Mark of the Deep

The game drew me in because of the art style and the setting but after a few hours I bounced away rather hard because of the uninspired and underdeveloped combat that the game heavily leans into for progression. Games like Death's door, Tunic, Hyperlight drifter share the basic building blocks with this game which is why I bought the game hoping for a similar experience. However in all of those games the character/combat felt nimble, hard while fair and each time I fought the boss and lost I knew what I did wrong and how I should improve. Combat in the Mark of the deep on the other hand feels very stiff for how many multi phase combat arena scenarios there are, and bosses encounters feel unsatisfying. Bosses are absolute combat sponges requiring what feels like 50 hits with a stiff character with a limited moveset. If you completed the Death's door with umbrella as your weapon this game might be for you. There is a surprising number of positive reviews for this game with just 1 hour or so of playtime which looks a bit suspicious to me and could indicate the overall sentiment might not be what the score suggests.

The moment I found out the walkback to a miniboss was several minutes and I had to remember the route due to the lack of a map, I stopped

Cuthulhu korsan temalı Souls Like arayanlar için iyi bir deneyim sunuyor.Eksikleri yok mu tabi ki var.Oyunun haritası yön bulmak için kullanabilecek bir harita değil nereye nereden gidebiliceğinizi çıkartamıyorsunuz sadece hangi bölgede olduğunuzu gösteriyor bu kadar.Kullanıcı arayüzüde çok basit tutulmuş.Dövüş sistemide oldukça basit.Hafif ve ağır saldırımız var.Parry ise düşmanların uzak saldırıda kullandığı ateş topunu geri göndermek üzerine kurulmuş yakın saldırıları parryleyemiyorsunuz.Hikayenin kurgusunu beğendim.Son olarakta boss çeşitliliği fena değil ki tecrübeli Souls oyuncularını bile zorlayacak 1-2 boss mevcut.Genel bir değerlendirme yaparsam benden geçer not alır.

I have to say I am really disappointed to not be able to recommend this game. It has been difficult to find good arpg's to play on steam deck. At first this game looks promising, but goes off the rails quick. The first miniboss you encounter literally 5 minutes in, so presumably still the tutorial, is a huge difficulty spike. It's not like a "get good" difficulty. It's like a "this miniboss is just cheating" difficulty. Maybe I'm just not good at it, but it felt difficult to the point of being unfair.

Real fun pirate romp, good action rpg and characters/designs were interesting as well as the traversal options. Definitely worth a playthrough.

Mark of the Deep Nota: 7/10 Jogo divertido: ele é basicamente um Zeldalike, com um combate de Soulslike e uma pitada de Metroidvania, mas é bem isso. Sua melhor parte são os puzzles e a exploração de masmorras no estilo dos Zelda antigos. O problema é que ele só tem dois modos de jogo: ou você joga no normal ou no “god mode”, que, sinceramente, estraga o jogo; seria melhor ter um modo mais fácil do que um modo invencível. Ainda assim, é um bom jogo, mas, se você pena com jogos mais difíceis, é melhor ficar longe dele.

Piratas, mais piratas, o resto da marinha, um Deus Leviatã tudo junto numa história muito boa. Era impossível ser ruim

Mark of the Deep, developed by Mad Mimic and published by Light Up Games, is an action-adventure game that blends deliberate combat with exploration in a way that feels familiar but carefully assembled. It draws from recognizable influences—metroidvania structure and soulslike combat—but instead of trying to reinvent those ideas, it focuses on combining them into a cohesive, atmospheric experience. The result is a game that feels steady and intentional, offering a journey that rewards patience, observation, and gradual mastery rather than constant escalation or spectacle. The story follows Marcus “Rookie” Ramsey, a pirate who survives a shipwreck only to find himself stranded on a mysterious island shaped by an ancient curse. What begins as a simple search for his missing crew gradually turns into a deeper investigation of the island’s history and the forces that have twisted it. The narrative is not delivered through long, direct exposition; instead, it unfolds through environmental storytelling, scattered clues, and encounters with characters who only partially understand what is happening. This approach creates a sense of intrigue, encouraging players to connect pieces themselves, even if the overarching plot remains somewhat familiar in structure. Gameplay is built around a careful balance between combat and exploration. Encounters are deliberate and timing-focused, requiring players to learn enemy patterns and respond with precision rather than relying on quick reflexes alone. Dodging, positioning, and choosing the right moment to strike are central to surviving battles, especially as enemies become more aggressive and varied. Boss encounters stand out as key moments, often demanding a clear understanding of mechanics and rewarding persistence. The difficulty is not overwhelming, but it expects attention and adaptation, particularly for players who are less familiar with this style of combat. Exploration plays an equally important role. The island is divided into interconnected regions, with paths that gradually open as new abilities are acquired. This structure encourages revisiting earlier areas, creating a sense of progression tied not just to strength but to mobility and access. Discovering shortcuts, hidden paths, and previously unreachable locations adds to the feeling of uncovering a cohesive world. At times, however, this design can lead to confusion. Without strong navigational tools or clear markers, it’s easy to lose track of where to go next, especially during extended sessions. Character progression supports both combat and exploration without becoming overly complex. New abilities and upgrades expand what the player can do, making traversal smoother and combat more flexible. The system is straightforward, focusing on enhancing core mechanics rather than introducing entirely new layers. This keeps the game accessible, though it also means that long-term customization is somewhat limited compared to more expansive RPG systems. Visually, Mark of the Deep establishes a strong sense of place. Its stylized environments and lighting create an atmosphere that feels both eerie and grounded, reinforcing the idea of a once-thriving location now overtaken by something unnatural. Each area has its own identity, helping the world feel varied despite its contained scope. The audio design complements this well, shifting between subdued tones during exploration and more intense cues during combat, maintaining a consistent mood throughout the experience. There are moments where the game’s limitations become more apparent. Navigation can disrupt the flow when objectives are unclear, and some mechanical elements—particularly early combat—may feel slightly uneven until the player becomes familiar with the timing and rhythm. While the overall design is cohesive, it does not introduce many ideas that feel entirely new, relying instead on well-established genre conventions. For some players, this familiarity will be a strength; for others, it may make the experience feel less distinctive. Despite these issues, the game succeeds in delivering a focused and engaging adventure. Its strength lies in how its systems work together, creating a consistent loop of exploration, combat, and gradual progression. It doesn’t overwhelm with complexity or stretch its ideas too far, instead maintaining a steady pace that keeps players invested. In the end, Mark of the Deep is a solid and well-executed action-adventure that stands out through atmosphere and cohesion rather than innovation. It offers a satisfying experience for players who enjoy deliberate combat and exploration-driven design, even if it doesn’t push the boundaries of the genre. While it has a few rough edges, its overall structure and presentation make it a worthwhile journey through a mysterious and carefully crafted world. Rating: 8/10

(commenting on behalf of a friend from my steam family who played 9hrs) Fun game, but there`s no minimap, the roads too confusing(requires good memory he said), and it lacks details on the world map, making it hard to stay on the course. Would be glad to see some changes on those, but not recommending it right now.

conheci o jogo na gamescom 2026, amei no primeiro encontro com um boss, e muito empolgante e gratificantes ver quanto talento temos aqui no Brasil.