In Other Waters Reviews

In Other Waters is ranked in the 75th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
10 / 10
Apr 1, 2020

The narrative is by far the most engaging and wonderful I’ve had the pleasure to experience this year so far.

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Wccftech
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Mar 31, 2020

In Other Waters is engrossing, beautiful and perfectly balanced both in terms of immersive gameplay and intriguing narrative. Its relaxing without being boring, and thoughtful without treading the same tired sci-fi tropes.

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NintendoWorldReport
Joel A. DeWitte
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Apr 14, 2020

Other than that, I came away from In Other Waters so pleased with the experience. While the action of playing the game is threadbare, the tone being set between the repetitive motions of exploration, your doctoral companion's calm demeanor, a serene and mysterious accompaniment, and the satisfaction of each new discovery makes for a divine experience. If you're looking for an interactive balm for your spare time or something to sate a sense of discovery without needing action-packed stimulation, sink into these waters and let them wash over you.

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9 / 10
Apr 13, 2020

In Other Waters tells a tense, absorbing mystery through exquisitely minimalist means.

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90 / 100
Apr 5, 2020

In Other Waters' best quality is just that: it makes you feel like you're in other waters. It's a well written exploration game that, while short, provides an interesting story. If this is the form the classic text adventure returns in, In Other Waters leads the charge with its immersive soundscape and imagination sparking descriptions.

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9 / 10.0
Apr 9, 2020

In Other Waters caresses the senses, stimulates curiosity and hits hard with an extremely deep story. An alien ocean to explore, discovering an incredibly fascinating ecosystem, to be protected at all costs.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9 / 10
Apr 11, 2020

A very pleasant surprise indeed, In Other Waters is a bit of a minimalist masterpiece that you'll often want to dip into for a more contemplative experience than the majority of the Switch's library. It has found a perfect home on the handheld, the form factor of which massively works in the favour of the game's mood and atmosphere to create an exceptional and unique experience. What you're getting here is a story that you're an integral part of, and it's one of the coolest, cleverest games we've played in a long time. An absolutely first-class effort.

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9 / 10
Apr 16, 2020

In Other Waters plays like a visual novel with more depth and better graphics, which makes it a perfect game for players to relax in provided they don't mind coming up with how the game's creatures look by themselves.

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8.5 / 10.0
Apr 20, 2020

In Other Waters is a mesmerizing game about discovering the unknown. It has a minimalistic art design with great story-telling and simple gameplay mechanics. It doesn’t offer that much of a challenge, but it succeeds in delivering a relaxing experience with new perspectives about discovering a new planet, that despite the differences, is somehow like the Earth. If you want a good and well-made relaxing game, In Other Waters is a great choice.

Review in Persian | Read full review

Culture of Gaming
Melanie Ashford
8.5 / 10.0
Apr 11, 2020

A superb video game that will appeal to a broad range of people. This is a developer to watch.

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8 / 10
Apr 17, 2020

Sometimes, it can be a little slow, but that comes with the kind of game it is. It isn’t a bad thing at all. The narrative being told is gripping enough to carry you through these lulls. The text auto-continues to keep you moving forward, and the promise of further exploration means you don’t mind this.

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8.3 / 10.0
Apr 13, 2020

Traveling into the deep oceans, replete with detailed biomes is not an experience that we get to have often. In Other Waters offers a meaningful storyline, unmatched music and a minimalistic yet beautiful UI. But perhaps the most interesting portion of In Other Waters is how it makes one interested in science and marine biology.

Review in Persian | Read full review

80 / 100
Apr 1, 2020

A gentle and engrossing underwater sci-fi game that will have you thinking about more than what lies beneath the waves.

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8 / 10
Apr 7, 2020

Minimalist adventuring that's original, clever, and soothing – and a perfect example that gameplay and atmosphere is always more important than high-tech graphics.

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8 / 10
Apr 27, 2020

With an engaging sci-fi story and its minimalist style, In Other Waters manages to draw you into its mysterious story and brings the alien environments to life through your imagination. There are some performance issues that can detract from the experience, but overall, In Other Waters is a journey worth taking.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 3, 2020

In Other Waters is a unique, dreamy experience that rewards your patience and time. It features one of the most elegant and thoughtful UIs in a game, and a clever, precise text to build a world worth exploring.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 1, 2020

I had an amazing time with In Other Waters. It's a game I'd happily play over and over just for the overall combination of colors, sounds, and exploration. The story acts as a reminder of why we should treat our oceans, and each other, with more kindness. If you're even remotely interested in marine biology, you'll never put your Switch down.

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8 / 10
Apr 5, 2020

I absolutely loved my time with In Other Waters. I’m itching to dive back in and fully complete Ellery’s taxonomy logs, and I can’t wait to grab the companion book for more worldbuilding and lore. Despite a few mechanical flaws, I highly recommend In Other Waters for anyone looking to immerse themselves in an alien world for a few hours.

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4 / 5.0
Apr 3, 2020

Admittedly this is a game that requires players, from the word go, to get onboard with the idea that pace isn't paramount and that its complicated controls also serve the greater aesthetic on show.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 21, 2020

Whilst it takes a longer than normal to get used to the controls and can sometimes feel sluggish, In Other Waters is a beautifully designed and wonderfully written exploration game.

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