Decision brief

Is Sword of the Sea worth it?

Yes, for the right player.

Giant Squid's glide-and-grind traversal is pure flow — a worthy heir to Journey's throne despite the short runtime.

8.7/10 Strong

The right-now case

Data as of August 5, 2026 UTC

Best price today
$29.99 at Epic Game Store All-time low $20.99
Playing right now
7
Time investment
~3h story · ~9.5h completionist

Who should pick this up

Worth it if…

  • You chase style points mid-air, linking tricks across dunes and ruins.
  • Journey's wordless pilgrimage is the benchmark you measure art-games by.
  • You have four spare hours and want a chilled, meditative escape.

Skip if…

  • You need a narrative payoff with a heavy punch, not just spectacle.
  • Collectible-hunting every corner for completion sounds like busywork.
  • You expect a 20-hour campaign for your money.

What long-haul players keep saying

What players love

Sliding and tricking across dunes is the hook that holds even veteran Game-of-the-Year voters, the movement so fluid it feels effortless.

What frustrates them

Ending the game is a letdown — a third of players call it a quality cliff, and the collectible sprawl can sour the closing stretch.

See the reviews behind this →

What changed recently

Sentiment is steady — players still praise the flow-state skating while the short ending divides opinions.

Want the full picture — patches, community pulse, guides, similar games? See the Sword of the Sea dashboard →