Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown vs Sword of the Sea
Metroidvania combat meets meditative sand-surfing — two 2020s indies that couldn't be more different in pace.
Updated 10d ago
The best Ubisoft release in years — Lost Crown nails 2.5D metroidvania flow with Hollow-Knight comparisons, but Ubisoft canceled the sequel after sales disappointed.
Giant Squid's glide-and-grind traversal is pure flow — a worthy heir to Journey's throne despite the short runtime.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.
| Measure | Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | Sword of the Sea |
|---|---|---|
| Value Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown wins on value | ||
| Price now | $14.99 −50% · Steam | $29.99 Epic Game Store |
| All-time low | $8.99 | $20.99 |
| Cost / hour | $0.90/hr $14.99 · 17 h main story | $10.90/hr $29.99 · 3 h main story |
| Off its low | +67% vs $8.99 low | +43% low was Mar 2026 |
| Main story | 17 h | 3 h |
| Health Sword of the Sea wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 84% 7k reviews | 90% 2k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 82% 279 votes · vs 84% lifetime | 83% 53 votes · vs 90% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 651 Jul 2026 · ↑ 27% MoM | 32 Jul 2026 · ↓ 16% MoM |
| Launch peak | — | 6% of Aug 2025 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | 1,446 Aug 2024 · now at 45% | 493 Aug 2025 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 23 months ago | 11 months ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 0 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Gold |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
The fluid platforming and responsive combat make this one of the best Metroidvanias, with a rewarding difficulty curve.
from our May 2026 verdict
Sword of the Sea
Sliding and tricking across dunes is the hook that holds even veteran Game-of-the-Year voters, the movement so fluid it feels effortless.
Ending the game is a letdown — a third of players call it a quality cliff, and the collectible sprawl can sour the closing stretch.
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown if
- You want challenging boss fights and tight platforming challenges.
- You loved Hollow Knight and Metroid Dread's nonlinear maps.
- You can commit 15 hours to a single run.
Pick Sword of the Sea if
- You prefer 5-hour experiences that prioritize atmosphere over mechanics.
- Austin Wintory's soundtracks are a deciding factor for you.
- You found Abzû or The Pathless meditative and want more.
Bottom line
Pick Lost Crown if you crave combat depth and 15-hour exploration; choose Sword of the Sea for a one-sitting sand-surfing meditation that prioritizes flow over grind.