Voices from the Sea

About

"Voices from the Sea" is a narrative-driven game following Cantus, a young boy, who encounters the enigmatic Maris near the sea. As their friendship deepens, collect seashells to uncover hidden wallpapers and secrets, immersing in an experience that will forever change Cantus' life. This game offers an engaging story with charming visuals and soothing sounds for a relaxing yet captivating adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 907 reviews

story260 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a heartwarming story that resonates with players, emphasizing the importance of family and friendship.
The artwork and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience and atmosphere of the game.
It's a free visual novel that provides a touching narrative in a short amount of time, making it accessible for anyone looking for a quick yet meaningful experience.

The game is very short, taking only about 30-60 minutes to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
Choices in the game have minimal impact on the story, leading to a linear experience that some players may find unsatisfying.
The lack of voice acting in the free version may detract from the immersion for some players.

story
549 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The story of "Voices from the Sea" is a short, heartwarming narrative centered around a lonely boy named Cantus who meets a cheerful girl named Maris, leading to personal growth and a deeper appreciation for life. While the plot is often described as simple and predictable, many players found it touching and relatable, with beautiful art and music enhancing the experience. However, some critiques highlight its linearity and lack of impactful choices, making it feel more like a brief interactive story than a fully developed visual novel.
- “The story was short, sweet, and beautiful.”
- “Voices from the sea is a touching story that won't reduce you to tears, but will melt your heart.”
- “The story is very heartwarming, and although it is short, you can get pretty into it.”
- “The story is linear, and the dialogue doesn't change that much based on the choices; it always begins and ends the same way.”
- “Voices from the sea is a visual novel with a bit of a cliché, boring storyline.”
- “The story had little substance and the line-by-line dialogue was very rough and clunky.”
music
180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
43%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and soothing qualities, effectively complementing the story and enhancing the overall atmosphere. Many players appreciate the beautiful soundtrack, noting that it evokes emotions and fits well with the game's themes, despite some criticism regarding its repetitiveness and limited variety. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The music is beautiful, the visuals are well crafted, and the writing is such that I couldn't tear myself away.”
- “The music helps build a great atmosphere, and the story is simply shocking.”
- “Voices from the Sea is a beautiful story with an amazing soundtrack that makes you think about the behaviors we have with many things you probably forgot due to your age.”
- “The game does have a little quality put into the backgrounds, but the actual animation and music are just... bland and cheap-looking.”
- “The prose is incredibly weak and akin to that of a fanfiction, the characters are plain boring and the OST gets repetitive rather quickly.”
- “The only gripe about it I can think of is that there's no transition to the music tracks, like no fade in or fade out when the tracks have to change.”
emotional
134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartwarming and touching narrative, often evoking strong feelings and even tears from players. While some reviews note a lack of depth or rushed pacing, the overall sentiment highlights the game's ability to connect with players through relatable themes and beautiful visuals, making it a memorable experience. Many players appreciate the simplicity and innocence of the story, which resonates deeply, particularly in its emotional conclusion.
- “Voices from the Sea conveys, beneath a cute and sometimes comedic complexion, a strong and touching message.”
- “The story is monumentally touching and heartwarming.”
- “This was a very emotional and beautiful game that really tugged at my heart and made me contemplate its meanings.”
- “Voices from the Sea is a visual novel with a cliché, boring storyline.”
graphics
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beautiful and charming artwork, with many users appreciating the anime style and vibrant colors. While some noted that the visuals are simple and occasionally repetitive, the overall aesthetic is considered captivating and well-suited to the game's heartwarming narrative. As a free visual novel, the graphics are seen as a strong point, enhancing the overall experience despite some minor criticisms.
- “I love everything about the art style (will probably get the art book because yes).”
- “The visuals and artwork are beautiful, and the story itself was heartwarming.”
- “The music is beautiful, the visuals are well crafted, and the writing is such that I couldn't tear myself away.”
- “The artwork for Maris is the part with the lighting issues I noticed, with what looked like the sun being above her on her hair and yet it was reflected on her clothes from another angle at the same time.”
