Sunless Sea

Great game with fantastic atmosphere. Not linear, randomized experience. Takes some time to get into the mechanics, be ready to die - you will for sure. Highly recommended for Lovecraft fans

Since I first bought this game a year and a half ago, I have returned to it again and again, and always for the same reason: I want to write yet another chapter in my characters' multi-generation tale of ambition, loss, obsession, and madness. The mechanics are simple: sail around, explore islands, figure out what the denizens of each island desire, and fulfill those desires. Each island differs thematically, and not just superficially: one island is an enormous colony of eye-stealing spiders, another island is run half by nuns who process a drug harvested from human dreams and half by the pirates who smuggle it, another island is home to a city constructed entirely of mirrors and inhabited by a pacificist cult that venerates light, another island is (literally) Hell, etc. Each island not only feels genuine, convincing, and consistent (oftentimes with its own theme music), but also has sufficiently different mechanics to feel different from the other islands. It's a long game, not only because you'll be fulfilling multiple quests at once (sometimes to advance plotlines, sometimes to collect money and other resources), but because sailing from island to island takes time (especially towards the game's beginning, before you upgrade your engine). Travel time is the most common criticism of the game. If you would find the act of sailing tedious, avoid the game. Otherwise, there is no game at all that I have ever played with superior writing. I cannot emphasize how enjoyable and gripping some of the plotlines are. Some tales are nautical-Victorian, some Gothic, some Lovecraftian, most some combination of all three. If this game were a novel, I'd read it; as a game, it includes novel-quality writing and is interactive. In addition to three main ambitions (overall goals), there are two secret ambitions, an additional ambition in the expansion, and several ways to complete the game without "winning." After 157 hours, I've completed around half of that content.

10/10 best game even years later

Wot I liked - The world of fallen London. Haven't heard of it - grew fond of it; - Various dialogue trees/options. Seem to have a significant impact on the game; - Nice artstyle; - Exquisite language of the narration - I cannot express it strong enough - I've always been a sucker for elaborate writing and walls of text, but Sunless Sea is just a lot of fun to read as a book. I was really embarrassed/excited that I had to google some words to get the full understanding; - Many different monster types with cool descriptions and interactions; - Nice atmosphere. You'd think that looking at a top-down boat knifing the darkness in front of her with a lantern is not enticing - you'd better think again; - Wonderful music! Wot I disliked - Simplistic boat itemization - there are like 5-10 similar weapons (of 3 types), and some auxiliary items - nothing gamechancing... - Kinda repetetive. Sailing in the zee is okayish but 99% of the fights are resolved by backtracking/sticking to the back of the enemy ship; - Some game mechanics: e.g. your ship's hold is TOO DAMN SMALL. I have a dreadnought (the biggest ship in the game AFAIK) and I have to backtrack all over the map because I don't have a bale of some cloth or a sack of coffee or a bottle of wine for some wino! To sum it all up - I feel that this is a great game following in the footsteps of Space Raqngers. You should definitely check out both games cause SS is the spiritual successor or SR. ...Or just go and buy the soundtrack.

I personally adore this game, but I can see that it might not be for everyone. If You value good writing and atmosphere in games, this is for You. If You generally love lovecraft or steampunk, this a game I'd highly recommend. If You focus on other things when looking for games, or generally don't like the whole lovecraftian thing, I don't think this is a game for You.. If You're thinking of buying it and can't descide, buy it! It's a lovingly crafted game and definitely worth a try. (Or You could go to Fallen London, a free-to-play web rpg made by the same people. To get som idea of what You're in for.)