Still Wakes The Deep is a welcome addition to the modern survival horror market. Developed on the Unreal Engine 5, it offers stunning graphics that complement a storyline that will delight fans of 80s horror films. It’s a rollercoaster of fear and anguish. Starting with its setting: an isolated oil rig in the middle of the sea.
Still Wakes The Deep was published by Secret Mode and developed by The Chinese Room. The studio is known for the fascinating Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture and the terrifying Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs, the sequel to one of the most influential horrors of the last twenty years. The British studio released the title on June 18, 2024, for PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation 5. It firmly classifies as a survival horror, boasting good exploration and incredibly lifelike characters.
In the North Sea, No One Can Hear You Scream
The idea of being isolated from civilization and trapped with an evil entity has always been a horror genre staple in both cinema and literature. The effect is the same whether it’s an oil rig, like in this case, a spaceship, or an Antarctic research base. The mind immediately drifts to Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979). Or Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell Jr., written in 1939 and later adapted by John Carpenter in 1982 into what many specialized critics consider the most bone-chilling horror film in history, The Thing. This very work serves as a significant inspiration for Still Wakes The Deep. It’s no coincidence that the game’s protagonist has a similar surname to Carpenter’s film, McLeary instead of MacReady. And the cabin in front of his belongs to a certain Campbell…
The unfortunate Cameron “Caz” McLeary, an electrician on the Beira D platform, located north of Scotland, is not doing well. He has made a real mess before the story begins, bringing the police to his boss. As we head to our boss’s office for a scolding, we have the chance to meet our colleagues and hear complaints about the drill malfunctioning, seemingly stuck. The meeting with the boss ends worse than expected. McLeary gets fired, but just as he’s about to board the helicopter to leave, the drill hits something. A sort of earthquake ensues, and McLeary falls into the sea, only to be rescued by his colleagues and discover that, while he was unconscious, something wicked and alien has invaded the oil rig…
Inconceivable Horror
We immediately understand that the gameplay of Still Wakes The Deep is very simple yet functional. We don’t have many options to customize our play style. Besides the classic running, hiding, and solving puzzles, we are not asked much, reminiscent of titles like Amnesia: The Dark Descent. The adventure proceeds on rigid tracks, and the deviations and secrets, although present, are limited and self-contained. This formula, which might initially seem reductive, actually allows full freedom for the plot to unfold. The plot is an excellent example of combining two fundamental elements: the writers’ skill and high-quality source material. The inspiration is Lovecraftian, after all, John W. Campbell Jr. himself likely drew inspiration from the Providence genius. Fans of these writers will feel pleasantly at home.
One of the core mechanics revolves around the concept that merely observing or trying to comprehend creatures beyond our understanding is harmful to the mind. Looking at a monster, or anything that defies logic and reality, causes hallucinations, headaches, and panic for McLeary. We can’t fight; we can only hide and outwit the creatures. Often, we will hear something moving, screaming, or tossing objects without seeing it. This strategy, in terms of the unease transmitted to the player, works dozens of times better than jump scares or hordes of attacking monsters. Too often, we’ll feel the need to look over our shoulders or move stealthily even when the room seems empty and safe. The game does an excellent job of immersion. Also thanks to the choice of making us play as an ordinary mortal rather than a heavily armed supersoldier.
Claustrophobia and Thalassophobia
Do you suffer from at least one of these phobias? Stay away from Still Wakes The Deep, unless, like me, you seek strong emotions. For most of the adventure, we will be confined to small, often flooded spaces. Looking outside doesn’t help. The stormy North Sea is not the most relaxing of scenarios, especially considering that something from its depths is devastating the oil rig, altering its structure beyond the bounds of logic. The danger of drowning is constant, combined with the possibility of encountering horrifying creatures. The monster design is phenomenal. Drawing from the team’s experience and numerous inspirations, it can horrify even the most hardened horror veterans. The sound design perfectly complements the graphics, excelling with good headphones.
