The Sinking City Reviews
It would be nice to see the world and combat tightened up a bit, but its incredibly rewarding mystery-solving makes it a stellar investigation game that succeeds at such a naturally mystifying genre where many others fail.
What is fortunate though is that The Sinking City is available again, and this freshly enhanced version for the PS5 is by far the best way to play the game. The changes that Frogwares made are impactful and make this a significantly better experience than it was at original release. It still has its quirks, but the positives far outweigh the negatives and it’s easy to recommend this game to anyone who has yet to check it out.
A solid but sadly unpolished Lovecraft-inspired detective story, The Sinking City has all of the key ingredients to be something compelling, but it's rough around the edges. Dodgy combat drowns an otherwise robust horror-tinged bout of sleuthing, drenched in intrigue.
The Sinking City is an ambitious attempt to bring a fresh take to the world of Lovecraft. If you're an unabashed fan of the lore, or don't mind repetitive gameplay, you'll enjoy what's on offer here. Otherwise, you'll probably end up going slowly mad.
The Sinking City feels more like it is based on a Sherlock Holmes novel rather than a game inspired by H. P. Lovecraft's work. The part of the story focusing on supernatural elements is pretty weak, but side-quests more than make up for it. This game has a very strong “one more place to visit” or “one more conversation” vibe. It’s clunky but effective.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Overall, The Sinking City is an average game with good graphics but the gameplay isn't for everyone. I think I would have liked this game more if the combat was better and if it wasn't so slow paced. Other than that, people that like games about investigating things will love playing The Sinking City.
The Sinking City doesn't quite hit any of the marks it tried for, but fans of the Eldritch might still find a lot to love here.
The Sinking City is easily the best H.P. Lovecraft game yet, throwing players into a well-realised but characteristically melancholy town that's coming to terms with its cosmic fate. It's a classic detective game through and through, which rewards smarts and isn't afraid to let you explore and immerse yourself with no handholding. It's just a bit of a shame that's hindered by some rudimentary combat, shoddy technical issues and an open world that's a little too big for its own good.
I appreciate that the development team gave the player the second option. But, given the splash screen that begins the game, and Frogwares' clear understanding that they are dealing with a heated and contentious period of history, I question why they gave the player the first option.
The Sinking City is a mixed bag; a riveting mystery that’s far less linear than anything Frogwares has ever done. It’s very rough around the edges however, likely to cause as much frustration as it does enjoyment.
The Sinking City is not going to be a game for everyone. It’s quite a slog and there’s a ton of backtracking. But if you stick around, the story itself is really great and there’s some really fun and unique detective mechanics at play. It’s a shame the rest of the game didn’t get a better quality of life upgrade. Oh well, you can always just go read some H.P. Lovecraft, no loading times or glitches involved.
Prominent amongst the PC gaming streaming scene currently, The Sinking City is a very good game that was awkwardly converted to run on the Nintendo Switch. It was unsettling for me to sit down for hours on end to review. It also launched during a stretch where a lot of new games are releasing to challenge my attention. But I'll probably revisit The Sinking City during quieter times, and when it's hopefully been patched.
The Sinking City on Nintendo Switch is an excellent port with an intriguing narrative hook and Lovecraftian visual style let down by clunky combat and an empty open-world.
The Sinking City is an intriguing game that is sadly let down by its many glitches and lifeless combat.
It's a bad decision that create The Sinking City as an open world game, which makes the gameplay like a heap of loose sand. But the story is interesting, as well as being a detective.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
An interesting game that scratches the detective itch, without ever reaching great heights.
So, if you like lateral thinking, great [branching] storytelling and excellent voice-acting, and can look past a drab, repetitive sheen that is less gameplay heavy and more set-dressing, you’ll still find a gem in this H.P. Lovecraft love letter to the sea, left in an old bottle to wash up on your shore.
It's great to finally have a game that seems to put you right in the middle of one of H. P. Lovecraft's worlds… that sense of strangeness that lies over everything like a fog that draws you in and embraces you in the oddness of it all is quite compelling. Best played at night with the lights off to truly become immersed in the world of The Sinking City.
The Sinking City invites all the horror of a lovecraftian tale, with the balance to know more of what is happening in the city of Oakmont, all the while as you struggle to keep your sanity. There are quite a few places to explore, cases to take on, and discovering all its secrets could take you a while. If you're looking for a game that doesn't spoon feed you the answers and are looking to challenge your investigative abilities, this one could be for you. While not perfect visually, with bugs here and there, gameplay is enjoyable and brings a mix of combat and deduction. Definitely worth the price tag.
The Sinking City provides a compelling story, gorgeous art, and genuine scares, but