Sea of Solitude

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 82 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 82
  3. Negative: 25 out of 82

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  1. Young_Nacho
    Jul 5, 2019
    5
    I was really rooting for this game to be good, and I can say that it is easily one of the most beautiful games you can play this year. But the god awful writing and inconsistent voice acting really prevents this game from reaching its full potential. Most of the dialogue is very surface level, always stating things plainly and never being very subtle about it. Whatever a character isI was really rooting for this game to be good, and I can say that it is easily one of the most beautiful games you can play this year. But the god awful writing and inconsistent voice acting really prevents this game from reaching its full potential. Most of the dialogue is very surface level, always stating things plainly and never being very subtle about it. Whatever a character is thinking or feeling, it gets said out loud and there are a ton of needless statements or expositional lines. It is completely devoid of any subtext, and as a result, the emotional impact the game is supposed to have, is significantly reduced. it’s still got a decent story at it's core, but thanks to the terrible writing, it's really poorly told. And when the storytelling fails, you need to have engaging gameplay to make up for it. Unfortunately, much of Sea of Solitude's gameplay is simply following a glowing orb and touching a few buttons. It’s a damn shame, because this concept is great and I can tell this was made by some really passionate folks, but it just desperately, desperately needs better writing.… Expand
  2. blakeguthrie
    Jul 6, 2019
    7
    This game is undoubtedly something special. I picked this game up after reading about how it dealt directly with mental health as a main theme - and it certainly does - but the way the game fumbled its way through the topic ended up letting me down. That being said, there are still some 10/10 moments throughout the game in terms of writing and gameplay cohering into compelling (and oftenThis game is undoubtedly something special. I picked this game up after reading about how it dealt directly with mental health as a main theme - and it certainly does - but the way the game fumbled its way through the topic ended up letting me down. That being said, there are still some 10/10 moments throughout the game in terms of writing and gameplay cohering into compelling (and often frightening) sequences. In terms of art and music design, this game shines beautifully. But I think the game's themes were so overwritten and hamfisted that it spoiled the greatness that the rest of this game has.… Expand
  3. Rycatchere
    Jul 5, 2019
    10
    Really beautiful, emotional and I love the character design. I want more games like this in my life.
  4. TheScoundreL
    Jul 16, 2019
    10
    This game is worth everyone's time, especially if they've dealt/are dealing with depression. At $20, it's quality > quantity & is worth every penny. It doesn't overstay its welcome & is one of those rare, truly special games that every gamer (or fan of well-crafted narrative story in general) should experience at least once - not unlike 'What Remains of Edith Finch' - for originalityThis game is worth everyone's time, especially if they've dealt/are dealing with depression. At $20, it's quality > quantity & is worth every penny. It doesn't overstay its welcome & is one of those rare, truly special games that every gamer (or fan of well-crafted narrative story in general) should experience at least once - not unlike 'What Remains of Edith Finch' - for originality alone. This one will stick with you - SOLID 10/10… Expand
  5. Raitoning
    Jul 7, 2019
    4
    Gorgeous visuals and a wistful soundtrack highlight an otherwise subpar game. The story tries to be thought provoking and meaningful, but suffers from translation errors, poor voice acting, and writing that ranges from passable to downright laughably bad. The characters are shallow and unlikable, and monsters/NPCs have annoying audio loops that repeat ad nauseum. The gameplay is equallyGorgeous visuals and a wistful soundtrack highlight an otherwise subpar game. The story tries to be thought provoking and meaningful, but suffers from translation errors, poor voice acting, and writing that ranges from passable to downright laughably bad. The characters are shallow and unlikable, and monsters/NPCs have annoying audio loops that repeat ad nauseum. The gameplay is equally shallow and unlikable, consisting of very basic mechanics that never truly develop into anything special, or unique, or, frankly, even anything fun over the course of the 4 to 5 hours that it will take to beat the game. When you're not simply running from point A to point B to advance the story, you're often kiting monsters repeatedly and running into colored orbs again and again while listening to some grating dialogue. There are some collectibles to find in certain, more open areas, but the game has no way to track what you've picked up, making postgame cleanup tedious.

    While all these negatives detract heavily from the game as a whole, the game does have a bit of charm with the aforementioned visuals and soundtrack. Playing through the game was a somewhat relaxing experience when it wasn't being annoying or tedious, so overall I didn't entirely despise my time with the game. I would only recommend playing if you find the game for less than $5 and you have absolutely nothing better to do for a few hours.    … Expand
  6. Yourmumsbills
    Jul 7, 2019
    3
    A good idea with nice graphics. Everything else is just poor. including and most importantly (for me at least) the writing.
  7. kraenk
    Jul 10, 2019
    10
    This is a special game with a lot of heart and an interesting topic. The game has a few flaws but is definitely worth playing for the great art and atmosphere alone.
  8. freestar76
    Jul 5, 2019
    10
    Captivating and inspirational game. Loved the visuals, art design and most of all its emotional story. Although it's not the longest experience, this is a game I won't forget for a long time.
  9. sityoazzdown
    May 10, 2020
    5
    A mediocre "game". And I relate to mental illness so it should've resonated with me more but it didn't. I mean I get it. But I also yawned way too frequently in between feeling for the character...