Crawling on a precarious beam with a thirty-meter drop to the sea below, swimming in a flooded duct, climbing a damaged ladder battered by storm winds, making our way through a destroyed and completely dark compartment… The mental assault on the player is continuous, relentless, and unforgiving. Still Wakes The Deep grips us in an oppressive hold and refuses to let go until the end. The story’s rhythm is heart-pounding; we will have no peace or respite throughout the adventure. And this, as mentioned above, contributes to immersing the player in McLeary’s shoes, promising to leave deep, unforgettable memories. There’s no way to get used to the puzzles and stealth sections. We will never feel in control, as we are always at the mercy of the events shaking the oil rig. A horror that works masterfully.
An Act of Love
Still Wakes The Deep is one of those products that warm the heart of anyone who makes video games a true passion. Regardless of personal opinions about the game, it cannot be denied that it was made with absolute love and dedication. The developers carefully researched, interviewing real oil rig workers, watching tons of themed documentaries, and learning about the dangers of working in extreme conditions. They even unsuccessfully tried to visit decommissioned platforms. Additionally, John McCormack, the studio’s artistic director, provided invaluable insights into late-70s Scotland, ensuring a realistic portrayal of the environment and people’s mentality. To save the budget on character creation and ensure the highest quality of the few presents, the team decided to set the game during the Christmas period when most workers are at home.
Speaking of Scotland… several native Scots were chosen for the cast. The result is exceptional voice quality, without simulated or forced accents. All this further contributes to an already powerful immersion. It feels like interacting with a AAA movie. One of those horror films that hit the box office and make headlines on newscasts. Despite the illogical absurdity that pervades it, the story feels alive, real, and believable. Still Wakes The Deep captures and divinely reproduces the dreich. It refers to a Scottish term indicating the gray and melancholic bad weather, which exacerbates depression and anxiety in the open sea, transforming them into yet another weapon to disturb the player. To all this, add the cherry on top: superb graphical representation of the environments; plausible and convincing, born from hours spent researching oil rigs. The potential of the Unreal Engine 5 is fully exploited, and it shows.
We Won’t Make It Out Alive…
Everything mentioned above inevitably evokes a sense of despair and helplessness in the player. Often we will feel overwhelmed by events, and it’s not a negative thing, quite the opposite. We are in the shoes of an electrician against a supernatural entity from the sickest of nightmares. What can we hope to do? We can’t even look at it, literally. Besides avoiding eye contact, we must always ensure to stay hidden and away from the creatures. It’s not always easy in the semi-flooded maze of the Beira D platform. The stealth and hiding system works just enough. Nothing spectacular, but it holds up compared to other horrors. The puzzles are decent, and the interaction with the environment is pleasant and well-crafted, although very limited and guided. We can pick up and throw objects to distract or slow down enemies, our only means of defense.
To facilitate exploration, interactive objects and paths necessary for progress are highlighted in yellow paint. This mechanic that can be disabled from the menu for maximum difficulty and immersion. A system that helps the player without appearing out of place or breaking the fourth wall, since in oil rigs, paints of various colors are used to aid orientation, especially in engine rooms. There is no proximity danger indicator. It’s possible to notice enemies through a screen distortion effect, representing McLeary‘s discomfort and growing sense of terror. A trick already used in products like Amnesia or the nostalgic Tormented Souls, which we recently reviewed here. Successfully communicating with the player without breaking immersion is a sign of great talent and creativity, a factor that should be talked about much more.
“The oldest and strongest emotion of humanity is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”
I want to conclude this article with a quote from Howard Phillips Lovecraft, which harmoniously fits Still Wakes The Deep. The unknown is what has gripped the oil rig, throwing it into chaos, and the unknown is what has killed our colleagues and friends. This game requires calm and cold blood, proving truly challenging at times for the player’s mind. Despite its short duration and lack of replayability, it is quite heavy, but in a decidedly positive sense. Nothing I write, no matter how much effort I put into it, can prepare you for the horror that The Chinese Room has fervently created. Gather your courage and follow McLeary on a journey that promises to break down the solid walls of logic, fighting against things no human should ever lay eyes on… Still Wakes The Deep taunts you from its fortress of horror; will you pick up the gauntlet?
Still Wakes The Deep: Review – Horror from the Depths of the Sea
PRO
- Terrifying. Shocking. Insane
- Oppression never lets go
- Exceptionally crafted environments
- Passion is felt in every pixel
- Oscar-worthy sound and voices
- Promises nightmares and sweaty palms
CON
- Short and non-replayable
- Limited and guided interactions
- Unimaginative puzzles
8.6/10
