Aquaria

About Aquaria

Aquaria is an adventure platformer made by Bit Blot and released in 2007. You play as Naija, a lone underwater creature searching for family in a large ocean world. The game blends hand-drawn environments with voice-acted storytelling, guiding you through ecosystems like sunlit coral fields, dense kelp forests, and shadowy caves. Its charm comes from the vivid art style and the slow burn of its narrative. You’ll collect fragments of a mysterious artifact, solve environmental puzzles, and fight off sea creatures. It’s a relaxing but methodical experience, ideal for players who enjoy exploring detailed worlds at their own pace.

Gameplay

In Aquaria, you swim through a series of interconnected zones, each with distinct visuals and hazards. Movement feels smooth, with a slight drag to the water mechanics that makes every turn deliberate. Combat involves dodging attacks and hitting enemies with a glowing orb, but it’s rarely aggressive, more about survival than action. Exploration is key: you’ll navigate maze-like coral reefs, drift through open waters to spot distant landmarks, and use sonar to map tunnels. Puzzles often require manipulating currents or relocating objects to unlock paths. The game rewards patience, as secrets like hidden grottos and lore fragments are tucked into corners. Sessions typically last 30, 60 minutes, with a focus on discovery over combat.

What Players Think

Aquaria holds an 82/100 on Metacritic and a 93% completion rate on PlayPile. Average playthroughs take 8, 12 hours, with 25% of players logging over 15 hours. Community moods lean toward nostalgic and calm, with praise for the art direction and pacing. Reviews highlight the “gorgeous hand-painted environments” and “gentle but engaging story.” Critics note the combat can feel repetitive, but 78% of players say the puzzles are satisfying. The game’s Steam rating is 94% positive, with users calling it “a hidden gem that holds up 15 years later.”

PlayPile's Take

Aquaria is a must-play for fans of exploratory adventure games. Its $15 price tag feels fair given the depth and artistry. With 38 achievements, it offers optional goals for completionists without punishing you for taking your time. While the combat is basic and the pacing slow, the world-building and visuals justify the experience. If you enjoy meandering through handcrafted ecosystems and piecing together a quiet, personal story, this game will sink its hooks into you.

Storyline

The world of Aquaria hides the secrets of creation within its depths. The currents that buffet the many diverse plants and animals that live there also carry with them stories of long lost civilizations; of love and war, change and loss. From lush, green kelp forests to dark caves, exploring will be no easy task. But the splendor of the undersea world awaits Naija... and you. Open Waters CRYSTALLINE BLUE The glassy waters of the open sea let you peer far into the distance, and fish and other creatures play beneath the wide canopies of giant, undersea mushrooms. Here, ruins serve as a clue to Aquaria's long past. Will they lead Naija to the truth? The Kelp Forest THE NATURAL WORLD The kelp forest teems with life. As light from above pours across the multitudes of strange plants and animals that live here, one cannot help but marvel at the dynamic landscape. But beware, its beauty belies the inherent danger inside. Careful not to lose your way. The Abyss DARKNESS As you swim deeper, to where sight cannot reach, the Abyss begins to swallow you whole. The deeper waters of Aquaria have spawned legends of frightening monstrosities that lurk where few things can survive. Are they true? Beyond ??? What lies beyond? Are there areas deeper than the Abyss? Or as we swim ever upward, can we find the source of the light? Only those with great fortitude will come to know and understand the mysteries of Aquaria.