- “The art style and story all seem to be kind of generic, for lack of a better description.”
- “The music has the same problem as the graphics.”
humor
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it cute, charming, and capable of eliciting genuine laughter, despite some moments being more subdued or sad. While the comedic elements are often described as lighthearted and sweet, some reviews note that the humor can be hit or miss, with a few finding it shallow or reliant on familiar tropes. Overall, the game is seen as a fun and relaxing experience, with a blend of funny moments and emotional depth.
- “Cute story, sweet humor, beautiful art, and lovely music.”
- “It’s a cute, funny slice of life that takes only 1 hour of your time at max.”
- “The story has plenty of funny moments and goes for charm and sweetness when the characters aren’t being goofy.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
69%
12%
The gameplay in this visual novel is largely minimal, consisting mainly of simple mechanics like collecting seashells and making binary choices, which some players found lacking compared to traditional games. While the gameplay is often described as basic and not particularly engaging, many reviewers appreciated the story and character presentation, suggesting that the game is more about the narrative experience than interactive gameplay. Overall, it appeals primarily to those who enjoy visual novels for their storytelling rather than gameplay depth.
- “The gameplay mostly is comprised of collecting and choosing different shells, all of which trigger a different response from our cute mystery girl Maris.”
- “Original story, loving characters, and standard gameplay with a surprising ending, not your common novel.”
- “The music was well done, the character art and backgrounds were cute, and the gameplay was enjoyable.”
- “No gameplay, so it's not worth playing as a game - but also the most basic story ever told in visual novels and any novel a million times.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which presents the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “Gameplay-wise, there's not much to bite into aside from making binary choices and collecting seashells, but the real strength of the game is in the presentation and story, and both are very nice. So nice, in fact, I think it's a real shame this isn't a real anime show!”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
Character development in the game is highlighted through the evolving relationship between the two main characters, Cantus and Maris, as Maris persistently supports Cantus in finding happiness. However, some reviewers note that the short length of the story limits deeper character growth, with Maris's role primarily serving Cantus's narrative rather than showcasing her own development. Overall, while the character designs are praised, the depth of emotional investment is somewhat constrained by the brevity of the story.
- “The character development of the two characters was very in-depth as the storyline flowed very smoothly.”
- “You can clearly see the development of the two main characters (Cantus and Maris) as Maris tries again and again each day to help Cantus achieve his happiness, which she eventually succeeds in at the end.”
- “I beat it in a little under an hour, but the story was very interesting and I loved the feel of character development.”
- “Instead of any real character development, her purpose is just to exist for Cantus's sake.”
- “The story is very short, so short that there is no time for character development or emotional investment in the characters.”
- “The character development of the two characters was very indepth as the storyline flowed very smoothly.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful art, soothing music, and engaging story, creating a relaxing and emotionally resonant experience. Players appreciate the calming ambiance that enhances the overall enjoyment, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “But you can’t go wrong with a game that has great art, a great story, and a beautiful soundtrack that adds atmosphere and deep emotion.”
- “The music helps build a great atmosphere, and the story is simply shocking.”
- “As a visual novel, this was somewhat soothing to enjoy, provides a peaceful atmosphere, and is easy to read through.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening it to a frustratingly slow reading experience where progress is hindered by the need to click through text. This repetitive clicking can feel laborious, leading some to suggest that it requires an excessive amount of time and effort, akin to needing a second life to complete.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or 2001: A Space Odyssey or Twilight (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with some users noting that the addition of seashells offers a slight incentive to revisit the game. However, those on the free version feel less motivated to engage with replay elements.
- “The seashells were a nice little addition for some replayability, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “Replay value: not much replayability.”
- “The game lacks incentives to play through again.”
- “Once you've completed it, there's little reason to return.”