Sword of the Sea

About Sword of the Sea

Sword of the Sea is an action-adventure game by Giant Squid, the team behind Abzû and The Pathless. It drops you into a vast desert landscape as the Wraith, a resurrected guardian tasked with restoring life to a crumbling world. The game revolves around the Hoversword, a tool that blends surfing, skateboarding, and hoverboard mechanics for fast, fluid traversal over shifting sand seas. Set in a desolate yet vibrant Necropolis of the Gods, it balances exploration of submerged ruins and ancient shipwrecks with light puzzle-solving. Released on PC and PlayStation 5 on August 19, 2025, it’s a single-player journey focused on movement, atmosphere, and uncovering a lost world’s secrets.

Gameplay

You spend most of your time strapping into the Hoversword, gliding across undulating sand dunes like a hybrid of Tony Hawk and Shred. Momentum is key, lean into turns to build speed, catch air off ancient ramparts, and chain tricks to unlock hidden areas. Ruins act as skateparks, requiring precise jumps to trigger environmental puzzles or revive dormant creatures. Combat is minimal but tense; leviathans roam the terrain, forcing you to dodge or counterattack with timed strikes. The controls feel intuitive but demand practice, as misjudging a slope means a face-plant into the sand. Sessions rarely last longer than 20 minutes due to the need to recalibrate your Hoversword’s charge, but the rush of soaring through the desert keeps you coming back.

What Players Think

Community ratings average 8.5/10, with 65% completing the game. Average playtime is 12 hours, though 20% of players finish in under 8. Moods skew toward "awe" (32%) and "focus" (28%), but "frustration" (15%) pops up during platforming sections. Critics praise the Hoversword’s fluidity, with one calling it "the most satisfying board ever." However, some note repetitive puzzles and sparse enemy variety. Achievement completion is 70%, with the 100-point "Sand Sovereign" trophy requiring all optional zones. Price is $39.99, placing it in the mid-tier indie range. Players split on whether the lack of combat breaks immersion, but most agree the desert’s beauty and traversal mechanics justify the cost.

PlayPile's Take

Sword of the Sea is a must-play for fans of fluid movement games. Its Hoversword mechanics feel like a dream, but the light puzzle design and occasional platforming tedium mean it’s not for everyone. At $40, it’s a solid buy for those who love Abzû’s atmosphere or The Pathless’ traversal. Achievements add replay value, but don’t expect a deep story or combat. If you’re patient with its quirks, the game’s 12-hour journey offers a unique, if short, desert odyssey. Just be ready to fall hard for the sand-surfing.

Storyline

In a world where the terrain flows in waves, ride the Hoversword to speed over shifting seas of sand. It controls like a snowboard, skateboard, and hoverboard all in one. Build momentum to achieve great speeds and catch big air as you explore skatepark-like ruins, lost in the tides of the Necropolis of the Gods. The Hoversword embodies the feel of snowboarding and skating games, but in an entirely new context of adventure. You are the Wraith – resurrected in a desolate world and tasked with restoring life to it as you explore submerged ruins and the vibrant, varied cultures within. Surf through sinking tombs, mysterious shipwrecks, and petrified battlefields – and bring giant shoals of fish and creatures back in the process. But beware- this land is also home to massive leviathans that will stand in your way.