ABZU

This is exactly the reason why I work in the video game industry.
To maybe one day create art at its peak as ABZU is.

It was a pretty fun game. The atmosphere and the settings were beautiful, the art style is great, and the settings were pretty. As a whole, it was really relaxing, and it had a pretty happy ending. If you like the sea/ocean and stuff associated with that this game will be very good.

This game is more of an experience than anything too structured. Yes, the movement is through 'levels' of a sort. I bought it years ago, played it through once and basically felt like it was time well spent - some of the schools of fish and the overall atmosphere are so beautifully in-sync, with a very well composed and recorded soundtrack that takes the visuals and ends up somewhere akin to the highest-praised animation - this could be a Pixar film.

So why review it in 2025? Well, if you've never played it and are looking for some powerfully concentrated escapism for a few hours, this is a great way to do that. $20 might seem a little high, for me I compare it to going to an IMAX movie and getting popcorn. This fulfills me more than any movie has in ages, though.

It's more than that though personally - this game's final, most powerfully, emotionally and artistic form emerges when played in VR. It is not a VR-native game, but as it was made with Unreal, there are now scads of great games that can be modded with a project called UEVR. The mod process is really simple - download a profile, download the mod, inject the mod into the game, and escape mundane reality for 2 hours or so. I slept like a baby after taking this journey last night. I'm thinking I might play it again today.

Played flatscreen: 7.5/10 (points reduced for length primarily)
Played with UEVR: 9.5/10 (overall effect and length seems perfectly suited to VR).

I don't know if the Devs Giant Squid ever read these, but I'd like to encourage them to consider working with Flat2VR Studios, or at least play the UEVR mod to see just how well their work already runs in VR. I can imagine more games like this, maybe some floating through space, that would be just as impactful, nearly surreal and metaphysical at times in VR.

Huge recommend for people that game for escapism, have trouble letting go of stress and anxiety. This game probably won't transform me forever, but it can change the tone of a day. That's impressive and rare.

(fully completed the game)
very pretty and heavily recommended (not for people with thalassophobia this game will fucking kill you)

Breathtaking. Seriously one of the most beautiful games I've ever played. Low stakes and relaxing, even in moments you think would not be. There is no telling what I would do to play this game for the first time again.

Honestly, the controls are absolutely awful and ruin the game which is otherwise cool

Really, really beautiful game, mainly a cinematic experience. The controls are a little funky at first, I'd recommend a controller to play with, but once you figure them out it's not too bad.
Very fun to play around with just swimming in general after finishing the main story, and achievement hunting isn't that grindy or unfair. Totally worth shell collecting for the pretty dive suit ^^

Fantastic game. A great experience even though its pretty short its VERY pretty. If you want a Chill version of subnatica this is the game for you.

Sometimes you need a game like Abzu to come out and remind you that video games are not all about a high score or your kill/death ratio. Abzu reminds me that video games are not just entertainment, but video games are art. Sounds obvious, but I find it to be an aspect that is often forgotten.

Abzu plays more like a visual experience with some light gameplay problem solving, and it is absolutely wonderful. It's on sale often for $4.99. I absolutely recommend buying Abzu and giving it a try.

Bonus:
My 3 year old likes watching me play Abzu to wind down before bed. That alone has made the game special for me.

This was such a gorgeous game! Perfect for ocean lovers and people looking for something aesthetic with a little story. I loved seeing my favorite species and interacting with all of the larger fish and getting to ride them. The controls were a little awkward to grasp for a beginner gamer like me. But overall worth it!

This game has no words, this game is an experience of a lifetime. This is what the video game version of a aquarium is like. I highly recommend this game to anybody that seems interested or anybody that finds any beauty in the ocean, and I recommend this game even more to anybody afraid of the ocean so you can experience the beauty that it holds, this game gives nothing to be scared about and only shows the sheer beauty of the ocean and what it holds within it. This game is one of the best gaming experiences I have ever had and that is not going to be changing.

