The Sinking City

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 209 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 115 out of 209
  2. Mixed: 49 out of 209
  3. Negative: 45 out of 209
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  1. Earldog
    Jul 4, 2019
    7
    I’ve got about 15 hours into the game. I’m really enjoying it. I am a Lovecraft fan and am enjoying the handling of the lore and the vibe. The story is dope so far. The game is slow paced and is not a shooter game. If you’re not into that you definitely shouldn’t get it. I do really like it and the pro’s definitely outweigh the con’s but again. It is for a specific gamer. Downs...I’ve got about 15 hours into the game. I’m really enjoying it. I am a Lovecraft fan and am enjoying the handling of the lore and the vibe. The story is dope so far. The game is slow paced and is not a shooter game. If you’re not into that you definitely shouldn’t get it. I do really like it and the pro’s definitely outweigh the con’s but again. It is for a specific gamer. Downs... graphics aren’t stellar and there are bugs. Combat is chunky as many **** about but again it isn’t a shooter. It’s a bit of a let down when people give a game a “0”. It’s just not helpful. Nether is giving a game a “10” for “balance”… Expand
  2. Lekhter
    Sep 26, 2019
    10
    Just finished the game. For me it is best game implementation of Lovecraft's universe. Feels even better then Dark corners of the earth.
  3. Grey_Archer
    Jul 19, 2019
    7
    Not perfect, but worth it for the story and how much care they gave the subject matter. Art direction and sounds are pretty well done, as is the eventual creepy places you will go. There are some great stories contained in this game, but sadly, many will write it off due to weak combat, some troubled controls, and repeating areas. Stick with it though and you will find the game rewardsNot perfect, but worth it for the story and how much care they gave the subject matter. Art direction and sounds are pretty well done, as is the eventual creepy places you will go. There are some great stories contained in this game, but sadly, many will write it off due to weak combat, some troubled controls, and repeating areas. Stick with it though and you will find the game rewards your efforts by really bringing to life the source material. As a Keeper (DM) that rolwplays this game, I got some fun ideas from it!
    This isn't a perfect game, no, but it does deserve a buy, and if you were on the fence and a Cthulhu fan, I think you will enjoy it.    … Expand
  4. Aryann
    Oct 16, 2019
    8
    Game is much better than the rviews tell you. If you like Lovecraft there is nothing to think about -just buy. I had great time with this title and even made a platinum trophy out of it.
  5. apolyakov
    Jul 29, 2019
    8
    Best contemporary Lovecraft game there is, maybe the best one ever.
    This game does not deserve all these low marks.
    Pros: - Close to 8th summit tabletop game with all the investigation mechanics, but deeper - A lot of dialogues that RPG fans will like - Tough plot choices, several endings, different quests outcomes - Not too much combat, almost every encounter is a challenge -    Best contemporary Lovecraft game there is, maybe the best one ever.
    This game does not deserve all these low marks.

    Pros:
    - Close to 8th summit tabletop game with all the investigation mechanics, but deeper
    - A lot of dialogues that RPG fans will like
    - Tough plot choices, several endings, different quests outcomes
    - Not too much combat, almost every encounter is a challenge
    - Strong survival element in the first half of the game
    - Creepy atmosphere that does not get old, lovely town with interesting lore incorporating different Lovecraft stories
    - Really interesting main plot

