Abzu Reviews

Abzu is ranked in the 79th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.4 / 10.0
Aug 2, 2016

During the 3 hours of my playthrough, ABZÛ impressed me for pretty much all of the time. The game is as intuitive and fun to control as it is alive and beautiful to explore, qualities that end up making up for the small gaps in storytelling and lack of more in-depth puzzles. It's an experience that deserves to be played with full focus, all at once, with the headset on the head and with very little to no information about its set pieces. Unfortunately, it will be inevitable to suffer from comparison to thatgamecompany games, but Matt Nava shows that he learned very well from the time he spent with them.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

IGN
Top Critic
8.4 / 10.0
Aug 1, 2016

Abzu takes the graceful feel of movement and subtle push toward discovery that I've enjoyed in similar exploration games like Journey and Flower and builds a refreshing-yet-simple underwater adventure around it. The colorful settings, beautiful soundtrack, and basic controls made it a great experience that constantly piqued my interest, even if it never challenged me to master it other than deciphering its cryptic environmental clues. Instead, Abzu relishes in giving you freedom to simply enjoy exploring the fascinating deep blue sea.

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85 / 100
Jan 11, 2017
ABZÛ - Quick Game Review video thumbnail
85%
Aug 11, 2016

If you're looking for a magical adventure, you might just stop looking. ABZÛ has some great moments and atmosphere, even if that carries price of its short length. If you've liked Journey, you will like ABZÛ as well.

Review in Slovak | Read full review

85 / 100
Aug 2, 2016

Like Journey, Abzû is in some sense a game about archetypes and archetypicality, letting you dwell within and among them as though to remind you of their firm embeddedness at the foundation of other things. And yet, in a significant structural twist, it's about recovering archetypes that no longer seem to have potency, rather than playing through an archetypal sequence—the Journey—that's still going strong.

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8.5 / 10.0
Aug 2, 2016

The "it's not a game" crowd will invariably struggle to see the appeal with Abzû's monumentally relaxed pacing, but they will arguably be the ones missing out here. An absolutely resplendent experience that is thoroughly and generously stuffed with memorable moments, Abzû's beguiling audiovisual presentation lends it an atmosphere and sense of place that very few, if any, games can match. This is the very apex of videogame escapism.

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8.5 / 10.0
Aug 2, 2016

ABZÛ is perfect for fans of Journey and other thatgamecompany titles, thanks to the sweet simplicity of its gameplay and visuals as well as marvelous musical score.

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8.5 / 10.0
Aug 2, 2016

Abzû is one of the greatest looking games in existence, with a simple message at its heart. You'll revel in the wonders of its beautifully designed ocean.

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8.7 / 10.0
Aug 2, 2016

ABZÛ is a wonderful experience that follows the path of games such as Flower or Journey, where we play to feel. This is an almost perfect masterpiece which should be played by everyone.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8.8 / 10.0
May 29, 2019

When considering the sum of its parts, Abzu is a masterfully crafted experience from start to finish. It's a beautiful re-creation of the underwater ecosystem, from big predators to schools of colorful fish. Add to that the mystery of exploring an unknown civilization and a musical score that is beyond captivating, and you are in for a treat for all of your senses. It's not for everyone, but if you let it, Abzu may captivate you.

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8.8 / 10.0
Aug 2, 2016

A mesmerizing audiovisual triumph that will feel heavenly to your eyes and to your ears, unfortunately without warming your heart as much as you would expect. It probably won't leave you teary-eyed like Journey did, but it will still be a trip absolutely worth embarking for.

Review in Italian | Read full review

88 / 100
Aug 2, 2016

There are few games quite as curious and beautiful as Abzû, and fewer of its kind on the PC. It’s a short, dense journey filled with intense wonder and inherent beauty, and every inch is worth seeing.

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8.9 / 10.0
Nov 29, 2018

The porting of a title as peculiar as Abzû has gone incredibly well, considering the difficulty of having to find the perfect balance between a lower resolution and the details of a graphic style so poetically minimalist. Giant Squid's little masterpiece is a must have for those who are inclined to yield to the irresistible call of the sea, even on Nintendo Switch.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9 / 10
Aug 8, 2016

I think ABZU is definitely worth the $20 price tag for the experience alone and I strongly recommend you give it a shot

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9 / 10.0
Aug 2, 2016

On the surface, ABZÛ is a simple game, but there's an incredible amount of polish, detail, and artistic integrity at hand. The game is beautiful without sacrificing any of its main components, which makes the whole experience better as a whole. There are a couple technical stumbles, but the overall product is nevertheless exceeding.

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9 / 10.0
Aug 2, 2016

One of the most amazing moments is coming around a bend or emerging through a tunnel into a large open area with buildings and more sea life as far as the eye can see. The music swells to an apex, climbing from a happy urgency to a grand revelation.

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9 / 10
Dec 21, 2018

ABZÛ is a serene experience that has no equal on the Nintendo Switch. It’s one of the most captivating and moving experiences one can have with a video game. It is art and something that will be memorable for years to come. If you are willing to surrender yourself to a video game and embrace all it has to offer, then ABZÛ is the game for you.

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Dec 5, 2018

With exemplary visuals and audio, Abzû takes the player on a memorable journey to the depths of the ocean. It’s not a hard, complicated, or long game, but it’s aesthetically impressive, delightful to control, and emotionally rewarding.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 30, 2018
Abzu Switch Review (Underwater Exploration has never been so good!) video thumbnail
9 / 10.0
Nov 17, 2018

ABZÛ is a rich audiovisual experience. Its universe was made to be appreciated, and every single gameplay hour serves to fill an internal void in the player themself. At every moment, the game reinforces that its art direction is its strongest aspect, provoking strong emotions. On the other hand, its narrative leaves some blank spaces, and the variety in its mechanics is virtually null.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review