The Sinking City 2's Hands-On Preview - Treading Water
Why It Matters
The preview suggests the sequel may struggle to capture both horror and detective audiences, affecting Frogwares’ brand momentum and investors’ confidence in its next‑gen titles.
Key Takeaways
- •Frogwares scales back ambition, focusing on survival‑horror basics.
- •Gameplay feels predictable, with weak enemies and uninspired combat.
- •Investigation board works well but remains secondary to action.
- •Narrative introduces compelling protagonist and personal stakes despite limited exposure.
- •War‑related studio constraints may explain reduced scope and polish.
Summary
The video offers a first‑hand look at The Sinking City 2, Frogwares’ sequel that abandons the open‑world, Lovecraft‑driven sandbox of its predecessor in favor of a tighter, genre‑standard survival‑horror experience.
The reviewer notes that the game leans heavily on familiar mechanics—confined locations, scarce ammo, lock‑and‑key puzzles, and a limited inventory—without adding fresh twists. Enemy AI is predictable, weak points are obvious, and combat feels stiff, making even the hard difficulty feel under‑challenging.
The only standout is the detective board, which lets players collect and link evidence intuitively, and the new narrative thread starring Kelvin Rafferty, a fedora‑clad adventurer searching for his comatose wife in a flooded 1920s Arkham. A brief opening cutscene hints at emotional depth, and a war‑time message acknowledges the studio’s Ukrainian roots.
For longtime Frogwares fans, the shift signals a cautious retreat after the first game’s mixed reception, possibly driven by resource constraints from the Ukraine‑Russia conflict. The lack of innovation may limit the sequel’s ability to stand out in a crowded survival‑horror market, though a stronger story and investigation system could salvage its appeal upon full release.
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