Shinsekai: Into the Depths

Shinsekai is a metroidvania both familiar and different. It’s setting and mechanics work really well, and it’s a great options for those looking a more original take on the genre.

The best compliment that we can give to Shinsekai: Into The Depths is that it feels like a well-done indie game. Exploration is the game's big hook, since the environments, secrets, and floaty movement encourage looking around, while combat works most of the time but isn't the main focus of the experience. There's a good balance between exploring at your leisure, maintaining your stats for survival, the boss fights, and the dwindling resources in the late game. Although the extras aren't enough to entice Apple Arcade subscribers to double-dip, everyone else will enjoy this adventure from beginning to end.

If you subscribe to Apple Arcade and can play Shinsekai Into the Depths on any of your Apple devices, there’s little to be gained by moving it to the Switch. But if the Switch is your only access to this undersea wonderland, Shinsekai is an intriguing, engaging, and beautiful adventure worth exploring.

Shinsekai could have been a true classic if it were more willing to embrace what makes it unique and shed some aspects which feel like they're here because someone wanted to check something off a list. Still, even what's here is a beautifully controlling platformer with a unique and haunting atmosphere. Shinsekai is worth taking a dive for, even if it could have been more.

Shinsekai: Into the Depths is an pretty interesting indie like metroidvania game developed by Capcom. It has a lot of personality and new ideas based on underwater exploration.

Surviving underwater sure is a grueling affair and Shinsekai Into the Depths portrays it in a thoroughly immersive and enjoyable way.

Shinsekai: Into the Depths is an interesting adventure that knows how to create an incredible atmosphere to take us to the seabed on a very satisfying journey. It is a highly recommended title thanks to its remarkable sound section and its gameplay.

Even if you notice its "humble" mobile origins and it's not really very spectacular, Capcom has helmed and interesting view on the metroidvania genre, with nice ideas, a not very explored setting and a style that maybe can result repetitive, but it's fun and will hook up the genre fans. Special mention for the sound: play it with headphones.

Shinsekai is a quite atmospheric maritime adventure with not only a dense sound experience but some neat design ideas as well.

Shinsekai: Into The Depths is a bracingly fresh Metroidvania with a memorable underwater setting and compelling movement mechanics. If you're after a platformer that values exploration and navigation over arcade action – and that isn't afraid to try something a little different with the format – then we wholeheartedly recommend dipping your toes into Shinsekai's exotic waters.

It’s clear Shinsekai was ported from mobile as many textures just don’t look right on the big screen, but aside from this and the few glitches involving NPC movement, it blew me away. Those looking for an addicting, charming, and, at times, unsettling adventure on the ocean floor will find precisely what they’re looking for with this game.

Fans of whimsical, artful indie titles will find much to love about Shinsekai Into the Depths, and ardent Metroidvania purists will get a kick out of its aquatic take on the genre. It's not going to be everyone's favorite game for the Nintendo Switch, but I'll be damned if it doesn't top at least one person's list.

Despite the look and feel, Capcom's Shinsekai: Into the Depths is less focused than desired on metroidvania gameplay and more on pure exploration; world's size is a bit too little for that purpose, but still quite satisfying.

Shinsekai on Switch is the same good game you can experience on Apple Arcade, but with no significant upgrades and with a higher price tag.

A lovely aquatic adventure that doesn’t play as well as it looks.

Shinsekai: Into the Depths is an interesting metroidvania directly from Apple Arcade to Nintendo Switch that emphasizes more on exploration than combat in the depths of the ocean. At least its narrative offers defiant gameplay with excessive repetition of mechanics.

It’s not hard to recommend Shinsekai: Into The Depths as a very good Metroidvania. And anybody looking for a unique one, will certainly find success in choosing it. However, there are a plethora of amazing Metroidvania titles available, and if you’re new to the genre, I can think of at least twenty others that would be a better place to start.

Even if Shinsekai isn't a revolutionary game, it's still a fresh and enjoyable entry in the metroidvania genre. It would have been better with a less cryptic narrative and a simpler AI though.

Shinsekai: Into the Depths really shows that you can’t assume a mobile port will be a subpar experience. Even with the tedious resource gathering and rough fall damage, this is a great Metroidvania that will surprise with how well it presents underwater platforming and exploration for a 2D experience.

A title that could have said something more, but which remains a good proposal for all fans of the genre.

A different take on the Metroidvania formula, Shinsekai: Into the Depths creates a suitably aquatic feel, both in its atmosphere and gameplay. At times visuals can look a little washed up, but if you fancy going below sea level, then it’s worth taking the plunge.