The Sinking City

About The Sinking City

Frogwares released The Sinking City back in June 2019 for multiple systems including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. You play as a private eye named Charles Reed who lands in Oakmont, Massachusetts during the roaring twenties. A massive flood has submerged parts of this New England town while supernatural forces lurk beneath the surface. The setting draws heavy inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft stories to create an atmosphere of dread and mystery. You explore open streets and flooded buildings while hunting clues that point toward ancient gods or hidden conspiracies. This single-player adventure blends shooter mechanics with detective work as you try to survive both human threats and cosmic horrors without losing your mind in the process.

Gameplay

Sessions revolve around walking through wet streets, breaking into locked rooms, and reading documents found on corpses or desks. You wield a revolver or flashlight against creatures that appear when sanity drops too low. The game tracks your mental state with visual distortions and hallucinations that change how you perceive the environment. Investigating involves collecting evidence like photos, letters, and bloodstains to piece together puzzles before speaking with suspects. Combat feels clunky compared to the stealth elements but works when cornered by monsters. You can solve crimes independently or follow a main questline that reveals the flood's true origin. Each playthrough takes time to document everything since missing clues blocks progress toward certain endings.

What Players Think

Critics and players on IGDB gave this title a 70.2 out of 100 based on 125 ratings. Average playtime hovers around 20 hours for those who finish the main story, while completion rates suggest many struggle with the puzzle sections. Community moods split between appreciation for the atmosphere and frustration with technical bugs that plagued the launch. Some users praise the art direction while others cite poor AI behavior during combat encounters. Review snippets often mention the Lovecraftian setting as a strong point but note repetitive exploration tasks. The game did not achieve high scores on achievement completion, indicating difficulty spikes or obscure requirements deterred full 100% runs. Despite mixed feelings, it maintains a dedicated fanbase interested in detective themes.

PlayPile's Take

This game suits players who enjoy slow-paced mysteries over fast action and do not mind technical flaws. The price usually sits low on sale making it a decent buy if you want to explore a Lovecraft world. You will spend hours reading text and solving puzzles rather than shooting enemies. Achievements exist but are tedious to collect due to hidden triggers. Frogwares delivered a unique setting but failed to polish the underlying mechanics sufficiently for a flawless run. If you can tolerate clunky combat and frequent bugs, this investigation offers enough atmosphere to keep you engaged until the credits roll.

Storyline

The city trembles on the brink of madness. Can you investigate this beleaguered town and untangle the tragic extent of its failings or will you be driven beyond madness yourself?