I want to like this "game" however I would call it an interactive experience. I would only recommend it if it's on sale. I would never pay full price for this. It is relaxing yet I personally find it boring. There is no dialogue and the character model doesn't seem to fit in the environment. I feel out of place and the character never needs to surface for oxygen despite not having any sort of oxygen tank. The exploration element lacks depth. A solid 5/10.

Beautiful graphics, the controls are great, and the story is kind of whatever you want it to be! This is (no joke) one of my favorite video games of all time. It is peaceful, adventurous, and just plain AWESOME. So...BUY IT 😂

Dip into the gorgeous world of water.

Stunning underwater visuals and art style, creating a mesmerizing and tranquil environment.
The accompanying musical score is perfect!
It's not about complex puzzles or intense action.
It's about exploring, discovering, and just...being (maybe a fish XD).

Took around 4-5 hours for the story and the rest for all achievements.
Controls are best when on a controller! Not very hard but not super smooth.

This isn't it if you're looking for something that will challenge you with hardcore gameplay.
But if you want to lose yourself in a gorgeous, tranquil world and feel something real, then 'ABZÛ' is worth your time."

TLDR:
A visually captivating underwater exploration game. MEE SHARK FRIENDSSSSSS
4.7 out of 5!

I am very new to gaming. I needed a game that is calm and relaxing, and saw this described on Reddit and decided to try it. I really like it so far. I have put in many hours just exploring. The music is relaxing too. Beware though after a bunch of time, some more ... stressful... things do happen. For me though its a great diversion from real life stress. While I see the appeal of games like Stardew Valley for relaxing, I seem to get too type-a about my farming lol. I like that this is just mainly exploring with some mild puzzling. Also because I am still getting used to using a controller, this is a great game for a beginner because you aren't killed every 3 seconds, and you don't run out of time. Very low frustration. I saw some other reviewers say they wish it had more self directed parts to it and I do get that, I think it might be too predictable for more experienced people looking for intense challenges. This was just what I needed.

Honestly what a beautiful game, I cannot recommend it enough even nowadays for a playthrough. Just a serene soundtrack, very relaxed controls, and a great amount of sea life variety make this game a pleasant experience to 100% now and always. I personally recommend a controller for this one but that's also because I played it a decent bit ago with one on another platform, like I did on PC here after using the keyboard for a bit.

Either way, great game. Play it and just relax, have some fun and slow down.

i love that it's like one of my favorites by thatgamecompany, journey, but i also questioned my choice to buy it because my thalassophobia fired off like crazy. once that deep blue open ocean showed and that shark destroyed my robot baby, i sh!t myself and alt+f4'd. not recommended for people scared of the monster soup we call an "ocean."

It made me forget that I'm even human.

This is not just a Game. This is An Experience.
I highly recommend to binge it, as it only takes about 3 hours to complete. Even less if you won't be staring into your screen with your jaw on the table, like I did.

Worth every second I've put into it.

Honestly, this game was SO worth it. It's a fairly short game, but immensely fulfilling, and I loved the use of storytelling through the environment! No text necessary. The lack of cluttered overlays is awesome too. Genuinely gorgeous environment, absolutely STUNNING- worth replaying for that alone. Spent a lot of time meditating, and I'll do it again!

Speaking of, the variety of creatures is delightful, and the changes in lifeforms between chapters is incredibly fun! I genuinely gasped when I saw some of the beasties (a lot, honestly), so if you- like me- went through a "sea creatures phase" in your youth, you'll probably have a blast. Thresher shark and anomalocaris my beloved <3

There are only a few things I'd have liked to see changed, honestly, with the biggest being manual saves, or a way to check where you last saved.It's a bit nerve-wracking for me to not know where the last save point was! I would also love to have seen a camera mode, but honestly, the game is so picturesque that screenshot and crop are all the tools you technically need.

