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Swallow the Sea

Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux • 2021

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Quick resume

You are a lowly egg cell on a journey through a swollen sea of strange and humanoid fish. Prey on smaller life and growing larger and stronger to perhaps someday be born.

Global score

97/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Casual, Free To Play, Indie

Pros

  • Unique and unsettling art style
  • Immersive atmospheric audio
  • Challenging achievements and speedruns
  • Free to play
  • Short but replayable

Cons

  • Very short gameplay length
  • Random enemy placement affects runs
  • Lack of story explanation
  • No multiplayer or social features
  • Some frustrating speedrun achievements

Motivations

  • Autonomy
    3

    "Players control movement and decisions freely in a simple but open environment with some skill-based challenges."

  • Competence
    3

    "Players develop skill to avoid enemies and optimize routes, especially for achievements and speedruns."

  • Competition
    1

    "Some competition via leaderboards and speedrun achievements, but mostly personal challenge focused."

  • Continuation
    2

    "Short game with replay value through achievements encourages repeated play sessions."

  • Cooperation
    -5

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

  • Creativity
    4

    "Unique grotesque art style and creature designs provide creative expression and atmosphere."

  • Domination
    -5

    "No player dominance over others; gameplay is individual and non-confrontational socially."

  • Escapism
    4

    "Offers immersive, unsettling atmosphere that distracts from real life and evokes strong emotions."

  • Expectation
    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest and curiosity, not out of obligation."

  • Experimenting
    2

    "Players explore mechanics and strategies, especially when pursuing achievements and speedruns."

  • Exploration
    2

    "Players discover new areas and creatures in a surreal underwater world, though game is short."

  • Expression
    2

    "Distinctive visual style allows some degree of self-expression through avatar progression."

  • Fantasy
    4

    "Strongly imaginative and surreal setting with grotesque, eldritch creatures and narrative."

  • Fellowship
    -5

    "No social or community features; entirely solo play experience."

  • Growth
    3

    "Players improve skills and knowledge of enemy patterns to complete challenges and achievements."

  • Health
    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle
    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during short play sessions."

  • Intimacy
    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship building; purely individual gameplay."

  • Leadership
    -5

    "No leadership or group management elements; single-player experience."

  • Progression
    4

    "Clear progression through growth by consuming prey and evolving to new stages."

  • Relaxation
    -2

    "Tense and suspenseful atmosphere creates emotional strain rather than relaxation."

  • Sensation
    3

    "Strong sensory stimulation from unsettling visuals, sound design, and music."

  • Status
    0

    "Minimal social recognition; some leaderboard presence but mostly personal achievement."

  • Story
    3

    "Narrative immersion through atmosphere and ending, though story is subtle and open to interpretation."

  • Strategy
    3

    "Requires planning and problem solving to optimize routes and avoid enemies for achievements."

  • Thrill
    4

    "High suspense and tension from being chased and needing to survive in hostile environment."

  • Value
    5

    "Free game with high quality art and gameplay offers excellent value for time invested."

  • Violence
    3

    "Gameplay involves consuming other creatures and survival through predation."

  • Survival
    4

    "Core gameplay centers on avoiding threats and surviving to grow and progress."

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    Last update: 06/03/2026