    Cons:
    - clunky combat and few monster types
    - too much travel between locations (gets better when you get fast travel, but then you wait for load screens)
    - clone sidequests houses
    - open world could be much more rich with just a little effort from developers who could add merchants, more item types, add more exploration incentives, random encounters
    - some sidequests are fetch ones and get repetitive, but there are some absolute gems and unexpected plot twists
    - main character has zero charisma and could use more back story    … Expand
  6. Symbolofdoom
    Jul 13, 2019
    9
    I`m about halfway through the story and i really enjoy this game. The nightmarish, strange game world and lore are amazing.
    The investigation system and moral choice mechanics are very cool.
    Graphics are nice, loading times are ok, there are frame rate drops during daytime, some pop ups, but no game braking bugs/glitches, whats pretty impressive in a open world game from a small studio    I`m about halfway through the story and i really enjoy this game. The nightmarish, strange game world and lore are amazing.
    The investigation system and moral choice mechanics are very cool.
    Graphics are nice, loading times are ok, there are frame rate drops during daytime, some pop ups, but no game braking bugs/glitches, whats pretty impressive in a open world game from a small studio (unlike in some high budget lame "creations" from famous companies *cough* "Anthem", "F76"*cough*).
    Music is nice, fits to games atmosphere. Some voice actors are doing awesome job, like main protagonist Charles Reed or Robert Throgmorton.
    People are complaining about shooting mechanics, iv´e seen worse, like in recent "Left alive". Just play more stealthily, utilize traps and enable strong aim assist if you are still struggling (lol).    … Expand
  7. mp93Wiking
    Nov 30, 2019
    8
    Hatte sehr viel Spaß mit diesem Spiel, auch wenn es noch viele Ecken und Kanten hat. Man sollte hier nicht vergessen, dass dieses Spiel von einem relativ kleinen Entwicklerstudio gemacht wurde.
  8. Dantheman69
    Dec 9, 2019
    9
    Amazing journey and extremely open-ended, sinking City has many secrets and places of interest to discover. The characters are wild and odd, story keeps you entertained and the atmosphere is like no other I've experienced. A little clunky game controls, but overall a great game .
  9. Nikita20
    Oct 25, 2019
    9
    Good good good good Good good good goodGood good good good Good good good good Good good good good Good good good good Good good good goodGood good good good Good good good good Good good good good
  10. Naxil
    Sep 7, 2020
    8
    Hi, I'm playing it and I don't find it bad. I don't understand why the fighting industry hasn't been developed more. Like the npc in the map. If the game had a reputation and the characters had behaved accordingly in the city, it would have been a masterpiece... A "different" game and at least it's not so obvious. The atmosphere is there and you feel it. The story is there and it isHi, I'm playing it and I don't find it bad. I don't understand why the fighting industry hasn't been developed more. Like the npc in the map. If the game had a reputation and the characters had behaved accordingly in the city, it would have been a masterpiece... A "different" game and at least it's not so obvious. The atmosphere is there and you feel it. The story is there and it is beautiful and structured. Graphically it's not anything but graphics aren't everything. Take, for example, darksouls every Cm of map is important and is considered because the game does not tell us where to go (while in other games with the map that tells us everything becomes important only the arrival). Here we are in the middle map tell u some info but not take your hand And it accompanies you to the finish line. Io lo consiglio questo gioco.… Expand
  11. mynameiscalled
    Apr 25, 2022
    7
    Amazing game!

    Loved my playthrough, the overall vibe of the game is amazing, that is, of course, if you are a fan of anything Lovecraft. Sadly, there are setbacks as well - I personally hated the overall combat mechanic of the game - felt really clunky and not very enjoyable, but everything else was very fun! I do have to wonder why the cinematics felt so low resolution/quality but    Amazing game!

    Loved my playthrough, the overall vibe of the game is amazing, that is, of course, if you are a fan of anything Lovecraft.

    Sadly, there are setbacks as well - I personally hated the overall combat mechanic of the game - felt really clunky and not very enjoyable, but everything else was very fun! I do have to wonder why the cinematics felt so low resolution/quality but it's not a really big turn off.
    Would most definitely recommend this game to anybody who's into horror-noir detective movies/games.    … Expand
  12. TheQuietGamer
    Oct 6, 2021
    8
    It's been evident for a while now that the people at Frogwares are really big Lovecraft fans. Something that can be seen in the crossover they made with their long-running Sherlock Holmes series and the cyberpunk-infused Magrunner. The Sinking City stands as their deepest dive into the Cthulhu mythos yet, and right from the get-go you can see what a marked improvement it is over theirIt's been evident for a while now that the people at Frogwares are really big Lovecraft fans. Something that can be seen in the crossover they made with their long-running Sherlock Holmes series and the cyberpunk-infused Magrunner. The Sinking City stands as their deepest dive into the Cthulhu mythos yet, and right from the get-go you can see what a marked improvement it is over their previous works. Presentation is something the developer has often struggled with and for the first time a game of theirs actually looks pretty great. It also represents an evolution in their approach to gameplay as they branch out into the realm of open-world survival-horror, while still retaining the sleuthing mechanics they've built their reputation on.

    There certainly isn't any handholding going on here. The title forgoes a lot of the comforts of modern day gaming in favor of a more realistic approach. The only way to restore your health or refill your guns is to craft first aid kits and bullets yourself, making searching every container you come across for supplies an absolute must. You also often have to figure out where your next objective is by looking up street names on the map and combing the area for the right building when you get there. It's decidedly old-school in a very charming way that also serves to up the challenge. You can even disable helpful icons in the character's journal to make things require further deciphering on your part.

    Not all of the ways it hearkens back to the PS1/PS2 era of horror are great however. Expect a lot of backtracking to and fro between a few key locations without so much as a mini-map to help you get your bearings, forcing you to constantly bring up the pause menu. Fast travel points do alleviate some of the tedium, but they must first be discovered and even then there's still a fair amount of distance you have to cover on foot most of the time. The real annoyance with this though is that it reveals the game's technical limitations. You'll frequently run into random loads when walking around or entering a building. That's because sections of the city are regularly only spawning into existence as you approach them. The latter of which is especially surprising given how often the mere handful of interior layouts are reused.

