Sword of the Sea is the new game from Giant Squid, the studio behind Abzû and The Pathless. The game has officially launched today, and is available on PlayStation 5, PC, and even day 1 on PlayStation Plus. After just a few hours, reviews are already in with some seriously high praise.
With scores ranging from 8 to 10 out of 10, Sword of the Sea is already being called a must-play. But what exactly makes it so special, and why are players loving it so much?
Why Critics Love It
The majority of the reviewers agree the magic of Sword of the Sea comes down to three key areas!
- Flow-based traversal – The Hoversword, a mix of snowboard, skateboard, and hoverboard, lets you surf across vast seas of sand at speeds of up to 170 mph. Controls are clean, momentum-based, and deeply satisfying. A few people are drawing comparisons to 3D Sonic, more than a traditional skateboarding game.
- A moving world & atmosphere – The moving sand waves, skatepark ruins, and the mysterious Necropolis of the Gods all make a unique, memorable environment. Add on top of that, Austin Wintory’s beautiful soundtrack, and you’ve got an experience that is both comforting and exciting.
- Emotional impact – The story is not as groundbreaking as Journey, but many reviews note moments of genuine emotions, some even saying it moved them to tears.
Criticisms
We could only note down a few little “negative” points:
- Story feels a bit too light.
- Trick system is slightly underdeveloped.
- A few game mechanics feel somehow forced.
Some players also noted that the game is really short. It is only around 3 hours long. You can replay it many times, especially since the New Game + adds some additional things. But it does feel rather short.
Overall, Sword of the Sea is being described as “all killer, no filler“. It is a beautiful, emotional, and nice adventure. Between its beautiful visuals, fluid traversal, and incredible soundtrack, it is easy to see why critics are giving it 9s and 10s overall.
