Still Wakes the Deep (2024)

Still Wakes the Deep finds the balance between its simple gameplay and an excellent survival horror setting. Caz Mcleary's journey is not only a story of overcoming, but also of love, told through one of the best psychological horror narrative experiences released recently.

Despite the shortcomings in interaction and gameplay complexity, Still Wakes the Deep has an appeal through its linear, but high-quality set pieces and engaging storytelling.

The team's reputation in visual design and soundtrack are supplemented by a tautened horror thriller that's oftentimes engaging to watch; however, it's degraded by shallow mechanics that are typically unrewarding to play. Like oil and water, there's an incongruous mixture of creativity within its setting (both spoken and unspoken) and utter predictability within its foundation. Genre fans can treat it like oil spill remediation, mentally separating the two enough to at least appreciate its better qualities.

With its atmosphere, story, gameplay, editing, sense of tension and fantastic finale, it is an experience that everyone should experience.

With its strong presentation and mix of survival elements, Still Wakes the Deep reinforces the strong streak of walking sim-adjacent games that we’ve been blessed with lately.