    I think the real dated aspect the majority of people are going to take the most issue with though is the combat. Just like protagonists from previous console generations, our leading man is slow and somewhat clunky to maneuver. This of course makes aiming at the fast moving enemies when shooting rather unreliable, and your only melee attack option is an awkward swipe of a shovel that also runs into trouble when foes begin to circle you. You're given tools like traps, molotovs, and homemade explosives to help out, but they take a second to use. As someone who's introduction to the genre largely consisted of the original Silent Hill titles none of this was too big of a problem for me personally, but at the same time I would be lying if I said there weren't a few tedious encounters as a result of all this.

    Luckily, just about everything you do grants you experience that unlocks "knowledge points," which in turn can be spent on new abilities. I'm hesitant to call this a true RPG as while there are side-quests, story decisions that give a whole new meaning to the term "morally grey," and skills to invest in it honestly just never truly feels like one. You're not really increasing stats so much as you are just gaining the ability to carry more items or use weapons more effectively. So these systems come off as being implemented solely as a way of adding a little extra depth as opposed to anything else.

    It's the writing and setting that ultimately make this worth playing. The team at Frogwares didn't just focus on the tales of the Great Old Ones alone, but actually pulled from the wider array of Lovecraftian fiction and the contributions made by other authors to the universe as well to create something truly unique. It contains all of the themes you would expect and implements them in interesting ways, such as the creative visual effects that appear onscreen any time your character's mental state begins to slip which I don't think I've ever seen another game try before. I don't know what it is about this mythos, but as with Cyanide's Call of Cthulhu before it I once again jumped right back in after completing it the first time to see all the other outcomes. The amount of freedom you have is genuinely surprising. There are some options tied to the trophies that you could only find out on your own if you were some kind of sadistic weirdo. Or CallMeKevin (kudos if you know who that is). Sure it's not exactly scary in the traditional sense and some of the original creature designs are more Silent Hill than Lovecraft, but faults aside this is a standout piece of cosmic horror that is sure to be a treat for anyone who knows their Dagons from their Idh-yaas.    … Expand
  13. safcgac
    Mar 30, 2020
    8
    I like it. Creepy, need to use your brain. A bit like LA Noire with monsters. Sometimes graphics need to catch up with the game but it’s not unplayable.
  14. wesker2012
    Jul 8, 2019
    7
    I enjoyed playing this game so much even though it got repetitive towards the end. It combines an open world game design mixed with survivor horror and detective work. It implemented the cthulu lore pretty well. The atmosphere and graphics were really good. The loading screens were incredibly long and the game felt like it needed more content to be a truly good game. The gameI enjoyed playing this game so much even though it got repetitive towards the end. It combines an open world game design mixed with survivor horror and detective work. It implemented the cthulu lore pretty well. The atmosphere and graphics were really good. The loading screens were incredibly long and the game felt like it needed more content to be a truly good game. The game sometimes felt like a chore to play but the unique, slow paced gameplay and engrossing atmosphere is something not seen in many games nowadays.… Expand
  15. Sklizverg
    Feb 11, 2021
    9
    Oh, i've enjoyed this so much! If you are into plot and atmosphere - go get your copy:) It's kinda reminded me of The Secret World - same dark, mysterious atmosphere. Don't expect this to be an AAA qame, it has it's flaws, but the story kept me engaged till the end. And, to be honest, i liked the gameplay too, especially detective part.
  16. Rabensblut
    Jan 21, 2020
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I bought the Necronomicon edition with dlcs)

    +Great detective system (Frogwares did Sherlock holmes games)
    +A lot of references to H.P.Lovecraft, Clark A. Smith, R.E.Howard, Chambers and other Cthulhu mythos writers
    +Different city quarters look differently from each other.
    +A lot of sidequests with great stories
    +Atmosphere of the game
    +Innsmouthers look like I immagined them in the story (Shadows over Innsmouth)

