Sea of Solitude

 PC
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 19
  3. Negative: 3 out of 19
  1. The Games Machine
    Jul 5, 2019
    90
    Sea of Solitude is a game of suffering and altruism, of lights and shadows, of terrible errors and courageous teachings. The work of Cornelia Geppert and Jo-Mai Games is without any doubt a game worth playing.
  2. Games.cz
    Aug 19, 2019
    80
    Sea of Solitude plays with your emotions. It’s not a brilliant game, but that’s not really the point. This is all about the story, all about the introspection. And those work perfectly.
  3. Windows Central
    Jul 10, 2019
    80
    Sea of Solitude is a tremendously moving and well-thought out narrative adventure that nails story and art direction and offers solid gameplay, but could have better voice acting and a longer overall length.
  5. GameSpace
    Jul 9, 2019
    80
    For those that have argued that videos games are not art, I would hold Sea of Solitude up as a shining example to the contrary. There is no easy way to summarize my experience with SOS, it was incredible, challenging, insightful and memorable.
  6. Guardian
    Jul 5, 2019
    80
    This has clearly been a work of catharsis for its designer, blending the two to say something personal and important. By opening up about the lived experience of depression and focusing on the causes rather than the solutions, Cornelia Geppert and the team at Jo-Mei have created something that truly resonates.
  7. Destructoid
    Jul 8, 2019
    75
    Sea of Solitude stands out as heartfelt, almost painfully sincere, so much so that I hesitated to actually put a score on this review at all. It felt almost crass to do so, like being allowed to read a relative's diary, only to give it a thumbs-up or -down. Though engaging gameplay and meaningful messaging aren't mutually exclusive in games, Sea of Solitude is squarely one of a growing number of titles that challenges the notion that "fun and entertainment" should be a game's main priority in every case.
  8. GameStar
    Jul 5, 2019
    75
    Sea of Solitude has touched me, despite all the criticism.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Jul 5, 2019
    At the heart of Sea Of Solitude is the idea that all emotions can have a positive or negative form — love can be twisted to be something unhealthy or saddening, for example, just as being alone can be quiet solitude or debilitating loneliness. I’ve no doubt that Sea Of Solitude might seem facile to some people, but that just means it isn’t for you. I think it’ll probably be for a lot of other people.
  2. Vice
    Jul 5, 2019
    The kind of story Sea of Solitude is trying to tell is deeply ambitious. It's the kind of game that might take an indie studio numerous attempts, even with the support of a giant like EA. Sea of Solitude may have drawbacks, but at the end of the day the game is still a stunning accomplishment. It's still a world I enjoyed spending time in.

Awards & Rankings

47
#47 Most Shared PC Game of 2019

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 79 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 79
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 79
  3. Negative: 21 out of 79
  1. Leikasha
    Jul 9, 2019
    10
    My biggest fear was that the gameplay only serves as an "attachment" to tell the story and in a fact of that the game is "only" a hiddenMy biggest fear was that the gameplay only serves as an "attachment" to tell the story and in a fact of that the game is "only" a hidden walking simulator: I was convinced of the opposite.
    Sea of ​​Solitude is a wonderful game, but you have really wanted to give it a try (please play it in one or two sessions) cause the game is not for everyone. It deals with difficult topics like depression, anxiety and trauma in a very serious yet genre-friendly way. Also, the story is told in a very direct way, which is in my opinion very rare in the indie game field. Some journalists where writing, that a subtler approach would have been better, but for me, the way the studio choose to tell the story of "Kay" is precisely the strength of Sea of ​​Solitude. They are naming the problems so that everyone can experience it, even if he/she doesn't know it from their own lives.
    So, if you're ready to go on a journey where you can learn a bit about problems, fears and feelings, then this is the game for you. The look and the atmosphere are very unique and contribute to this wonderful experience.    … Full Review »
  2. krwar300
    Jul 6, 2019
    10
    The gameplay is good,the mechanic to avoid the "whale" is very good,the characters are incredible and this game have a beautiful message toThe gameplay is good,the mechanic to avoid the "whale" is very good,the characters are incredible and this game have a beautiful message to all the people about depression,so i liked so much this game… Full Review »
  3. RustyJames
    Jan 28, 2021
    10
    Excellent indie adventure game with amazing visual style. The story is so personal and deep, and intimidate at the same time. Music and soundsExcellent indie adventure game with amazing visual style. The story is so personal and deep, and intimidate at the same time. Music and sounds are good enough to express emotions. Better to play using a controller, could be challenging in some quests. Pretty short (4-5hrs.) and not really repetitive.
    9.5/10    … Full Review »
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