Stirring Abyss

TLDR; nice setting, ok gameplay loop, limited builds, needs more content, claims of the difficulty are greatly exaggerated I like a lot about this game, just feels like it's missing quite a bit to be more fun. Once you realize exactly how much runway you're going to get and how little there actually is to do, it becomes a rather joyless march toward the end. I would recommend playing on hard to start as that is probably the only way to keep any sort of tension in the game. I can't imagine what the easy or story modes are like, the normal difficulty is basically point and click. You will get so many side missions and you'll have every meaningful submarine room so early, you'll almost never suffer casualties unless you're really trying - in one mission I separated everyone, got ambushed with my weakest character alone, and there is just so much firepower and different elements you can bring to bare that while it was my tensest moment it was fairly easy to remedy. Your strong melee characters or officers with the right mutations or equipment are basically unkillable and once you unlock your fourth diver everything goes straight to autopilot. There are relatively few mutations and some of them are only for boutique builds (which I admit can be quite powerful, but not necessary - at least for the campaign) so you will realistically be looking for 2-3 mutations per diver depending on class, rerolling anything else, and in the event you get stuck with a subpar mutation you still have tons of opportunity to get others, or more likely it won't even matter. There are 2-3 "scenarios" you'll encounter so most maps play the same and the parts where they don't are not as much hard as they are kind of annoying. I just walked right up to the last boss and killed him without healing or using really any kind of special tactics. I'm recommending this game because it's fairly well made and I'm sure the endless nightmare mode offers some better challenges, and I like the STYLE of game. The music, visuals, atmosphere, world-building, and character building are all well done. Above all, the game is not plodding. You can choose to do side missions but the main campaign is fairly brisk, which is a positive because after a full campaign sadly you'll just want to be done with it.

Неплохая пошаговая тактика. Не очень продолжительная, не очень дорогая, но вполне атмосферная. При этом одного прохождения мне вполне хватило, не смотря на некоторый рогалик-стайл игры. Ктулху фхтагн! )

The atmosphere of dark, mysterious depth is awesome!

В целом неплохо. Пишут о том что игра похожа на 2 часть УФО-шки, незабвенный Terror from the deep. Но разве что сеттингом, дном океана. Стратегическая и тактическая части заметно беднее, Однако это не делает данный продукт плохой игрой. Сюжет в наличии, некоторая скудность врагов, компенсируется наличием довольно интересных боссов. Любителям жанра возможно зайдет, всем остальным мимо. Сложность весьма условна, основную компанию проходил на нормальной сложности, бесконечный режим опробовал на "харде", разницы особо не заметил, разве что зверье стало "толще". Вывод; Для своих денег сойдет, разрабам в следующем проекте добавить глубины, тактической и стратегической.

I found Stirring Abyss quite fun - I was looking for a turn-based game to play on my phone and, while I never got it working on there, I ended up getting hooked on it on my PC. It has very good writing and solid gameplay, which is gradually introduced as you play through the game. The save system can be gamed to maximise outcomes, but I don't see that as a problem. If you're looking for a satisfying turn-based tactical game, this is the game for you.