    -Graphics could be better on PS4
    -Some houses look completely the same inside like other houses (generator of the city)
    -The monsters could be more Lovecraftian, like a fully developed Deep ones. These look more like from The Thing movie...
    -Melee fighting is a bit clunky when trying to hit a monster
    -framerates
    -loading times    … Expand
  17. turansoylu
    Sep 16, 2020
    8
    Evil within oynayanlar için oyun mekaniklerin basitçe amatör bir evil within oyunu diyebilirim. Oyunun Türkçe menü ve altyazıları yanı sıra en son skyrimde görev yaparken çok bağlantılı farklı olaylarla karşılaşmamda yaşadığım tatmin hissini yaşadım. Hikaye ve derinlik çok güzel. Dedektifliği sevenler göz atmalı.
    Yükleme ekranları bazen gereğinden uzun sürüyor, açık dünyada ilerlerken    Evil within oynayanlar için oyun mekaniklerin basitçe amatör bir evil within oyunu diyebilirim. Oyunun Türkçe menü ve altyazıları yanı sıra en son skyrimde görev yaparken çok bağlantılı farklı olaylarla karşılaşmamda yaşadığım tatmin hissini yaşadım. Hikaye ve derinlik çok güzel. Dedektifliği sevenler göz atmalı.
    Yükleme ekranları bazen gereğinden uzun sürüyor, açık dünyada ilerlerken bazen kasmalar yaşanabiliyor.    … Expand
  18. FORREST_006
    Jul 19, 2020
    10
    It's best detective open world game . And one of best cthullu game . Love this game
  19. xilef2007
    Mar 6, 2021
    9
    The story 10/10, gameplay 8/10, soundtrack 7/10, characters 9/10, world 10/10, atmosphere 10/10.
    It is a very good game but the graphics are not so good but the story is fantastic. I think it is the best Lovecraft game ever.
    Hours played: 27
  20. fleshgakker
    Mar 15, 2021
    10
    Decent and atmospheric detective game. Best lovecraft based game for sure..
  21. Narbo
    Nov 21, 2020
    9
    Tecnicamente scarso ma a livello di ambientazione e immersione molto bello.
  22. Captain_Bagel
    Jun 30, 2019
    7
    The Sinking City is an action-adventure game surrounded by a certain mysterious veil in which the known H.P. Lovecraft horror is implemented. Developed by Frogwares and published by Bigben Interactive, this game gives a great deal of mind trembling puzzles where vile beasts from the depths will try to stop you from finding out the mysteries behind the hysteria in the flooded city ofThe Sinking City is an action-adventure game surrounded by a certain mysterious veil in which the known H.P. Lovecraft horror is implemented. Developed by Frogwares and published by Bigben Interactive, this game gives a great deal of mind trembling puzzles where vile beasts from the depths will try to stop you from finding out the mysteries behind the hysteria in the flooded city of Oakmont.

    While you explore this massive city as the protagonist, you will come across a big variety of people all trying to find their way through this ongoing madness. When solving cases for the civilians, make sure to look around in the eery environment you are in as it all gives small clues to what has happened in Oakmont. This game is all about making choices which eventually will lead to a different way to solve a case and get that little step closer towards revealing the truth.

    I must admit the graphics aren't that great, especially for the current gen consoles. The load times can take a while but to make it more bearable, the developers have put important notes in the loading screens, notes that help you remember what has to be done. If you see a wylebeast, be sure to just run away and come back more sneakily since the combat is pretty bad. Aiming goes really sluggish and melee looks like you're trying to hit something close to your face rather than in front of you.

    If there's no problems in these things for you then there might me the occasional lag when the game auto-saves, doesn't take long but it doesn't go unnoticed. If that still doesn't scare you away then go ahead and explore this sunken city filled with riddles and beasts (or people) as the game won't show you where to go. You'll have to get the good ol' map and find where to go and what to do.

    It's a bit overpriced but I recommend buying it if slow-paced, story driven games with an eery mystery in them strikes your fancy. Or just wait for the price to drop.    … Expand
  23. trevor1981
    Jul 5, 2019
    8
    Do not listen to the negative reviews. This is one of the best game I have ever played. It's so good that even after playing Resident Evil 2 remake it took me only 20 minutes or so to be completely absorbed by the mesmerizing atmosphere and excellent writing.
    63% and 6.4 user score??? Are you kidding me??? After Sekiro and Resident Evil 2 remake this is the 3rd best game I have played    Do not listen to the negative reviews. This is one of the best game I have ever played. It's so good that even after playing Resident Evil 2 remake it took me only 20 minutes or so to be completely absorbed by the mesmerizing atmosphere and excellent writing.
    63% and 6.4 user score??? Are you kidding me??? After Sekiro and Resident Evil 2 remake this is the 3rd best game I have played this year. Spend the entire weekend without getting bored or tired. Go get this game, do yourself a favor, you'll love it. People who are downgrading this game, have mostly stopped playing early on feeling somewhat disappointed with not very polished graphics and mechanics, but those flaws are not a big problem. You'll get past them very quick and start enjoying the story and suspense. Awesome Lovecraft game. We need more.    … Expand
  24. Daniel0809
    Jun 30, 2019
    8
    Very interesting game. Good sound effects and great graphics on the PS5. The old lore and run down city is fun to explore but I wish I could go into more buildings and interact with NPC's but you very limited what you can do. Im actually playing the game again on the PS5 and enjoying it.
  25. Snail_king_08
    Jul 10, 2019
    8
    Oozes atmosphere. The story is captivating. Allows you to become a real detective. Has some bugs that need to be patched, but i was able to look past them. There is a good game here
  26. Dalmane
    Dec 1, 2019
    8
    This is NOT a shooter.
    This is NOT a fighting game.

