Why Am I Dead At Sea

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 624 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Why Am I Dead At Sea Game Cover
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In "Why Am I Dead At Sea," you play as a spirit stuck on a cruise ship, trying to solve your own murder mystery by possessing and communicating with the living passengers. With no memory of your past, you must uncover clues, expose secrets, and expose the killer. The game features a unique blend of adventure, puzzle-solving, and narrative-driven gameplay.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 624 reviews
story240 positive mentions
stability60 negative mentions
  • Engaging and well-written story with complex characters that keep players invested.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics involving possession and mind-reading that enhance the mystery-solving experience.
  • Charming pixel art style and a fantastic soundtrack that complement the game's atmosphere.
  • Several bugs and glitches that can lead to game-breaking situations, requiring frequent saving.
  • Pacing issues in the later chapters where progression can feel tedious and unclear.
  • Some endings feel rushed and lack closure for the main character, leaving unanswered questions.
  • story568 mentions

    The story of "Why Am I Dead at Sea" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich character development, and numerous plot twists that keep players invested throughout the experience. Many reviewers highlight the unique gameplay mechanic of possessing characters to uncover their backstories, which adds depth to the storytelling. While some players noted issues with pacing and occasional bugs, the overall consensus is that the game offers a compelling and immersive mystery that is well worth exploring for fans of story-driven games.

    • “It was fascinating how the twists and turns of the plot turn this story into something really grim and dark.”
    • “This game is a wonderful mystery story full of twists and turning perspectives, literally!”
    • “The story is engaging, the characters are well-written with interestingly realistic backstories, and every time you think you're on the right path, you find out you're not.”
    • “Perhaps I'm an idiot, but the story also never quite added up to anything for me.”
    • “The story is not very intuitive and you basically are forced to brute force your way to an ending.”
    • “The pacing of the story doesn't suffer much, but there's a relative lack of guidance and some of the things you need to do are accomplished in an unintuitive way.”
  • gameplay222 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a unique possession mechanic that allows players to interact with various characters and uncover dialogue, creating a dynamic and engaging experience. While the mechanics are inventive and the narrative is compelling, some players found the gameplay to be somewhat unintuitive and repetitive, often requiring exhaustive dialogue interactions to progress. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on the adventure genre, blending storytelling with innovative mechanics, despite some minor frustrations and bugs.

    • “The gameplay is engaging too.”
    • “The mechanics change as the player gains a better understanding of their former identity and the people around them, tying together narrative and gameplay in a way that feels satisfying and natural.”
    • “A fantastic game with fantastic characters, a wonderful mystery, and interesting gameplay; I highly recommend this game if you enjoy a good mystery.”
    • “Despite the engaging nature of the concept, the actual gameplay is rather unintuitive, and as one review pointed out, your only real strategy is trying to exhaust all your dialogue between every character, and with all the characters constantly moving around, this can be a pain, especially when you gain the ability to fully possess people, which unlocks even more conversation options.”
    • “First off, there isn't too much actual 'gameplay' in this game.”
    • “The game begins to fall apart mechanically towards the end.”
  • music182 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy chiptune style and the unique themes assigned to each character, enhancing the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Composed by Bill Kiley, the soundtrack is noted for its complexity and retro vibes, making it a standout feature that complements the game's engaging narrative and pixel art. While some players found certain tracks repetitive or not fitting for specific scenes, the majority agree that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersive experience.

    • “The music is in the same style, nice and crunchy; different characters have different themes, which is cool.”
    • “Bill Kiley does an amazing job of staying on brand with the retro vibes while still creating complex musical compositions that do a whole lot of heavy lifting!”
    • “The storytelling felt incredibly immersive and the soundtrack just blew me away.”
    • “The music is simplistic and obnoxious, and I ended up turning off the sound about a half hour after I started the game each time.”
    • “Besides that, the music sometimes does not feel fitting for the setting of the game; it's not exactly bad, it just doesn't go with the mood.”
    • “My only criticism is that one of the songs plays too much.”
  • graphics102 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming faux-retro pixel art style reminiscent of the Earthbound and Mother series, which many players found appealing and nostalgic. While some reviewers noted that the visuals are simple and occasionally drab, they effectively complement the game's atmosphere and storytelling, enhancing the overall experience. Despite minor graphical glitches and a lack of emotional expression in certain scenes, the art style is generally well-received, contributing to the game's unique identity as a mystery adventure.

    • “The graphics are earthbound-like, simple but beautiful.”
    • “All of this is accompanied by beautiful pixel graphics in the same style as Earthbound/Mother and a soulful, haunting soundtrack that is just as varied, engaging, and touching as the characters themselves.”
    • “The earthbound-style graphics really make this game feel special for some reason, and every character is presented well through their sprites.”
    • “Let down by the graphics a bit, especially in the endings, where characters can literally witness people being shot directly in front of them without a single emotion on their faces.”
    • “My low expectations must've stemmed from the visuals which, even for a retro low-res pixel style, are on the drab side—but this didn't turn out to be a hindrance to overall enjoyment.”
    • “I was looking for something more focused on complex gameplay, and was avoiding pixel graphic games like the plague considering how overused the style is.”
  • stability60 mentions

    The game has been reported to have numerous stability issues, including frequent glitches, character movement problems, and game-breaking bugs that can lead to lost progress. While some players experienced minor issues, others faced significant frustrations, particularly with NPC pathing and out-of-bounds scenarios. Overall, players are advised to save frequently to mitigate the impact of these stability problems.

