If I wait until I exhaust all the possible scenarios Sunless Sea has to offer before I write my review.....there will never be a review. I love love love this game. Imagine a Victorian Steampunk world with a heavy dose of Lovecraftian goodness and a Choose Your Own Adventure style of playing, and you get SUNLESS SEA!
First the positives. There is absolutely tons of material. Readers will love this game because there are so many stories and it would be impossible to cover them all with one captain. You give your captain a history and profession, and depending on what you choose will determine your crew and your stats. You then head out into the black sea to explore and discover. You can either choose to find your father's bones, amass a lot of sea stories for a book, or retire wealthy in your seaside mansion. While you are pursuing your goals, there is also your crew members. Like in Mass Effect, they have interesting side missions and also help boost your stats. There is also the romance option. The music in this game is very original and is enjoyable to listen to as you play.
Now for the potential negatives (for me this game is almost perfect). This game is not for everyone, and I would be lying if I said that I didn't see how other people couldn't adore this game as much as I do. First of all, don't play this when you are tired. Since you have to read everything, you need to be awake and alert, or the game can come off as boring. Also, there are no cut scenes, voice overs, or AAA graphics. If any of these things turn you off, do not invest in this game. You will die A LOT. But that is okay because you are supposed to. With each captain you learn more about the harsh world you are playing in and your strategy improves. However, many will probably not like having to die a lot to achieve headway.
For me, this game is highly enjoyable. It may not be for everyone, but for those who love stories and a steam punk Victorian setting, it is a gem. If you are wondering whether this game is for you, check out the game Fallen London done by Failbetter Games. It is free and it gives one a good idea of the gameplay storywise. I look forward to many many more hours of exploration and new stories.

If I wait until I exhaust all the possible scenarios Sunless Sea has to offer before I write my review.....there will never be a review. I love love love this game. Imagine a Victorian Steampunk world with a heavy dose of Lovecraftian goodness and a Choose Your Own Adventure style of playing, and you get SUNLESS SEA! First the positives. There is absolutely tons of material. Readers will love this game because there are so many stories and it would be impossible to cover them all with one captain. You give your captain a history and profession, and depending on what you choose will determine your crew and your stats. You then head out into the black sea to explore and discover. You can either choose to find your father's bones, amass a lot of sea stories for a book, or retire wealthy in your seaside mansion. While you are pursuing your goals, there is also your crew members. Like in Mass Effect, they have interesting side missions and also help boost your stats. There is also the romance option. The music in this game is very original and is enjoyable to listen to as you play. Now for the potential negatives (for me this game is almost perfect). This game is not for everyone, and I would be lying if I said that I didn't see how other people couldn't adore this game as much as I do. First of all, don't play this when you are tired. Since you have to read everything, you need to be awake and alert, or the game can come off as boring. Also, there are no cut scenes, voice overs, or AAA graphics. If any of these things turn you off, do not invest in this game. You will die A LOT. But that is okay because you are supposed to. With each captain you learn more about the harsh world you are playing in and your strategy improves. However, many will probably not like having to die a lot to achieve headway. For me, this game is highly enjoyable. It may not be for everyone, but for those who love stories and a steam punk Victorian setting, it is a gem. If you are wondering whether this game is for you, check out the game Fallen London done by Failbetter Games. It is free and it gives one a good idea of the gameplay storywise. I look forward to many many more hours of exploration and new stories.