The Chinese Room, a renowned British studio, has made quite a name for itself with horror and horror-like games such as Dear Esther, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. With such an impressive track record, there’s always high anticipation for their new releases in this genre. Their latest offering, Still Wakes the Deep, continues this tradition. It’s a first-person, narrative-driven horror adventure that’s more focused on story than intricate gameplay mechanics. While it doesn’t break new ground in the genre, it offers a compelling experience for fans of walking simulators and horror stories.
Set in 1975, you play as Caz McLeary, a Scottish electrician who takes a job on an oil rig in the North Sea to escape personal troubles. As if dealing with violent storms and constant mechanical failures weren’t enough, a more sinister threat emerges.
The game starts with you getting to know Caz, his personal issues, and the crew he works with on the rig. However, things take a dark turn when a drilling accident severely damages the rig. Following the accident, an eerie, supernatural presence begins to wreak havoc. Strange, giant tendrils invade the structure, and crew members start to transform into monstrous beings.
Your primary mission as Caz is to uncover the mysteries plaguing the rig while figuring out how to escape and return home. All the while, you must evade the horrors that lurk in the rig’s claustrophobic, decaying corridors. The setting of a failing oil rig in the middle of nowhere is perfect for building tension and stakes, and the game leverages this to great effect.
However, while the game succeeds in creating an unsettling atmosphere, it falls short of delivering memorable scares. There are moments designed to make your skin crawl, but don’t expect to be terrified. Particularly disappointing are sections where the game suggests you need to hide or escape from dangers, only for these sequences to lack any real challenge. Although it’s understandable that story-driven games might not focus on difficulty, the promises of these segments feel unfulfilled.
In summary, Still Wakes the Deep effectively uses its setting to build tension and tells a solid horror story, even if it doesn’t push the boundaries of the genre. Fans of narrative-driven games and mild horror experiences will still find plenty to appreciate.