    Pros: + Theme Cons: - shallow, elementary gameplay - collectibles...why To end, very very shallow gameplay, the game's theme is it's only saving grace. I think gaming was the wrong    A mediocre "game". And I relate to mental illness so it should've resonated with me more but it didn't. I mean I get it. But I also yawned way too frequently in between feeling for the character...

    Pros:
    + Theme

    Cons:
    - shallow, elementary gameplay
    - collectibles...why

    To end, very very shallow gameplay, the game's theme is it's only saving grace.
    I think gaming was the wrong medium for this story, It probably would've resonated more with a lot of people (i think) if it was made into a short film or close to that. I got this game $5 from ea access..I kind of regretted it.    … Expand
  10. SuperkenGaming
    Apr 9, 2021
    7
    Sea of Solitude
    Don’t play this on the PS5
    I loved Sea of Solitude, this is a game that touches on depression, anxiety, and loss… you play as Kay, shes a monster, in a sea of monsters that all represent somebody from her real life.. And first things first… don’t play this on the playstation 5, its completely unplayable, that isn’t an exaggeration, this broken, 0/10 there… so I had to    Sea of Solitude
    Don’t play this on the PS5
    I loved Sea of Solitude, this is a game that touches on depression, anxiety, and loss… you play as Kay, shes a monster, in a sea of monsters that all represent somebody from her real life..
    And first things first… don’t play this on the playstation 5, its completely unplayable, that isn’t an exaggeration, this broken, 0/10 there… so I had to dust off the ole PS4 for this one… Sea of Solitude is a 3 hour long game that can be thrown onto the same family tree of like an ico game.. its that kind of feeling.. obviously nowhere near as complex, but I just found myself in a trance like state, following this light around, cleansing areas, defeating that sections boss, learning your lesson, and unlocking the next area… youre free to explore as much or as little as youd like, collecting pittles and shooing seguls.. but there isn’t much to explore as again this is a very tiny game, but it was a nice bite size.. It ended right on time.. not feeling too long or too short… this really was a nice story focused unique experience…
    I love these types of games that don’t hit you over the head with puzzles and fighting, youre just exploring, interacting with the things you gotta interact with, no searching, no stress… just getting lost in the world and enjoying the ride…
    Though admittedly some will find experiences like this to be lacking, I however love every once in a while just taking a break and going through a game like this that isn’t so game heavy..
    I nice pallet cleanser in between other stuff.
    I also found the story telling to be touching and thought provoking, so there is definitely some substance here.
    I give Sea of Solitude
    a 7/10    … Expand
  11. Eagle16
    Jul 24, 2020
    3
    It's an interesting idea and a game but it was not executed in a very entertaining way, the world seems too empty at times, the story is nothing intriguing but I give them props for creating unique story and world. It's something completely new what we have never seen and that's all cool but sometimes the gameplay isn't that much of fun and there's not much to do other than follow the story arc.
  12. AlvaroK95
    Jul 21, 2020
    5
    La historia es aceptable, con algunos momentos relativamente impactantes, pero la jugabilidad es insulsa y aburrida de principio a fin.
  13. meny82
    Feb 21, 2022
    3
    Vuoi una motivazione al mio 3, che dovrebbe essere 0? Su PlayStation 5 è oggettivamente ingiocabile, non senza andare in epilessia ogni quattro secondi. Google per approdonfire.
    Sono stato costretto a ripiegare sulla versione PlayStation 4. Mediocre su tutti i punti di vista, sopratutto la narrativa.. e quando sono arrivato al capitolo dieci, beh.. troverai un cristallo da recuperare, che    Vuoi una motivazione al mio 3, che dovrebbe essere 0? Su PlayStation 5 è oggettivamente ingiocabile, non senza andare in epilessia ogni quattro secondi. Google per approdonfire.
    Sono stato costretto a ripiegare sulla versione PlayStation 4. Mediocre su tutti i punti di vista, sopratutto la narrativa.. e quando sono arrivato al capitolo dieci, beh.. troverai un cristallo da recuperare, che ti farà odiare te stesso per aver perso tempo fino a quel momento.    … Expand
  14. JumpCut_Online
    Oct 20, 2019
    9
    Sea of Solitude was a gorgeous journey through a very personal struggle, at times it’s relatable, but sometimes the dialogue has a clunky quality that detracts from the rawness; yet the stunning visuals and the overall message about dealing with mental health issues outshines this.
  15. ChrisHenares
    Mar 3, 2021
    9
    I've played this game twice on differents platforms, and speak with people about it. The storytelling and the final message, for me, it didn't ring a bell (specially), but for many people it was VERY special because of the related family issues in a normal and modern relationship. I cannot identify very much with the game but I appreciate what they did, and it seems to be a very specialI've played this game twice on differents platforms, and speak with people about it. The storytelling and the final message, for me, it didn't ring a bell (specially), but for many people it was VERY special because of the related family issues in a normal and modern relationship. I cannot identify very much with the game but I appreciate what they did, and it seems to be a very special way to tells a story. Overall, a great game with a good message and technically is not a top game, but it works perfectly without any horrible bug at all. Minor things that every other game has.… Expand
  16. ToshLichev
    Sep 26, 2021
    4
    Sea of Solitude is a game that means well but ultimately fails in most aspects. It tries to tell a deeper and emotional story but it fails due to laughable writing and amateur voice acting. The gameplay is far too basic and simple to impress and that really only leaves a cool vibe and art style to do all the heavy lifting.

