Sword of the Sea Review | Surreal Surfing

Giant Squid Studios has really carved out a niche for itself since its debut title ABZÛ in 2016. I’ve always admired their atmospheric games from a distance, but with Sword of the Sea, I decided to dive in headfirst. Sword of the Sea tells a wordless journey of a Wraith who is resurrected in the Necropolis on a quest to restore a lost sea. Over the course of three hours, the game takes you and your Hoversword through the remnants of a lost culture as you transform sandy dunes into shimmering water.

My question when seeing Giant Squid’s games in the past, or even the trailer for Sword of the Sea, was how they sustained the sense of wonder that seems so core to the experience. The answer, as I’ve come to realize, is really strong game direction that purposefully blends effortless gameplay, great art design, and a stirring score.

As the Wraith, you navigate the world on your Hoversword, gliding over water and sand alike while occasionally pulling off tricks thanks to the skatepark-like ruins of the Necropolis. There is little “friction” in Sword of the Sea. It wastes little time on cinematics and exposition, instead putting the control into your hands right away. Despite its skate game design, the controls are intuitive, and everything in the game feels designed to get out of the way of your fun. And if you’re playing with a DualSense controller, the game becomes tactile in a cool way thanks to the haptic feedback.

Now that game design doesn’t necessarily mean there’s no narrative structure. Even without any dialogue or narration, Sword of the Sea manages to tell a cool story that even manages to deliver a few twists and surprises. For those wanting more, there are monuments you can interact with along the way that give you more context for this world and increase the stakes for what’s to come.

Make no mistake in this, art direction is where this game shines. There are some truly breathtaking visuals in Sword of the Sea, some of which sent goosebumps crawling up my arms. It’s frequently captivating with striking use of color and strong level design. Gliding into a new area and seeing the wide vista that will be your playground to explore and puzzle-solve never really gets old. In fact, it’s a significant part of why I spent a long time exploring off-the-beaten-path areas to discover hidden gems.

The game starts off simple, letting you surf the dunes swiftly with a jump to add some platforming. Eventually, you will also unlock the ability to do tricks in the air. However, you will come across a mysterious vendor along the way who can sell you new abilities that let you experiment with movement to get even more air and even crazier combos. To sweeten the deal, the game also has a Photo Mode to let you capture your favorite moments through our own lens.

The glue to all of this is Austin Wintroy’s beautiful score. It’s touching, mysterious, and ethereal all in the right doses. It’s easily one of the best soundtracks this year, and it accents the game perfectly. All of it comes together in a way I can’t quite describe. Playing Sword of the Sea is almost a hypnotic experience that envelops you in its ambiance.

In the time since I’ve rolled credits on Sword of the Sea, I have been trying to compile my thoughts on it for this review. It’s obvious that I think the game is fantastic; however, the one thing I can’t quite ignore is that it hasn’t stayed with me. I have tried to sink my teeth into its narrative for proverbial meat to chew on, but I find the visuals and music steal the spotlight. That’s not entirely a bad thing. It’s just that I wish I had a more emotional response to it. And that’s not to say you won’t either.

To put a bow on this short review, go play Sword of the Sea. It was sort of in the periphery of my game radar, and I am glad I decided to dive into it this weekend. It’s an excellent game that seamlessly combines smooth gameplay, strong art design, and a beautiful soundtrack to create an experience that is utterly captivating. Even if it is a bit shallow upon reflection. Sword of the Sea is available now on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam.