The Sinking City

 PC
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 47 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 47
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 47
  3. Negative: 0 out of 47
  1. Impulsegamer
    Jun 27, 2019
    90
    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.
  2. Game Debate
    Jul 15, 2019
    85
    The Sinking City is deeply evocative in its oppressive dourness, and stays true to the investigative backbone of Cthulhu. We are presented an open world of horror and suspense that HP Lovecraft surely would have enjoyed investigating.
  3. Areajugones
    Jun 25, 2019
    85
    The Sinking City is an amazing experience, portraying a great interpretation of the pieces of H. P. Lovecraft. Adding together L.A. Noire with Sherlock Holmes, Frogwares gives us a game that blends private investigation, shooting and narrative into a believable world that is immersive and molded by our decisions, making us feel the true protagonist of the adventure.
  5. GameSpace
    Jun 25, 2019
    85
    From the first moment when I fired up The Sinking City, I was immediately transported to a world HP Lovecraft could have created himself.
  6. Destructoid
    Jun 25, 2019
    85
    As much as I adore the story and atmosphere of The Sinking City, it definitely feels like a budget title at times. If you can get past the weak combat, harmless jank, and enjoy a solid detective experience that won't hold your hand and throw tough choices your way, you shouldn't pass up on it. Even more so if you're a fan of Lovecraft.
  7. The Games Machine
    Jun 25, 2019
    84
    Even with its (few) flaws, The Sinking City manages to shine right where other games of the same genre have failed to impress. It doesn’t abuse jumpscare and useless boss fights, but instead Frogwares focused on a well thought out and engaging investigative system and on pleasant action parts, which naturally lead the player to discover the monstrosities of the abyss and to bitterly repent of their own curiosity.
  8. Riot Pixels
    Jun 28, 2019
    83
    For the first time in its long existence, Frogwares created a mature, multilayered, intense adventure that will keep you in its tentacled grip until the very last second.
  9. Ragequit.gr
    Jun 25, 2019
    81
    The Sinking City's unique blend of Detective gameplay and Cthulhu Mythos elements will intrigue fans of H.P. Lovecraft's works, even if certain shortcomings ultimately prevent it from truly standing out as the best Cthulhu game ever made.
  10. IGN Italia
    Jun 25, 2019
    81
    A good example of how to craft a Mythos game. Not for the faint of heart. Cool fact: a gamer who knows nothing about the mythos will probably make all the wrong choices in the game.
  11. Softpedia
    Aug 15, 2019
    80
    Despite its shortcomings, the story and the oppressing atmosphere of The Sinking City recommend it as one of the best Lovecraft inspired game to date. If you can get past the clunky combat and technical issues, there's much to like in The Sinking City.
  12. Daily Star
    Jun 25, 2019
    80
    The Sinking City has an incredible atmosphere that really grips the darkest parts of your mind. Oakmont feels hostile, unwelcoming and full of secrets, but the game makes it clear that it might cost more than just your life to find out what they are. While it stumbles with its characters and combat, The Sinking City is a great first step into the supernatural detective game.
  13. Twinfinite
    Jun 25, 2019
    80
    Aside from some indie crunch, The Sinking City is a moody yet faithful dive into the world of Lovecraft that would make a great starting ground for anyone new to the genre. 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.
  14. PC Invasion
    Jun 25, 2019
    80
    A treat for fans of H. P. Lovecraft's works, mystifying settings, and followers of the Cthulhu Mythos. Unfortunately, its weaker combat and exploration mechanics remain asleep at the bottom of the ocean.
  15. Wccftech
    Jun 25, 2019
    78
    The Sinking City is probably the Lovecraft inspired game currently available on the market, thanks to its oppressive atmosphere and its story, which utilizes the lore masterfully without deviating from the canon. AI and technical issues, as well as the clunky combat, are often immersion breaking, but the excellent investigation mechanics and exploration features make it easy to look past these issues. Highly recommended to survival horror fans and those who live and breath Lovecraft.
  16. IGN
    Jun 25, 2019
    78
    While occasionally frustrating, The Sinking City's compelling stories, exciting environments, and memorable characters make for one of the better Cthulhu lore games around.
  17. New Game Network
    Jul 1, 2019
    75
    The Sinking City is a decent adaptation of Lovecraft’s work, meshing dark themes with a variety of great investigations that culminate into tricky decisions. If the combat was less clunky and the world more polished, it would have beckoned all to its desolate shore.
  18. Jeuxvideo.com
    Jun 25, 2019
    75
    Even if it doesn’t succeed at everything it’s trying, The Sinking City has a lot of personality. The investigation isn’t as free as we were promised it would be, and the fighting are weak. But it’s a strong game with good writing.
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. Polygon
    Jun 25, 2019
    Unfortunately, the biggest horrors of The Sinking City come from the controls, not my own struggles with sanity.
  2. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Jun 25, 2019
    Without the weird Lovecraftian bits, this is a slightly janky, slightly grindy detective game that does some interesting things in a very atmospheric depiction of a profoundly depressed town. Taking them into account, I don’t know! I was confused and uncharmed by the whole thing, but I still haven’t untangled my brainnoodles. At least I’ve told you how they got tangled. Goodness, I was very interested in The Sinking City. I really wanted to love it. But I’m afraid rain may have stopped play this time.
  3. The Jimquisition
    Jun 28, 2019
    The Sinking City revels in its Lovecraft inspirations and tries its very best to put you in the shoes of a detective without holding any hands. It's got a nice moody atmosphere, some great writing, and a heartfelt charm to it...It's also absolute rubbish, and I cannot recommend it. I like it. In fact I've grown remarkably fond of it. It's one of the worst games I've ever actually enjoyed.
  5. Vice
    Jun 26, 2019
    The Sinking City humanizes Lovecraft’s principal villains, turns them into people, and tells a better story because of it.

Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019
20
#20 Most Shared PC Game of 2019

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 246 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 96 out of 246
  2. Mixed: 75 out of 246
  3. Negative: 75 out of 246
  1. DreamCore
    Jun 29, 2019
    3
    This game was clearly developed by a team of rookies.

    1) The graphics is below mediocre and the worst LOD I've ever seen (entire building    This game was clearly developed by a team of rookies.

    1) The graphics is below mediocre and the worst LOD I've ever seen (entire building showing up in front of you).

    2) Characters standing in mid-air.

    3) Buggy animations and the characters just snap when they change walking direction instead of doing a smooth turn.

    5) Buggy AI pathfinding that tries to walk into objects and walls.

    4) Sound is buggy and often produces crackling distorted noice

    5) Many indoor environments look identical. I've been to several different houses and I thought at first it was one and the same house with just a few minor visual differences. Same goes for many of the characters.

    5) Bad performance. Doesn't matter if you play in 4k or 2k with/without anti-aliasing, the performance is still garbage even with a 2080 Ti even though the game visually looks like a PS3 game.

    5) Buggy settings, after chaning to full-screen once, windowed fullscreen stopped working and won't cover the entire screen.

    6) The gameplay is very repetitive, with 50% of the time spent walking aroun the empty bland city.

    This game was clearly rushed with no care for quality. Do yourself a favor and save your money.    … Full Review »
  2. Gizilq
    Jun 29, 2019
    4
    В этой игре плохо буквально все.
    1. Абсолютно пустой опенворлд. По нему ходят болванчики родом из 2005 года. Там ничего не происходит.
    3.    В этой игре плохо буквально все.
    1. Абсолютно пустой опенворлд. По нему ходят болванчики родом из 2005 года. Там ничего не происходит.
    3. 99% помещений будут лютой копипастой. Вплоть до расположения мебели и вещей. Учитывая что помещений в игре довольно мало, это очень плохо.
    2. Хождение по адресам. Смотри как все происходит. Идет задание тебе говорят найти какого-то человека. Если известно где он, то открываешь карту и ищешь на ней "Район Зюзино, улица Затопленая, на пересечении улицы Гопницкой и Проспекта Обрыгалова". А потом ножками ищешь, так как номеров домов тупо нет. Если нет адреса, то идешь в Ратушу/Клинику/Газету/Библиотеку и ищешь адрес через архивы. И так постоянно.
    3. Очень плохая боевка.
    4. Только что. Прохожу значит майнквест и сталкивает меня игра с ребенком. Только вот разрабы не смогли нарисовать модельку ребенка и перед нами стандартная модель 180 сантиметрового мужика, которую я уже раз двадцать на улице видел.
    Эта игра настолько плохо сделана, что продолжаешь играть только для того чтобы посмотреть, что разработчики еще сделали не так.    … Full Review »
  3. Bluehydra
    Jun 27, 2019
    1
    I would recommend waiting for the game too improve a lot more before even trying to buy. also get it on steam or GOG instead due to theirI would recommend waiting for the game too improve a lot more before even trying to buy. also get it on steam or GOG instead due to their action on making this game a exclusive, and slapping a lot of people who got the game in the face.

    The overall story seems okay for what i played so far.
    but the world and gameplay fall flat, due to the game isn't Finished and needs heavy work in teems of gameplay and world design.

    The AI's are just not working and randomly walking around without a function or purpose,
    the map design is a mess and kills the story you are trying to follow.
    There are so many bugs its sad. (floating ai, texture issues. etc")

    I wish the game had a more linear gameplay instead of the open world gameplay due to the lack of Life in the map.    … Full Review »
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