In Other Waters

 PC
In Other Waters Image
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 15 Ratings

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  • Summary: Play as an Artificial Intelligence guiding a stranded xenobiologist through a beautiful and mysterious alien ocean. A non-violent sci-fi story, enter a world of wonder, fear and vulnerability, unraveling the history and ecology of an impossible planet. What will you discover together?

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Wccftech
    Mar 31, 2020
    95
    In Other Waters is engrossing, beautiful and perfectly balanced both in terms of immersive gameplay and intriguing narrative. It's relaxing without being boring, and thoughtful without treading the same tired sci-fi tropes.
  2. GameSpot
    Apr 13, 2020
    90
    In Other Waters develops its central mysteries in expert fashion, drip-feeding its revelations in a way that feels natural, and dispatching you to inspect the corners of its map in a way that doesn't feel contrived. As you steadily learn more of what Vas' partner was up to on this strange planet, and you yourself begin to grasp humanity's plight, the mystery builds to a confident conclusion--one that satisfies yet remains aware that some questions are more enticing when left unanswered. In this sense, its story echoes the restraint that runs through the entire game to deliver a stylish, assured, and utterly absorbing adventure that demonstrates again and again it knows how to do a lot with seemingly very little.
  3. Washington Post
    Apr 24, 2020
    80
    If you’re not put off by its low-key, text-centered nature, you may well find it to be one of the more serene games to have recently pulled into port.
  4. Jeuxvideo.com
    Apr 16, 2020
    75
    Quotation forthcoming.
  5. Screen Rant
    Apr 2, 2020
    70
    In Other Waters shows an earnest appreciation for the science of biology, deftly fusing it with an important message and an almost therapeutic aesthetic. It's worth the time and money for anyone who wants something a little different out of their next narrative game.
  6. Riot Pixels
    Jun 22, 2020
    66
    In Other Waters is an experimental crossbreed between a simple-hearted adventure game and an equally straightforward simulator of a futuristic ocean scientist. The adventure part is constrained by narrative conventions and oversimplified design, but the sim part is almost a meditative experience that might enthrall you for a few hours.
  7. PC Invasion
    Apr 2, 2020
    60
    In Other Waters is an OK game. It misses out on some things by not explaining the shortcuts or the fact that you don’t need to return to waystations to go back to base. I don’t know if I can say that it will stay with me for too long. The story is somewhat bland and inoffensive, and minimal controls are somewhat clunkier than necessary. The visual presentation of it all is a highlight though. I guess you can grab it if you want to replace Nauticrawl’s combat with the secret life of underwater bacteria.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 5 out of 6
  1. Mangraz
    Jul 5, 2020
    9
    A wonderful, unique game.

    If you are looking for a classic videogame, In Other Waters is certainly not for you. If you are open for an    A wonderful, unique game.

    If you are looking for a classic videogame, In Other Waters is certainly not for you. If you are open for an unusual experience tho, I can recommend it without hesitation. The game is all about curiosity, What happened to this planet? What happened to the lost friend of the protagonist? What are those alien lifeforms roaming every nook and cranny of this great ocean?

    Despite on first glance looking very open and sandboxy, this is a narrative game. While I had great fun completing my encyclopedia, there is no real (as in game-changing) reward to it, other than detailled sketches and descriptions of the lifeforms. I greatly enjoyed reading every entry tho, and do not miss the lack of progression mechanics.

    This means, while classifying the alien ecosystems is a big part of the game, you can easily focus on the narrative, without the story losing it's appeal. Greatly recommended.    … Expand
  2. notherone
    Apr 14, 2020
    4
    It's possible that, at some point after the first 30 minutes, this game gets really interesting, but it would have to be a truly impressiveIt's possible that, at some point after the first 30 minutes, this game gets really interesting, but it would have to be a truly impressive pivot. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what's going wrong, but it's fair to say that nothing is quite going right. For all the lovely sound design and eye-catching aesthetic, there's precious little (if any) reward in exchange for your curiosity. Collapse… Expand
  4. otm
    Jun 3, 2020
    4
    I was drawn in by the promising reviews but this game is a painfully shallow experience. A superficially elegant but immediately frustratingI was drawn in by the promising reviews but this game is a painfully shallow experience. A superficially elegant but immediately frustrating UI paired with what is genuinely basic and unimpressive sound design. As the writing / world-building has been held up as a strength of the game, I should also say that it was in no way intriguing to me with banal exposition and so in my view, even fails on the level of visual / interactive novel. To contrast, Disco Elysium is lightyears ahead.

    This is my first rating on here but felt compelled to respond to what led me to buying this game: the favourable reviews. Unfortunately the critical reaction speaks more of a culture begging to be considered more thoughtful and, here I go again, deep rather than accepting that video games are a medium that requires a bit more effort towards immersion with engaging tactility to be effective (or in some cases, to break with immersion for narrative purpose).

    If you like this game, then by all means enjoy it but have you also tried reading a good book?    … Expand
  5. billspcplay
    Apr 14, 2020
    2
    If Subnautica was a text adventure . . . it'd be a much less enjoyable game. I don't think anyone needed a case study proving that fact, butIf Subnautica was a text adventure . . . it'd be a much less enjoyable game. I don't think anyone needed a case study proving that fact, but thanks to In Other Waters, we now have hard evidence.… Expand
  6. sidip
    Apr 14, 2020
    1
    There are worse games out there. I think that's the highest praise I can give.
  7. mavey98855
    Apr 14, 2020
    0
    An intriguing interface belies the fact that this game is a text adventure in which the text lacks any sense of adventure.

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