    The Sinking City is an investigation game, and it does it extremely well. You have to use your brain more than R2. The environment and story are creepy, and the insanity system adds another layer to the game play. If you want a game that rewards intellect and the ability to connect abstract ideas, then look no further.
  27. Strangedoc22
    Jul 2, 2019
    8
    While not being a seamless experience, The Sinking City manages to bring a unique setting within the Cthulhu mythos and an interesting investigation system that does not hold your hand.
  28. Hologram
    Jun 29, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Sinking City takes steps into genre-refreshing territory in order to set it apart from its Lovecraftian peers. Where 2018’s Call of Cthulhu tries to carve out a small space to tell its own stand-alone story that tucked itself into the already existing cosmic lore, The Sinking City feels like it’s picking up eight movies into a Lovecraft cinematic Cthu-niverse, delivering a concentrated dose of its distinctive flavor. The first five minutes introduce the protagonist, Charles Reed, to Mister Robert Throgmorton, an important character who appears to be half-ape, half-human. That’s a deep-cut reference to Lovecraft’s short story, "Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family." This is quickly followed up by a run-in with the Innsmouthers, who are basically fish people from another novella. It pulls from so many of Lovecraft’s plots, quotes, and themes that it reverently captures the intrigue and interest from these pulpy stories while combining them in a new way. It inspires political and criminal intrigue amidst its true-to-genre story.… Expand
  29. UndeadHippo
    Jul 1, 2019
    4
    The Sinking City is a detective horror adventure that would leave both Lovecraft fans and fans of Frogware's previous Sherlock Holmes games happy and excited to see what the studio is truly capable of. That is if they actually gave us a complete and functional title. Unfortunately, this game is not finished.

    Load times take over a minute on the PS4, manual saves don't load where you    The Sinking City is a detective horror adventure that would leave both Lovecraft fans and fans of Frogware's previous Sherlock Holmes games happy and excited to see what the studio is truly capable of. That is if they actually gave us a complete and functional title. Unfortunately, this game is not finished.

    Load times take over a minute on the PS4, manual saves don't load where you saved at and instead loads you at the closest point on the map you were. I know that gunplay is not supposed to be this game's strength, but even then it is not even subpar. There is no feedback on whether or not you are doing any damage to creatures, no real signs of damage nor feeling of impact. I fire point blank and I still have the lingering doubt that I am shooting through them, only when they drop do I know that I was hitting something. Some actual blood splatter and stronger impact sound effects would go a long way there. Movement, in general, is a chore as well. I get stuck on terrain constantly and climbing over things is inconsistent. The Field of View is also far too narrow and flat, and as is typical of most console versions of games, cannot be changed in the settings menu.

    The visuals lack polish in general as well. I am not expecting AAA animation and fidelity, but I am expecting something comparable to what this studio, Frogwares has done before. While the move to Unreal 4 is appreciated, the animations vary from jerky and robotic to constant waving and bobbing around. Some of the lazier and more automated animations were excusable in the past Sherlock Holmes games of theirs, but when you bump up your graphical fidelity and are going for an even more photorealistic look for your game, your animation needs to be able to back that up. Otherwise, work within your limitations and go for something more stylistic and appealing.

    The idea of an open city where you have to find clues and scavenge for crafting materials is a potentially interesting design choice. But the city is stretched way too much. It feels like I spend more time traveling looking for what I need to do as opposed to actually doing it. A smaller but more dense hub I think would have fit this game far better. That, or do what Frogware did in their past Sherlock Holmes games where you moved from point to point, that way you only have to go to places that actually serve some sort of purpose as opposed to walking around a bigger city simply for the sake of it.

    The only aspects that are effective really are the things left over from previous Frogware titles. Namely from the Testament of Sherlock Holmes and onwards. Up until then the voice acting and script writing were very much a dead giveaway of their budget nature if the graphics weren't enough to tip you off. Enjoyable in a so awkward that it's endearing kind of way. But from Testament and onward, the voice acting has been top notch. I am happy to say that the Sinking City does continue with this trend. And I am happy that the writing is of a quality seen in Crimes and Punishments, and not like the confused and inept Devil's Daughter. The actual detective work in the SInking City is the same found in Crimes and Punishments and Devil's Daughter, so if you know that system and enjoy it as I do, then you will be happy in that regard. Player choice and agency is of a similar level as well, you have to make sure you find and put the clues together correctly or else you may reach the wrong conclusions and have people suffer because of it. It is not afraid to let you be wrong in your conclusions and have you press on regardless. It is a design choice I greatly appreciate and respect in a detective adventure game. Only these games and L.A. Noire let you fail as a sleuth really.