    • “I encountered glitches where my character was stuck out of bounds after going up or down stairs, and lost progress several times.”
    • “There are a couple of game-breaking glitches I ran across, so that was kind of a bummer.”
    • “Prepare for unexpected freezes and glitches, and backup your saves often.”
  • emotional26 mentions

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a well-crafted narrative that explores dark themes and the struggles of everyday life, often leaving players feeling heartbroken. While the character-driven story is engaging and touching, some players found the abrupt endings unsatisfying, leaving loose ends that hindered emotional closure. Overall, it is described as a powerful storytelling experience that can evoke strong feelings and self-reflection.

    • “What matters is that this game is a storytelling masterpiece; a simultaneously disturbing and heart-wrenching character study that examines the struggles and horrors that occur during our everyday lives that, more often than not, we are completely oblivious to.”
    • “I finished it in only a few sittings and it took that long purely because there were a couple parts so heartbreaking that I had to put it down for a bit; otherwise, I'm sure I would've pushed myself through it all in a day.”
    • “I was not expecting the emotional impact this game had on me.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating music, art, and sound design, which significantly enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the tense and immersive environment, complemented by well-developed characters and a compelling plot. Despite some gameplay frustrations, the unique and brooding atmosphere, influenced by notable titles, makes it a standout choice for fans of mystery and puzzle games.

    • “Amazing game - great tense atmosphere, interesting characters, well-paced plot development.”
    • “The atmosphere in general was appealing, thanks in part to an excellent soundtrack.”
    • “Moreover, the music and the speech sound add up a lot for the overall atmosphere.”
    • “Its influences are clear; Mother 3's art style, Phoenix Wright's murder mysteries, and Ghost Trick's possession mechanic, yet it still manages to stand on its own as a unique and immensely gripping adventure, with plenty of brooding atmosphere to spare.”
    • “Some parts of the gameplay mechanics were frustrating, but the music, the art, and the atmosphere make it more than worth it.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The game's humor strikes a commendable balance between light-heartedness and darker themes, enhancing the connection to its quirky characters. While it features amusing dialogue and moments that elicit laughter, some reviewers feel it doesn't fully capture the eccentricity of classics like Earthbound or the depth of humor found in Shu Takumi's works. Overall, the humor complements the narrative's intensity, contributing to an engaging and thought-provoking experience.

    • “The game has a very light-hearted, Mother-esque sense of humor but is serious when it needs to be, creating a perfect balance that really brings you close to the cast of quirky characters around you.”
    • “It's presentation is largely welcoming and much of the dialogue is humorous, but it is immediately apparent that the narrative contains dark elements.”
    • “Funny conversations, insane mystery, satisfying gameplay, fantastic characters, everything is well played, great story; this game is amazing!”
  • grinding12 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and tiresome, often involving repetitive tasks such as backtracking through small maps and exhausting dialogue options. While some acknowledge that the map size mitigates the issue slightly, the frequent confusion with puzzles and the need to hunt for specific items contribute to a sense of monotony in gameplay.

    • “It got tiresome and a bit tedious.”
    • “I disliked that the gameplay was rather tedious and involved walking around in circles in the same area.”
    • “Progression can be a little tedious or obtuse at times, mainly due to having to exhaust dialogue options with every character combination.”
  • character development12 mentions

    The game excels in character development, featuring well-crafted writing and a deep, engaging narrative that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the retro aesthetic and pacing, which, despite some minor frustrations, serve to enrich the plot and character arcs. Overall, character development is highlighted as one of the game's standout elements.

    • “The writing is very well done and character development has quite a bit of depth and pacing to it.”
    • “The character development is one of the best things about this game.”
    • “Great character development is portrayed in this game.”
    • “Players constantly going back to specific places when you're done possessing them, as well as certain characters walking really slowly, can get a little annoying, but it's in service to the plot and character development, and that is the main focus of the game, anyway.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability with five possible endings that encourage players to revisit their choices and uncover missed hints from their initial playthrough. The structure of four investigation chapters followed by a conclusion chapter enhances this aspect, as players can explore different outcomes based on their deductions. Overall, the thoughtful design invites multiple runs for a fuller understanding of the narrative.

    • “Regardless, there is a certain replayability in the game, with hints and sentences you didn't quite understand during the first run; it was well thought-out.”
    • “Regardless, there is a certain replayability in the game, with hints and sentences you didn't quite understand during the first run. It was well thought-out.”
    • “This whole experience takes 5 chapters to wrap up - 4 investigation chapters and one conclusion chapter - and contains 5 different endings according to your ability to conclude the interrelation of all happenings during the last chapter, presenting you genuine replayability.”
    • “There are also 5 possible endings to uncover, giving some replayability to the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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