    If the concept is handled by a more capable studio and the plot    Sea of Solitude is a game that means well but ultimately fails in most aspects. It tries to tell a deeper and emotional story but it fails due to laughable writing and amateur voice acting. The gameplay is far too basic and simple to impress and that really only leaves a cool vibe and art style to do all the heavy lifting.

    If the concept is handled by a more capable studio and the plot is rewritten by actual writers and performed by professional voice actors Sea of Solitude could turn into a pretty interesting game but what we have here seems more like a proof of concept demo rather than an actual finished product.    … Expand
  17. tdrn
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    Lovely game, the voice acting is at times a little mediocre but since the developers made it there selves I can forgive.
  18. Nadom
    Jul 24, 2019
    10
    This game has taught me so much of letting things go that have affected me in the past good and bad, and that no matter what happens, we should always follow the light to lead us to the end of the tunnel. We shouldn’t look back just face for it. Thank you so much Ea for making this game possible. Forever will Sea Of Solitude be one of my favorite games.
  19. Amorris17
    Nov 26, 2019
    9
    This is just the right kind of game for my mood. I don't know if it would have been better or worse in another state of mind.
  20. Kenpo_
    Aug 8, 2020
    0
    Awfull game, boring and without nothing much to do, only good for the trophies...
  21. DylanColino
    Feb 13, 2021
    9
    Un juego dentro de un libro.

    Este juego no es para cualquiera, aunque no lo parezca por el estilo gráfico y de arte que tiene, trata temas muy serios como la depresión y la soledad, es un cliché ya que en parte cuenta la historia de la propia directora, esto nos lo dice al iniciar el juego. Creo que más que nunca, dependerá de la madurez que tengas para poder entender lo que padecen los    Un juego dentro de un libro.

    Este juego no es para cualquiera, aunque no lo parezca por el estilo gráfico y de arte que tiene, trata temas muy serios como la depresión y la soledad, es un cliché ya que en parte cuenta la historia de la propia directora, esto nos lo dice al iniciar el juego. Creo que más que nunca, dependerá de la madurez que tengas para poder entender lo que padecen los personajes, y más si tenés o tuviste depresión o en una situación de soledad. También está muy bueno para entender que es la depresión, lo duro y feo que es ya que para algunas personas es hasta un tema taboo.

    El juego es muy corto, en una tarde lo terminas ya que dura 4 horas. Las mecánicas son super super sencillas, la curva de aprendizaje es casi nula, lo cual está hecho para que puedas centrarte mucho más en la narrativa sin distraerte por algunos niveles o puzzles complejos, por esta razón es que digo que es un juego dentro de un libro, ya que es muy sencillo.

    El arte gráfico es muy bonito, los colores especialmente, diferenciando la felicidad de la soledad con colores bien saturados y que contrastan mucho de lo blanco y negro de la soledad.

    Lo más flojo que le encontré al juego es la música, yo creo que se pudieron esmerar un poco más en este sentido, como para crear un ambiente de tensión mucho mayor.

    Super recomendable, está en EA Play por lo que si tienes ya la suscripción, no dejes pasar esta joya.    … Expand
  22. Shenandoah
    Feb 6, 2022
    0
    This game is offered in PS store but it turns out that this game is completely broken on PS5. Unplayable. Still no patch available.
  23. baranbyz
    May 14, 2021
    1
    Cringy teenager story, 0 gameplay and very boring atmosphere. I think i'm the only one who can finished this game. Waste of time.

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2019
51
#51 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 46
  3. Negative: 2 out of 46
  1. Game Over Online
    Aug 23, 2019
    60
    Sea of Solitude tries to tackle some very serious topics about bullying, divorces and relationships depicting them quite nicely in its allegorical environment. What it’s missing though is any meaningful examination or resolutions in said issues. As it stands, it doesn’t offer anything more than acknowledging that these issues exist in our world without ever delving any deeper.
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  2. PLAY! Zine
    Aug 2, 2019
    55
    Sea of Solitude tries to tackle more dark and sensitive problems of family relations and depression but fails ultimately to deliver by generalising its story thematic. It still manages to deliver the message it wants to, but completely underestimating player’s intelligence and degrading him into childish storytelling it tries to tell.
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  3. IGN Japan
    Aug 1, 2019
    68
    Sailing through the mind of Kay is a very lonely experience. Looking for a solution, you will head into her mind alone, with no real answer to be found. However, playing this game will not just make you feel lonely, since the abstract and ambiguous story will also leave you confused. It’s definitely not a therapeutic experience, but its depiction of loneliness will make you think.
    Read full review
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