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Wretched Depths

Wretched Depths Game Cover
97%Game Brain Score
story, atmosphere
grinding
97% User Score Based on 378 reviews

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Wretched Depths Game Cover

About

Wretched Depths is a single player survival sport game with a horror theme. It was developed by velociraptoaster and was released on April 26, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Play as Sam and fish to your hearts content, sell fish you've caught, collect better gear, and use it to explore the depths of the mysterious lake, but be warned as no one knows what lies at the bottom. Wretched Depths is a PSX-style horror fishing game created by students at the University of Utah.

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Wretched Depths screenshot
Wretched Depths screenshot
Wretched Depths screenshot
Wretched Depths screenshot
Wretched Depths screenshot
Wretched Depths screenshot
Wretched Depths screenshot
Wretched Depths screenshot
Wretched Depths screenshot
Wretched Depths screenshot
Wretched Depths screenshot
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97%
Audience ScoreBased on 378 reviews
story22 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Wretched Depths is a fun and engaging short game that combines fishing with horror elements, providing a unique experience.
  • The game's PS1-style graphics and atmospheric sound design create a charming and eerie vibe that enhances the overall experience.
  • As a free game, it offers great value, with many players expressing a desire for more content and a longer playtime.
  • Many players found the game too short, with some completing it in under an hour and wishing for more content and story development.
  • The fishing mechanics can be frustrating, particularly with inventory management issues, such as being unable to release unwanted fish.
  • Some reviews noted that the game lacks depth in its storytelling and character development, leaving players wanting more narrative engagement.
  • story
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is described as intriguing and atmospheric, featuring creepy elements and unexpected twists, though many players feel it is too short and could benefit from further development. While some appreciate the depth and connections within the narrative, others criticize it for being basic or lacking coherence. Overall, the story is seen as a strong point, with potential for expansion and improvement in future updates.

    • “Great graphics and atmosphere alongside an intriguing short story.”
    • “I loved, loved, loved this little fishing story about endless horrors lying beneath the surface.”
    • “The story is really interesting, and I would recommend you give it a try.”
    • “The story makes no sense, and you can't throw back the fish you don’t want.”
    • “The storyline just doesn't exist.”
    • “Although the game attempts to convey a captivating narrative, it is currently difficult to fully grasp the storyline based on the available information.”
  • atmosphere
    45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming PS1-style graphics, eerie sound design, and immersive world-building, creating a unique blend of relaxation and tension. Players appreciate the haunting ambiance and intriguing story elements, which enhance the overall experience without relying heavily on jump scares. The combination of art style, music, and gameplay mechanics contributes to a captivating and spooky atmosphere that resonates well with players.

    • “But where this game truly shines is in the atmosphere; it just oozes with PS1 charm.”
    • “Great world building and atmospheric build-up, amazing design work, and an intriguing, unraveling story.”
    • “This game shows that all you need is a creative mindset to create a creepy atmosphere.”
    • “The game already makes me walk dreadfully slow and has no run option, which does not lend itself to the atmosphere at all; it just makes the relatively barren exploration more tedious.”
    • “No jumpscares but to be honest, the atmosphere and eeriness are enough.”
    • “Some people may not understand the choice to go with the retro PSX graphics, but I think it absolutely adds to the overall feel and atmosphere of the game.”
  • gameplay
    37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by simple, intuitive fishing mechanics that are both relaxing and enjoyable, with a variety of species to catch. Players appreciate the charming art style and atmospheric elements, although some feel the game could benefit from deeper storytelling and more complex mechanics. Overall, the gameplay is engaging and well-suited for a short, immersive experience, making it appealing to both casual and dedicated players.

    • “This game is beyond amazing; the story is so deep for the length of the game. The way things are connected is insane. I would honestly put this game up there with games like Dark Souls or even Red Dead as far as quality of the story goes, not to mention the gameplay is fun and somewhat unique. For a fishing game, this is amazing.”
    • “The fishing mechanics are relaxing and well done; I never once felt frustrated reeling a fish in.”
    • “Absolutely brilliant! Good art, good gameplay, good music, and excellent atmosphere.”
    • “Even though this game combines both, I think it lacks strong storytelling and solid fishing mechanics.”
    • “It's basically a carbon copy of 'Mysteries Under Lake Ophelia', and while the aesthetics in Wretched Depths are probably much better than the N64 style of Lake Ophelia, the gameplay in Ophelia is essentially better in every way.”
    • “The day/night cycle was interesting, but didn't seem to have any effect on gameplay.”
  • graphics
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming PS1-style retro aesthetic, which enhances the overall atmosphere and nostalgia for players. Many reviewers appreciate the pixelated visuals and the eerie art style, which contribute to the game's spooky ambiance and engaging gameplay. However, some criticism arises regarding certain graphical choices, such as the pixelation filter and visibility issues with larger fish, which detract from the experience for a few players.

