- Publisher: Sabotage Studio
- Release Date: May 20, 2025
- Also On: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Summary:
- Developer: Sabotage Studio
- Genre(s): Role-Playing, Japanese-Style
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 13 out of 14
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Mixed: 1 out of 14
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Negative: 0 out of 14
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May 20, 2025Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker DLC is so well done and needs to be played. Besides the fact that it’s free, I didn’t want it to end!
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May 20, 2025Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker adds an extra campaign that somehow surpasses the base game, and it won't cost you a penny.
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May 21, 2025Free, great DLC for an incredible game is a no-brainer recommendation from me.
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May 20, 2025With Sea of Stars, Sabotage set out to create a spiritual successor to 16-bit JRPGs of yore, succeeding in some ways but failing in others. With this DLC, you will find the exact same strengths and weaknesses as in the main game. Throes of the Watchmaker is a very good piece of DLC for a very good game! Though the combat system and visual presentation are triumphs, the story and characters might leave you feeling underwhelmed. It would be interesting to see how Sabotage could improve on this solid RPG foundation, but I suspect they plan to move on to other pastures. Much like how they declined to make a sequel to The Messenger, my money says that their third game will also be a completely different genre and likely outside of our coverage. Given the baffling number of Super Punch-Out!! references present (yeah, the game is still meta), maybe they will be diving into a new take on that classic SNES title! But as this studio consistently delivers mechanically engaging, visual treats to the eyes, I am willing to explore whatever direction they take next!
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May 27, 2025You can’t argue against the value of free DLC that expands on an already classic RPG. With more inventive, enjoyable combat and a compelling additional story, Throes of the Watchmaker is tougher, perhaps a tad short, but just as entertaining as the main campaign.
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May 20, 2025Even beyond being a generously free DLC expansion, Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker has surpassed presumptions. It is a stellar follow-up that reinforces this well-designed turn-based RPG with a simultaneously grander yet more intricate identity that, admittedly, suffers from a tacked-on supporting cast and mildly rushed pacing. Between a moderately paced campaign, much-needed character introspection, and more of a challenge than ever, fans should jump on this new content as soon as possible.
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Jul 29, 2025Throes of the Watchmaker looks to improve on the issues that some had with Sea of Stars, but fails to move the needle one way or the other. Those who enjoyed their time with the base game will probably have a great time with this free DLC, while those who didn't gel with the original release won't find much to win them over.