Polecam

游戏太冷门了，查不到攻略，根本不会搭配。

Stirring Abyss is a dark and oppressive tactical RPG that blends turn-based strategy, Lovecraftian horror, survival mechanics, and underwater exploration into a deeply atmospheric experience filled with tension and psychological dread. Developed by Sleepy Sentry and published by Slitherine Ltd., the game follows the surviving crew of the USS Salem after a disastrous Cold War expedition leaves them trapped beneath the ocean inside the ruins of an ancient and terrifying civilization. What begins as a military survival scenario gradually evolves into a descent into madness as the crew encounters monstrous creatures, supernatural forces, and secrets humanity was never meant to uncover. The game’s greatest strength is easily its atmosphere. From the opening moments, Stirring Abyss creates a constant feeling of isolation and danger through its underwater environments, eerie lighting, and oppressive sound design. The abyss itself feels hostile and unknowable, filled with ancient ruins, strange biological growths, abandoned structures, and grotesque creatures lurking within the darkness. The deeper the crew descends, the more unsettling the world becomes, creating a sense that players are venturing into a place far beyond human understanding. The story unfolds slowly through exploration, dialogue, environmental details, and fragmented discoveries hidden throughout the ruins beneath the sea. Instead of relying on constant exposition or dramatic cutscenes, the game gradually builds suspense through mystery and psychological pressure. The surviving crew members are portrayed as ordinary people struggling to survive impossible circumstances rather than fearless heroes, which makes the horror elements far more effective. Fear, paranoia, and hopelessness constantly shape the narrative as the crew slowly realizes the scale of the horrors surrounding them. The tactical combat system forms the core of the gameplay and remains consistently engaging throughout most of the campaign. Battles take place on grid-based maps where positioning, resource management, line of sight, and careful planning become essential to survival. The game clearly draws inspiration from tactical titles like XCOM, but it differentiates itself through underwater mechanics and psychological systems that constantly increase tension during encounters. Combat encounters are intentionally difficult and methodical. Enemies are dangerous, resources are limited, and mistakes are heavily punished. Players must think carefully before every move because reckless aggression often leads to disaster. Some encounters reward careful defensive positioning and patient planning, while others force desperate improvisation against overwhelming odds. This slower and more tactical pacing helps reinforce the survival-horror atmosphere because every battle feels dangerous rather than empowering. One of the most interesting mechanics is the sanity system. Crew members gradually lose mental stability after prolonged exposure to supernatural horrors, dangerous combat, and the crushing pressure of the abyss. Characters suffering mental breakdowns may panic, lose control, or become unreliable during critical moments. This mechanic fits perfectly with the Lovecraftian themes because psychological collapse becomes just as threatening as physical injury. Managing stress, oxygen, injuries, and sanity creates constant pressure throughout the campaign. Character progression is another strong aspect of the experience. Survivors gradually develop new skills, abilities, and mutations that allow players to customize squad roles depending on preferred strategies. Some crew members become powerful ranged specialists, while others focus on melee combat, support abilities, or defensive survival. Mutations tied to the abyss itself provide additional upgrades and strange powers, though they also reinforce the disturbing idea that the crew is slowly being transformed by the horrors beneath the ocean. The submarine management system adds another important layer of strategy between missions. The USS Salem functions as the central hub where players repair systems, craft equipment, conduct research, manage supplies, and upgrade facilities. Resources gathered during missions become critical for long-term survival, giving every expedition meaningful consequences. This management structure strengthens the survival aspect of the game because maintaining the submarine feels just as important as surviving individual battles. Enemy design deserves enormous praise as well. The creatures inhabiting the abyss are grotesque, unsettling, and visually memorable in ways that perfectly match the Lovecraft-inspired setting. Standard enemies already feel threatening, but the larger boss encounters become especially intense because they often require unique tactics and careful preparation to overcome. Many of these fights successfully create the feeling of confronting ancient incomprehensible horrors far beyond human understanding. Visually, Stirring Abyss succeeds through atmosphere and art direction rather than technical spectacle. The underwater ruins are filled with eerie lighting, distorted architecture, and heavy shadows that constantly reinforce the oppressive mood. The game’s color palette emphasizes deep blues, greens, and darkness, helping every environment feel cold and hostile. Even when certain areas begin to resemble one another later in the campaign, the overall atmosphere remains consistently effective. The sound design is equally impressive. Ambient underwater noises, distant creature sounds, and haunting musical tracks create constant unease during exploration and combat. The soundtrack avoids becoming overly dramatic and instead focuses on maintaining immersion and psychological tension. Combined with the oppressive environments, the audio design becomes one of the game’s most important tools for sustaining its horror atmosphere. The game’s difficulty also contributes positively to the experience. Stirring Abyss can be extremely unforgiving, especially during later stages where enemies become more dangerous and resource shortages grow increasingly severe. However, this harsh balancing usually works in the game’s favor because successful missions feel genuinely earned. Every victory carries weight due to the constant threat of failure. However, the game is not without flaws. One of the biggest issues involves mission repetition. Although the atmosphere remains strong throughout the campaign, some objectives and combat encounters begin feeling repetitive during longer sessions. Certain missions focus heavily on gathering resources or revisiting similar environments, which can occasionally slow the pacing. The difficulty balancing may also frustrate players unfamiliar with tactical RPGs. The game explains its systems reasonably well, but the combination of sanity management, resource scarcity, difficult combat, and survival mechanics creates a steep learning curve that may overwhelm newer players during the early hours. Combat pacing can sometimes feel slower than necessary as well. Battles often require cautious positioning and careful decision-making, which strengthens the atmosphere but may test the patience of players expecting faster tactical gameplay. Some encounters also become lengthy due to enemy durability and environmental navigation. For fans of tactical RPGs, Lovecraftian horror, survival strategy games, and atmospheric underwater settings filled with tension and difficult choices, Stirring Abyss delivers a memorable and immersive experience. Its blend of psychological horror, challenging combat, and strong world-building makes it one of the more distinctive strategy games currently available on Steam. Rating: 8/10

Profond, mais pas assez.

东方的玄幻山海经我勉强接受，但西方的洛夫克拉夫特没法接受。而且我不喜欢美式画风、海底探险题材。 但是评论区评价还是不错的，我也给个好评吧。