    • “Great graphics and atmosphere alongside an intriguing short story.”
    • “The PSX styled graphics, the variety of fish and equipment to unlock, and the strange occurrences that happen throughout the town and lake as the player progresses all make for a compelling fishing/paranormal investigation/mystery adventure game.”
    • “The PS1 graphics made the game so charming and atmospheric, and though very short, it was very fun to explore and try to fish out everything to fill out the notebook.”
    • “The pixelated/aliased filter that goes over the screen while in the water does not do the graphics any favors, and the larger fish take up the entire screen while hooked so that we can't even see their in-game models clearly, which seem to be intended as one of the main appeals of the game.”
    • “Wretched Depths is a student-project version of the same, done in PS1-style early 3D graphics.”
    • “Initially I said to give it a shot because it seems interesting, but after playing for about 30 minutes I've realized it's just not very well designed in any way other than some of the retro graphics.”
  • music
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players highlighting its calming and immersive qualities. The inclusion of radio music adds an extra layer to the experience, contributing to the game's charming art style and spooky vibe. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, elevating the gameplay and leaving a lasting impression on players.

    • “Such a creative, well-made game with amazing music that was playing in my headphones for the entire game.”
    • “I think that the radio (which you can either keep on or off) and the music adds a nice little touch to the vibe of the whole game.”
    • “Absolutely brilliant, good art, good gameplay, good music, and excellent atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack eats.”
    • “Though this game adds some cool extra features, story elements, radio music and a bit more creativity, but at the core it follows the exact formula of Ophelia.”
    • “Not many jumpscares, music to calm my nerves, and sick old style graphics.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that while the game involves significant grinding, such as achieving specific goals and collecting items, it remains engaging due to the incremental challenges it presents. However, the slow movement speed detracts from the experience, making exploration feel tedious and less immersive. Overall, the grind is seen as a mix of enjoyable progression and frustrating pacing.

    • “The game already makes me walk dreadfully slow and has no run option, which does not lend itself to the atmosphere at all; it just makes the relatively barren exploration more tedious.”
    • “The game contained mostly grinding, but it was fun and always kept giving me a bit more of a challenge every time.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers moderate replayability primarily for players interested in collecting all fish, but overall, it lacks depth, with limited exploration and interaction in the world, reducing the incentive to replay.

    • “Enjoyable and replayable if you want to collect all the fish.”
    • “The game offers a variety of challenges and collectibles that make each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “With multiple paths and outcomes, every session can lead to a different experience.”
    • “Not going to find much in the way of replayability; the only real things to find in the world are some tape recorders left by another crazy fisherman trying to discover the truth. The town is pretty much just the fishing shop and some basic buildings that you can't enter or interact with.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its playful fishing theme, with users finding the concept of "catching funny fish" amusing. Additionally, a specific moment involving a character's humorous disappearance into the lake adds to the comedic elements, enhancing the overall lighthearted experience.

    • “Fishing is funny; gotta catch them all!”
    • “The way [spoiler]the black figure[/spoiler] disappears into the lake is hilarious.”
    • “The funny fish really adds to the humor of the fishing experience.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be surprisingly engaging, with its wholesome atmosphere and art style evoking a sense of warmth and curiosity, even among those who typically avoid horror games. The game's accessibility as a free title further enhances its appeal, inviting a broader audience to explore its emotional depth.

    • “I'm really not one for horror games, but something about the atmosphere and the art style made me feel like giving it a try.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are intentionally designed to evoke a PS2-era aesthetic, which contributes to its low performance demands and effectively caters to nostalgia without requiring high-end hardware.

    • “The graphics are designed to emulate the PS2 era, so nothing super demanding performance-wise, and it definitely fits the nostalgia niche they were aiming to fill.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Wretched Depths is a survival sport game with horror theme.

Wretched Depths is available on PC, Windows and PlayStation.

Wretched Depths was released on April 26, 2023.

Wretched Depths was developed by velociraptoaster.

Wretched Depths has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Wretched Depths is a single player game.

Similar games include DREDGE, The Children of Clay, Project Kat: Paper Lily Prologue, Crow Country, Scanner Sombre and others.