Sword of the Sea
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Sword of the Sea
A short but spectacular surfing game, Sword of the Sea's atmosphere and movement propel it where its simple and repetitive puzzles can't.
The latest title from the Abzu and Pathless developers, Sword of the Sea is a must-play meditative game that won't take up much of your time.
Movement, meaning and mindfulness combine in Giant Squid's latest, a game of free-form expression and flow.
It’s a short journey that took me a smidge over three hours to complete, but heck, what a stupidly enjoyable three hours those were.
It moves at the pace of a magical swordsperson speeding across sand dunes on a floating blade at 170 miles per hour (a speedometer unlocks after you beat the game), and it never gives you a reason to look away. I wanted to feel more from the story, perhaps only because every other element of the experience elevated it so high that my expectations were right up there with them.
My only gripe is that the story doesn't offer a grandiose message or hit as hard as I would have liked, relying more on pageantry and spectacle to get by. But, rarely does a game take me aback and thank my lucky stars that the medium of video games exists, and that's why we see this one as one of the standout performers of 2025 so far."
A glorious, symphonic, jet-powered hover sword exploration of desert landscapes, filled with secrets and infused with riotously colourful sea life and Tony Hawk style tricks.