    The problem is that in order to get to the parts of the game that really shines is that you need to, unfortunately, play the rest of the game. And because of those parts, namely the optimization, the combat, navigation, and overall polish cripple whatever chances this game had to be truly satisfying. Maybe some of the issues such as the long load times may be better on other platforms such as the PC or maybe the PS4 Pro or XBox One X, but the actual core of the game is inherently flawed. But as a fan of Frogware and Lovecraft, I would have loved to have played it on PC, I have the setup for it. It's a shame it won't be on Steam until next year. Maybe by then they can fix it up a bit and sell it at a discount and it will be worth it. God help you if you think the Switch port coming soon will even be able to get off the ground. It's a shame that in order for someone to think that the Sinking City is a solid game worth the $50 price point at this time, you'd have to be more insane than the citizens of Oakmont or anywhere else in the actual Lovecraftian mythos.    … Expand
  30. Spmillican
    Jun 26, 2019
    10
    I can’t believe how low the reviews are for this game! I have played it, non-stop, for the last three days, and I popped on here to see how close to 100 it was. I love this game!! I am not a huge Lovecraft fan, but I am very thankful I bought this game without looking at the reviews. This game takes chances, and it definitely takes some getting used to, but I am so glad to see a game thatI can’t believe how low the reviews are for this game! I have played it, non-stop, for the last three days, and I popped on here to see how close to 100 it was. I love this game!! I am not a huge Lovecraft fan, but I am very thankful I bought this game without looking at the reviews. This game takes chances, and it definitely takes some getting used to, but I am so glad to see a game that doesn’t just copy Far Cry or The Last of Us.… Expand
  31. inmh
    Jul 5, 2019
    2
    Clunky mechanics and a ridiculously dull story-line. Characters were paper-thin and entirely unmemorable, including the protagonist.

    The graphics themselves aren't bad- when they load, anyway. Speaking of loading, you'll get used to the Loading Screens real quick, since they come almost constantly with any sort of scene-change and last anywhere from a minute to four minutes. There is    Clunky mechanics and a ridiculously dull story-line. Characters were paper-thin and entirely unmemorable, including the protagonist.

    The graphics themselves aren't bad- when they load, anyway. Speaking of loading, you'll get used to the Loading Screens real quick, since they come almost constantly with any sort of scene-change and last anywhere from a minute to four minutes.

    There is no butterfly effect in this game either; it sets you up like Call of Cthulhu, where you have to make specific choices to get a certain ending, but at the end of the game ALL options are available regardless of what you pick. Your choices don't mean ****

