rich lore to create a unique experience for players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 56 reviews

story6 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

The game creates a creepy and suspenseful atmosphere with unique lore and interesting visuals.
The story is captivating and keeps players engaged, with some players noting its originality and depth.
The soundtrack and sound design enhance the overall experience, contributing to the game's eerie vibe.

The dialogue is slow and often unskippable, making it tedious for players to progress through the game.
The controls are clunky and uncomfortable, particularly the running mechanics, which require constant key tapping.
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, including freezing issues and frustrating save mechanics that disrupt gameplay.

story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The story is generally praised for its captivating atmosphere and unique concept, with some users highlighting its originality and depth. However, there are criticisms regarding its execution, with mentions of bugs and a lack of guidance that detracts from the overall experience. While many find the storytelling engaging, some feel it could have been developed further to enhance the narrative impact.
- “Fantastic atmosphere and a captivating story.”
- “The concept itself was original and the story was unique, although it feels like there could have been much more. The game itself feels like you're in some sort of cross between an odd Twin Peaks/Soundgarden (Black Hole Sun) music video, where everything is slightly unnerving and layered with a feeling that makes you a bit uncomfortable, like something seriously bad is about to go down.”
- “The rich story, the graphics, the jumpscares... it's amazing.”
- “Somewhat buggy, and I don't think the story is all that good.”
- “Not sure if that's supposed to happen, but I'm guessing it doesn't because nothing is added to the story from it.”
- “Hope for more guidance for the puzzle resolving - the game is more about the storytelling and horror experience, after all.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The gameplay has received mixed feedback, with players appreciating the unique mechanics, such as closing the eyes to avoid detection, but feeling that these features are underutilized. While the atmosphere and story are engaging, issues like glitches and random crashes detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, many players find the gameplay enjoyable and innovative, particularly in the context of horror elements.
- “The mechanics to this game were different, and the whole idea of closing your eyes to avoid detection was a nice feature.”
- “I have never seen any horror mechanics like this and I think they are one-of-a-kind.”
- “I enjoyed the game a pretty good amount; the scares are decent, and I love how they use the mechanics to create mini-games.”
- “Uncomfortable mechanics.”
- “If you ever have the chance, please fix the glitches, and maybe consider the comments on the mechanics.”
- “I was questioning the mechanics and gameplay up until the point that I got freaked out.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its creepy and suspenseful qualities, enhanced by strong sound design and captivating visuals that draw players into its mystical lore. While some reviewers noted flaws in gameplay mechanics and occasional crashes, the overall ambiance and storytelling effectively engage players from start to finish.
- “Fantastic atmosphere and a captivating story.”
- “The sound design, music, and levels all complement each other and create a fantastic atmosphere. Well done.”
- “If Swallow the Blue did one thing right, it's that it succeeded in creating a creepy, suspenseful atmosphere with mystical lore and the like.”
- “The soundtrack, if you can call it that, was absolutely spot-on and really brought me into the atmosphere created by the visuals and dialogue.”
- “The gameplay, the artwork, atmosphere, characters, the story, lore, music, sounds.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with frequent glitches, crashes, and freezes that disrupt gameplay and diminish enjoyment. Players report unpredictable deaths and the need for resets, indicating that while there are some interesting mechanics, the overall experience is marred by technical issues.
- “Constant glitches and need of resets.”
- “Crashes or freezes regularly, and you will die instantly at weird and unpredictable times.”
- “It has a few neat ideas but too janky and buggy to be enjoyed.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The graphics of the game are praised for their unique and grotesque art style, contributing to a thrilling atmosphere that enhances the horror puzzle experience. While some reviewers note that the art style isn't entirely original, the retro graphics and overall visual presentation are described as beautiful and effective in immersing players in the game's rich story and ambiance.
- “Amazing game, short, mysterious, and beautiful retro graphics.”
- “The rich story, the graphics, the jumpscares... it's amazing.”
- “The graphics and storyline are amazing.”
- “The graphics are outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
- “The character models look flat and lifeless, making it hard to connect with the game.”
- “The environments feel bland and uninspired, failing to create an immersive experience.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to create a unique and unsettling atmosphere that complements the grotesque art style and engaging story. Reviewers note that the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, immersing players in a thrilling and eerie environment reminiscent of a surreal music video. Overall, the sound design effectively contributes to the game's tension and ambiance.
- “The credit music is also absolutely wonderful!”
- “It is a really unique and exciting horror puzzle game, with grotesque art style and thrilling background music.”
- “The concept itself was original and the story was unique (although it feels like there could have been much more); the game itself feels like you're in some sort of cross between an odd Twin Peaks/Soundgarden (Black Hole Sun) music video, where everything is slightly unnerving and layered with a feeling that makes you a bit uncomfortable, like something seriously bad is about to go down, but it fizzles out.”
- “The soundtrack, if you can call it that, was absolutely spot-on and really brought me into the atmosphere created by the visuals and dialogue.”
- “The gameplay, the artwork, atmosphere, characters, the story, lore, music, sounds.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players appreciate completely free-to-play games that do not include in-app purchases, emphasizing that these titles offer a risk-free opportunity to try them without any financial commitment.
- “With most of the completely free-to-play games I've played, I believe it's free, so get it and give it a try... it doesn't cost you anything.”
- “The monetization model is fair and allows players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a variety of ways to earn in-game currency without having to spend real money.”
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money just to enjoy basic features.”
- “It's frustrating that essential content is locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
- “The game constantly bombards you with ads and offers, which detracts from the overall experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when having to repeat sections due to minor mistakes, which can lead to frustration and doubts about continuing. However, some feel that persevering through the grind ultimately pays off for a rewarding experience.
- “Having to redo certain parts of the game after making a slight error is tedious and makes me question whether it's worth continuing to play.”
- “The grinding feels excessive and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “I found myself stuck in a loop of repetitive tasks that made the experience feel more like a chore than fun.”