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The sequel to Submerged, Submerged: Hidden Depths from Uppercut Games, arrives with the weight of its predecessor’s mixed reception. While the original 2016 release struggled to find its footing, Hidden Depths, released on PC in 2020 and consoles in 2022, promises a more refined experience. Does it deliver on this promise? Let’s dive in and explore.

Submerged: Hidden Depths

A World Ripe for Exploration

Submerged: Hidden Depths continues the journey of siblings Miku and Taku as they navigate a flooded world, seeking a new home and battling a mysterious dark force. This time, players are treated to a more expansive open-world environment, reminiscent of Shadow of the Colossus in its minimalist approach. This world, while not overly complex, offers a refreshing break from icon-cluttered maps.

Submerged: Hidden Depths

The clean UI allows players to easily appreciate the game’s breathtaking visuals and focus on discovering hidden treasures, documenting new creatures, and collecting relics scattered across the waters. Collecting these items unlocks cosmetic upgrades for Miku and her boat, adding a layer of personalization to the experience. Landmark towers, reminiscent of other open-world titles, clear the fog of war, revealing more of the map and guiding players towards their next discovery. Exploration is further rewarded with journals scattered throughout explorable buildings, offering glimpses into the history of this submerged world.

A Serene Escape

Like its predecessor, Submerged: Hidden Depths emphasizes relaxed exploration and puzzle-solving. There are no enemies, no fail states, and no pressure to perform. The focus is purely on experiencing the beautiful environment, enjoying the calming sounds of the sea, and observing the wildlife.

Submerged: Hidden Depths

The game truly shines in its stunning visual presentation. From the detailed environments to the realistic water effects, Hidden Depths creates a truly immersive and captivating world. The water, in particular, is a highlight, rivaling even AAA titles like Horizon: Forbidden West and Sea of Thieves. The gentle ripples, the splashing waves, and the schools of fish swimming beneath the surface all contribute to a sense of tranquility and wonder. The soundtrack further enhances this atmosphere with its melodic and emotive score.

A Narrative Lost at Sea

Despite its visual and atmospheric strengths, Submerged: Hidden Depths falters in its narrative and gameplay. The story, while intriguing at first glance, lacks depth and clarity. The motivations behind the dark force, the history of the world, and even the relationship between Miku and Taku are left largely unexplored. The limited voice acting, while featuring a unique language, does little to flesh out the characters or their story. The result is a disappointingly shallow narrative that fails to resonate.

Submerged: Hidden Depths

Linearity in an Open World

The open-world design also suffers from a surprising degree of linearity. While players are free to explore the map, the actual gameplay within each location is incredibly straightforward. Climbing the landmark towers, for example, is a simple matter of pressing a button. The same holds true for most of the explorable areas, offering little in the way of challenge or puzzle-solving.

Submerged: Hidden Depths

Furthermore, the game’s structure forces players back to the starting area after cleansing each location of the dark force. This disrupts the flow of exploration and makes collecting missed items a tedious chore.

Submerged: Hidden Depths

Conclusion

Submerged: Hidden Depths is a visually stunning and atmospherically rich experience, offering a serene escape into a beautiful, flooded world. However, its shallow narrative, linear gameplay, and structural shortcomings prevent it from reaching its full potential. While it improves upon its predecessor in some aspects, it ultimately falls short of delivering a truly engaging and memorable adventure.