    I was hoping this would be better that Call of Cthulhu, which I was disappointed with; but this ended up being an even BIGGER disappointment.    … Expand
  32. ADorMouse
    Jun 28, 2019
    9
    Definitely has it's bugs and flaws, especially in the graphics side of things, but the game is a load of fun, and I honestly think some of the bugs add to the horror.
    I enjoy the deduction, even if it's a bit straight forward (still early in the game). The way your "madness sight" works is brilliant, sometimes forcing you to lean towards insanity just to figure out what is going on.
  33. Wackaloon
    Feb 3, 2020
    8
    Interesting detective mechanic, not so bad action part. Really cool stories and quests. Worth checking if you like other Lovecraftian games and stories, this one has really good Lovecraftian atmosphere.
  34. PotatoPandaTV
    Mar 2, 2020
    4
    This game seemed to have promise when I first started this game. The idea of being able to go around and solve cases with somewhat minimal clues drew me in. The idea of having sparce ammunition and parts to build ammo is nothing new, but added some difficulty and sense if accomplishment to the game. But, the melee and shooting mechanics in this game are clunky at best. The graphics areThis game seemed to have promise when I first started this game. The idea of being able to go around and solve cases with somewhat minimal clues drew me in. The idea of having sparce ammunition and parts to build ammo is nothing new, but added some difficulty and sense if accomplishment to the game. But, the melee and shooting mechanics in this game are clunky at best. The graphics are weird, but also add some charm to the game. The limited ammo drew away from the game during parts where there seemed to be more enemies than ammo. The loading screens really helped kill this game for me, especially in areas where I died a lot.… Expand
  35. Pacemaker87
    Dec 7, 2020
    7
    A must play for fans of HP Lovecraft. A tough game that really doesn't hold your hand
  36. Sad_Max
    Jun 27, 2019
    9
    Amazing game, even the city being too big, its a great title.
    I am a huge lovecraft fan and this was what i needed! Way better than the "Call of Cthulhu" from Cyanide, its even comparable to Silent Hill
  37. proudbandito
    Jun 27, 2019
    10
    For a Lovecraft and murder mystery fan, this is everything I like in a game! It has it's issues sure, but I feel that a lot of people really over exaggerate the problems that they have with this game. And talking a game down or giving it a bad review because it doesn't hold your hand seems kinda weird to me. I know this game isn't really a ten not even a nine, but I feel like I have toFor a Lovecraft and murder mystery fan, this is everything I like in a game! It has it's issues sure, but I feel that a lot of people really over exaggerate the problems that they have with this game. And talking a game down or giving it a bad review because it doesn't hold your hand seems kinda weird to me. I know this game isn't really a ten not even a nine, but I feel like I have to give this score, because a lot of reviews have been dragging this game far too down so that people that might like this game are gonna be put off by this low score! So even when I give this a ten it's more a 8/10 for me!… Expand
  38. Toxic_Boy
    Jul 2, 2019
    5
    I'm giving this a 5 for the sake of it being a decent detective game faithful to Lovecraft. Unfortunately, virtually every other aspect of the game is either broken or subpar. If you focus solely on the stories and mysteries you unravel, at best you'll enjoy that aspect only.
  39. surtor
    Jun 26, 2019
    10
    Good game, good story. Overpriced a little bit. I totally recommend to buy it.
  40. Keresh
    Jun 26, 2019
    10
    This is good, interesting game. With great story. Maybe it is a little bit long. But this game cost to play it.
  41. Lother
    Nov 7, 2021
    3
    The more I played, the more it devolved into pandering, progressive woke nonsense. Every checkbox is ticked here and shoved in your face:

    - oppressed illegal immigrants that did nothing wrong? check - rich individuals who wont share their wealth with the poor? check - charitable individuals redistributing the rich one's wealth to the poor? multiple check - secret homo relationship    The more I played, the more it devolved into pandering, progressive woke nonsense. Every checkbox is ticked here and shoved in your face:

    - oppressed illegal immigrants that did nothing wrong? check
    - rich individuals who wont share their wealth with the poor? check
    - charitable individuals redistributing the rich one's wealth to the poor? multiple check
    - secret homo relationship heavy handedly shoved as an afterthought you discover from a photo and never mentioned again? check
    - women's rights movement? check

    The game also clearly bashes you over the head with what the creators think is the correct moral decision(the PROGRESSIVE one) in each instance. You're given stupid choices like: expose a clearly evil person part of a dark cult by poisoning the food they distribute to the poor in order to gain members or simply leaving her alone. I mean, seriously, what the actual F?

    Oh and the gameplay is pretty clunky and just annoying. You run out of ammo so damn fast then have to scrounge for more. It's not like you can AVOID monsters, most of the time you do have to fight them and they take so many hits to go down. What's the point of giving the player supposedly better and better weapons if those don't 1-shot weaker enemies? 4-5 shotgun blasts to take down a giant, same for rifle rounds.....huh?

    I only gave this a chance because it really did start out very promising and had SOME elements from H.P. Lovecraft done well. I should have suspected the level of wokeness when the game went exclusive to Epic for so long.

    Don't play this, play Eternal Darkness, a perfect adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft themes. Oh how I wish they would just make a remaster of that instead.    … Expand
  42. JamesBurk22
    Jun 26, 2019
    0
    Honestly I'm really disappointed, especially because this game costs $75 in total. There's a 0-day dlc, and the game is very suboptimal. It seems pretty buggy, and its graphics quality doesn't look anything like the trailer, which makes me feel extremely disappointed. I can't give this game a really worthy score, and I really wanted to. At least a 3, or a 4 but I genuinely couldn't.
  43. Bakoluk
    Aug 31, 2021
    6
    Graphics 6/10
    Playability 5/10
    Entertainment 7/10
    Story 7/10
    Overall 6/10
  44. SethGrey
    May 6, 2023
    5
    The Sinking City

    Visuals & Presentation: 4 There is often discourse amongst gamers whether a game has bad graphics or it's just an art-style. In my opinion, art-style is often used to conceal graphical limitations and other times it's just an artistic choice. The Sinking City is the former. However its art-style entirely fails to cloak its graphical shortcomings. The human character    The Sinking City

    Visuals & Presentation: 4
    There is often discourse amongst gamers whether a game has bad graphics or it's just an art-style. In my opinion, art-style is often used to conceal graphical limitations and other times it's just an artistic choice.

    The Sinking City is the former. However its art-style entirely fails to cloak its graphical shortcomings. The human character models are mostly hideous. There are constant frame drops. There monsters, non-human NPCs and the environment are well designed and earns whatever points for Frogwares in this department.

    Sound effects, Voice Acting & Music: 6
    The sound effects are more of less generic although the monsters do make intriguingly eerie noises, voice acting is flat most of the time. There's practically no soundtrack but the background noises are appropriate for the grim atmosphere.

    Story: 6
    Speaking of dialogue choices, almost every choice is a bad one. The game even rewards you for deplorable behaviour with trophies/achievements. The story itself is rather interesting but the endings have been very poorly executed. Dialogues are written capably.

    Gameplay: 6
    Combat is ordinary, the RPG elements, although unexceptional, is probably the most interesting thing about this game. Traversal through the boat is inaccurate and occasionally frustrating. Dialogue choices with branching narrative paths is the probably the only interesting thing about the gameplay. Performance: 5
    The game is very poorly optimised. You can get stuck in places with no escape. There are constant performance hiccups and frame drops where the character teleports to places whilst the screen is frozen.

    Overall: 5.4
    I was in love with the idea of The Sinking City. Although it looked rough I had hoped that the game will reward me with a great story but sadly, in spite of the great ideas the game is as bleak and hopeless as its story.

    I still hope the developers learn from its mistakes and make better games in the future with more success.    … Expand
  45. CoreGamer1408
    Jul 31, 2022
    4
    What really holds back this game back is mostly the very poor frame rate optimization and annoying (character stuck on the environment) bugs. I like the idea and concept of this game. As in a Lovecraft detective style exploratory game. The face and voice of the playable character is sadly very punchable. The game has simple survival and crafting with a basic three tier skill tree withWhat really holds back this game back is mostly the very poor frame rate optimization and annoying (character stuck on the environment) bugs. I like the idea and concept of this game. As in a Lovecraft detective style exploratory game. The face and voice of the playable character is sadly very punchable. The game has simple survival and crafting with a basic three tier skill tree with branches. So yeah it’s not like that hard to get into or play. Visually it looks nice and detailed externally. With some nice lighting effects, but the internal environment look like a PS2 game. Maybe a 7/10 if performance and bugs were not a major issue.

    Time for a revisit in 2022 and performance is still bad (even for a PS4). I noticed this time round how the spawns are a very lazy and very cheap game design with clunky combat. I did really get into the ambience of the place though and all it's wierdness. I think I am enjoying the exploration, discovery and story elements more than the actual gameplay which is passable to meh. Performance issues don't help, but I am still wanting to play it for all it's problems for the most part.

    I generally like long games (Skyrim/Fallout) and this isn't the longest by far, but it started to drag late game. Bosses are all so anti-climatic. I like two of the three very short endings I unlocked (just reloaded the last save). Never play this game again it is so one and done.    … Expand
  46. Zakis1991
    Jul 8, 2022
    0
    Очень скучно, город мертвый, звук отвратительно проработан в игре, не говоря уже о РПГ состовляющей. Скучные перестрелки, скучные расследование, прокачка тоже такая себе... короче не рекомендую, если только вы не фанат Лавкрафта. Лор шикарный, но геймплей...Очень скучно, город мертвый, звук отвратительно проработан в игре, не говоря уже о РПГ состовляющей. Скучные перестрелки, скучные расследование, прокачка тоже такая себе... короче не рекомендую, если только вы не фанат Лавкрафта. Лор шикарный, но геймплей...

Awards & Rankings

66
#66 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2019
71
#71 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 35
  3. Negative: 3 out of 35
  1. IGN Japan
    Nov 27, 2019
    77
    What makes The Sinking City unique is that it really feels like you’re investigating while struggling with hallucinations and madness as you step foot inside the world of Cthulhu mythos. If that sounds like your cup of tea, definitely give it a chance. However, after you get used to the gameplay you will notice that as a game, The Sinking City feels like too much of the same. An open-world design was not the ideal direction to take for this developer specialized in a specific genre.
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  2. PlayGround.ru
    Aug 1, 2019
    50
    I would recommend this game only to true Lovecraft’s fans. Follow the story and don’t step aside – otherwise, due to a large number of side quests, you may completely lose the thread of the story. You won’t find interesting gameplay mechanics, gloomy atmosphere or something like that in this game. All I managed to find was a simple detective story with elements of mysticism and a bunch of controversial design solutions. I definitely do not advise you to spend money on The Sinking City.
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  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jul 30, 2019
    60
    Weaves Lovecraftian mythos into an interesting setting. But it frequently veers into being dull and repetitive, which isn’t what you want from dreamlike horror. [Issue#165, p.89]
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