The Sinking City 2 Review Roundup: Frogwares Pivots to Traditional Survival Horror

Developer and publisher Frogwares has returned with The Sinking City 2, marking a major directional shift for the studio. Departing from the open-world detective mechanics of its predecessor, the sequel embraces a linear, combat-focused survival horror formula heavily inspired by genre staples like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Set in a flooded, 1920s version of H.P. Lovecraft's Arkham, the game follows brand-new protagonist Calvin Rafferty as he searches for a cure to wake his partner, Faye Bennett, from a supernatural coma induced during a dream ritual.

Reviewers note that the transition strips away much of the original game's jankier open-world exploration, replacing it with constrained locations, resource management, inventory grids, safe rooms, and intricate puzzles. Combat features an actual dodge mechanic and relies on a limited selection of weapons and scarce ammunition. Enemies are frequently animated by worm-like creatures known as the Slither, which can reanimate fallen corpses and force players to carefully choose when to fight or flee. While critics praise the game's puzzles, atmosphere, and tense resource management, some point out drawbacks such as stiff facial performances, limited enemy variety, and occasionally restrictive inventory systems.

Running approximately 12 to 15 hours, The Sinking City 2 has been released on platforms including Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, with specific technical performance noted smoothly at 60 frames per second on current-generation consoles. Although smaller in budget compared to AAA genre titans, critics generally view Frogwares' latest project as an admirable and genuinely spooky evolution for the studio.