Call of the Sea Reviews

Call of the Sea is ranked in the 71st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7 / 10.0
Jun 3, 2023

There have been several VR ports for games originally released on PC or consoles, but the ones that are successful are few and far between. Thankfully, Call of the Sea VR falls into the successful category. Despite some flaws, mainly with its visuals due to the limited hardware, Call of the Sea VR is an incredible addition to the VR gaming library. It’s an amazingly immersive experience that’s a must play for fans of VR and adventure/puzzles games in general. When it beckons, will you answer the call?

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GameGrin
Top Critic
4.5 / 10.0
May 20, 2023

A fantastic title with a crappy VR port, Call of the Sea VR might just be best experienced on a flat screen to enjoy its maximum potential.

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4.2 / 5.0
May 1, 2023

Despite the linear path developers went with, it does not take away from the sense of adventure within the game. It truly feels like a considerable amount of thought went into both the audio and visual aspects of the story. Some of the puzzles can be frustrating at times, but when they’re solved, it is extremely satisfying. If you’re looking for a new game completely with adventure, mystery, and crazy twists and turns, do yourself a favor and check out Call of The Sea VR.

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83 / 100
Apr 24, 2023

Overall, Call of the Sea VR is a good port of a great game, that delivers a memorable and immersive experience. While it loses some of the stunning visuals of its progenitor, its engaging story and satisfying puzzles make it a game you’ll enjoy. Its use of VR is pretty good and it’s worth a replay if you’ve already finished the original. Despite its flaws, Call of the Sea VR is a well-crafted and enjoyable game that is sure to be a solid addition to your VR library.

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Cubed3
Athanasios
Top Critic
5 / 10
Jul 30, 2021

Call of the Sea can be described as: a forgettable adventure, sprinkled with fun, but easy puzzles. The exposition-heavy "narration" of the main heroine ruins the atmosphere of this journey, which isn't that strong to begin with, especially for a story dealing with eldritch terrors from beyond. The only reason to play this are the puzzles, although they too fail to keep you invested, as you won't really care about reaching the end, especially if a fan of Lovecraft, which will instantly turn the plot into an extremely predictable one. It has its moments, sure, and the visuals are beautiful, but this is generally a mediocre experience.

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8.8 / 10.0
Jun 10, 2021

Call of the Sea has plenty to offer puzzle and walking sim fans alike. The story kept me going even when the puzzles felt difficult and excessive. The puzzles can be tough and seem unfair at times, but overall feel very solid in how they were crafted. The conclusion to the story of Nora, her illness, the previous expedition, and the true nature of the island left a satisfying feeling once I had completed it.

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7 / 10.0
Jun 9, 2021

Call of the Sea is a relatively short game, coming in at around 5-6 hours playtime, but it does seem to drag on a little towards the end as the puzzles become more and more complex. The story is a captivating mystery romance, in which Lovecraftian twists and turns keep you more than engaged. Fantastic world building and stellar voice acting allow it to stand out amongst other puzzle games, but clunky mechanics and overly complex puzzles prevent it from being a truly great experience.

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7.5 / 10.0
Jun 7, 2021

If you are a fan of the Lovecraftian universe though, you might leave disappointed. The game lacks all the heavy and tormenting atmosphere that made famous the works of the American author. Call of the Sea remains an adventure game that will be enjoyed by the fans of this genre.

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8.5 / 10.0
May 28, 2021

With its clever puzzle design and stunning visuals, Call of the Sea stands out as one of the more impressive puzzle-adventures that I’ve played. I had a good time solving its strong variety of enigmas, whilst the intriguing narrative kept me invested too – especially with all of the documents and recordings you can find which flesh out the tale. There were some overly elaborate puzzles that could break the pace of the experience and there were some minor annoyances to be found with some aspect of the game’s design, but Call of the Sea is otherwise a very entertaining experience that kept me hooked in from start to end.

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7 / 10.0
May 12, 2021

Call of the Sea puts all its eggs into its puzzles. They're fun to solve and feel as rewarding as slaying a boss in some of the most difficult games. The mysterious island Norah explores is gorgeous and full of mysteries that even Nathan Drake would appreciate. It's just a shame that its narrative is such a letdown. Norah may be the main character but I think Harry's adventure would have made a more compelling narrative.

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9.5 / 10.0
May 11, 2021

Call of the Sea is one of the best puzzle-adventure games I’ve ever played. Each puzzle requires you to think logically and gather all the clues to figure out the solution, you’re rewarded with a trophy and more context to the story for exploring and finding documents, and your eyes are given a treat by looking at this visually stunning game. This is the first time I’ve played a Lovecraft-inspired game that isn’t focused on horror, jump scares, or disturbing themes, instead it’s a peaceful adventure that uses the influences perfectly to create a very interesting and memorable experience.

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6 / 10
May 11, 2021

Aesthetically, the game looks really pretty and is totally evocative of its 1930s setting. The game is plagued with hammy dialogue that makes it feel totally campy and like an old B-movie, but not altogether terrible when coupled with the Lovecraftian influence it draws on. Call of the Sea is a mostly fun puzzle game that falls short on the mystery it tries to have you unveil. While it looks aesthetically pleasing and ticks a lot of boxes for its period setting, the story is lacklustre and predictable.

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8 / 10
May 10, 2021

With attention beneficially split between puzzles and story, Call of the Sea charms with an enjoyable pulp adventure.

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VideoGamer
Top Critic
7 / 10
Feb 5, 2021

Who would have thought that the solution to madness might be marriage?

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Jan 30, 2021

As far as first-person adventure games go, Call of the Sea is a somewhat short and memorable one that you'll be glad you experienced.

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3.8 / 5.0
Jan 24, 2021

Call of the Sea battles to keep up its force as it approaches the finish of the game as far as interactivity, yet the initial not many sections are extraordinary and the story, at any rate, remains intriguing.

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7 / 10.0
Jan 23, 2021

Call of the Sea is a visually stunning game offering a compelling story hidden behind a mixed bag of puzzles and a few frustrating pacing decisions.

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9 / 10.0
Jan 16, 2021

Mystical journey on a tropical island is what we all need during this period of closed borders.

Review in Russian | Read full review

INDIANTVCZ
Václav Šourek
9 / 10
Jan 10, 2021

Call of the Sea certainly isn't an experience meant for long winter nights. However, in its few hours of playtime it presents a well-written story full of mysteries, which are gradually discovered by the player. Moreover, the title has astounding graphics and music, which is a treat worth listening to after finishing the game. If you're a fan of adventure games, this is a title that you must play!

Review in Czech | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jan 8, 2021

Call of the Sea presents colorful atmosphere and layered intrigue, but some of its puzzles prove tedious to solve due to a lack of hints and guidance in each chapter.

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