The Sinking City 2 review – A great survival horror

While Ukrainian development studio Frogwares is typically know for its investigation-driven games, having let players step into the shoes of Sherlock Holmes many times over the last couple of decades or so, with the H.P. Lovecraft-inspired The Sinking City it introduced horror elements into the mix. Now we have The Sinking City 2, and with it streamlining the investigation elements of its predecessor, it’s a full-on survival horror that will appeal to fans of Resident Evil and Silent Hill.

How far would you go to save a loved one? It’s a question asked by many games, but thanks to the interesting world presented by The Sinking City 2, you’ll likely remain invested in its story nonetheless. It’s clear from the outset of The Sinking City 2 that its protagonist, Calvin, or Cal, loves his partner, Faye, but something is very wrong. And so, taking control of Cal, you must fight your way through the flooded city of Arkham, finding a way to save Faye’s body and soul. Only then can you make your dream of having a future together a reality.

Being a straight-up survival horror game, the exploration and investigation elements of the original The Sinking City have been dialled back considerably, creating a game that’s much more focused and streamlined. It’s understandable that this will come as a concern to some, but there are still some investigative elements here, and with its new setting and cast of characters, survival horror fans will be able to dive right in without feeling lost.

Think a modern Resident Evil remake but with a Lovecraftian setting and you should have an idea of what to expect from The Sinking City 2. You’ll make your way through numerous locations, frequently finding your progress blocked by obstacles that require you to find specific items or solve specific puzzles. Sometimes both. Along the way, you’ll encounter a number of eldritch horrors, ranging from zombie-like humanoids to giant tentacled monstrosities. Needless to say, if you don’t keep your wits about you, you might struggle to survive.

Puzzles are actually one of the strongest elements of The Sinking City 2, with it having many conundrums for you to overcome. You’ll need to search each location for clues to solve the majority of them, and some are entirely optional. Like the best survival horrors, it pays to be thorough when you explore, with inventory upgrades, weapon upgrades and more often locked away in areas you could feasibly miss. There are a number of crates that can only be opened by special activator pens, too, if you can find them.

You’ll want to find as many upgrades as you can as well, as some of the combat encounters in The Sinking City 2 can be rather challenging. Enemies move quickly, and the most common of them, humanoids affected by worm-like creatures, can soak up bullets unless you burst their glowing boil-like growths. Thankfully you have a nifty dodge ability to help you quickly move out of the way of an attack. And if you’re really struggling, multiple difficulty levels are available, allowing you to fine-tune the experience to your needs.

It’s hard to find any real major faults with The Sinking City 2, really. Perhaps it could do with a little more enemy variety, and maybe its perk system isn’t quite as rewarding as it could be. On the whole, though, it’s very solidly put together, and will keep you hooked during its 14-hour or so running time. Playing on PS5 Pro for review, it looks rather nice and exhibits no performance issues when playing using its 60fps Performance mode, too. I’ve also not encountered any bugs or chases while playing, either.

Everything considered, The Sinking City 2 might just be Frogwares’ best game yet. It may alienate some of the developer’s fans due to there being less focus on investigation and more on combat, but if you love survival horror games you’ll be happy to hear that this sits alongside the likes of the Silent Hill 2 and Resident Evil 2 remakes in providing plenty of action and scares while also delivering a Lovecraft-inspired story that will keep you invested until the credits roll.