In short, I absolutely recommend this game- entrancing, low-stress, and a fantastically beautiful soundtrack to boot? Oh yeah, this is the good stuff.

Beautiful game, easy to follow, and compelling story!

One of my favorite games I have ever played very, short visuals and soundtrack is a 10 and there is water dinosaurs so 15/10

I love this game. The music is as stunning as the visuals, though, I must admit, I get scared easily, so the red part was kind of... well, stressful. I did love it though, the designs of the creepy fish is phenomenal, and I'll soon miss riding whales, so I'll probably play again just to have fun. Cheers!!!!!!!!!

a short game but very beautiful and peaceful, would highly recommend.

A Breathtaking Underwater Adventure – A Must-Play!
Highly recommended for anyone looking for a relaxing, visually stunning, and emotionally moving adventure! 🌊🐠✨

As someone with a fear of the ocean i bought this game to help conquer that fear. It is simply a very BEAUTIFUL game, relaxing, peaceful (admittedly my fear did 'flare up' at times), but worth a play-through for visuals alone.

MINOR SPOILER:


You can ride an aquatic dinosaur.


Totally worth it!

My play time is short due to rushing (from my fear) to see how the game ends. But i will be playing it through again and taking the time to explore more.

100% Achievement Review: A quick review based on my experience completing all the (available) achievements.

Title: ABZU

Summary: Peaceful exploration game

Personal notes: Abzu is a great game for what it's worth. You are stranded in a beautiful underwater world that you have to explore. The story is interesting to a degree but the charm of this game lies within it's environment and wildlife. The range of colors used make this one of the most scenic video games I have played. Building off of this I recently installed reactive backlights for my setup and it was super cool to mess around with all the scenic environments, not to mention the soundtrack that fits the game perfectly. The only downside to this game is how short it is, but it's 20$ and sometimes the shorter games leave longer impacts. Achievement wise this game is fairly simple, a few of the achievements are missable and require you to fully explore areas but they are pretty easy if you know what you are looking for. If you have never seen or tried this game I would highly recommend it. There is a reason why it won so many awards. ;)

Time it took to complete: 4hrs

Most difficult achievement(s):
- Zen Master (Find all the meditation statues.)
- Ecosystem (Release fish from all the hidden pools.)
- Collector (Add all secret shells to your collection.)

Difficulty rating:
★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 3/10

Overall rating:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 8/10

Recently I purchased an OLED monitor and started installing games that I hoped would utilize the incredible color. I installed ABZU this morning, played straight through to the end, and was blown away by the game. The OLED tech and this game reminded me once again why I got into PC gaming to begin with.

A very relaxing experience with great music. Don't expect challenging gameplay though.

One of the only "relaxing" or "walking simulator"-type games that I loved. The graphics are amazing, colorful and beautiful. The music is amazing too, and the combination of both created a very immersive experience that made up for the simple game play. Any ocean lover will LOVE this game. I especially liked the deep sea portion of the game. Its one of the view games of any genre that can really make FEEL the vastness and scale of the ocean.

This is a simple and relaxing game about exploring the ocean and looking at all the silly fishes.
It feels like Studio Ghibli meets Endless Ocean on the Wii, the art style and music are phenomenal.
A certified Gromit Mug Gaming moment.

I needed to play ABZÛ twice to fully understand it. The first play through was blind and I was amazed by the stunning environments, but didn’t fully get the story. The second one I collected the rest of the collectibles and I finally understood the game. It wanted you to go into the deep darkness, challenging your fear, the protagonist same as you didn't know their purpose at the begging, and both of you went on the same journey trough the ocean. You saw the beauty, the deep and scary and the death and destruction, and in the end it was you the protagonist who made a change after they understood what it meant.
As somebody with the fear of the ocean, but also love many moments in this game were absolutely terrifying. the atmosphere is perfect, everything looks beautiful and stunning. There are so many (not only) fish spices! Tiny, small, big and massive. And if you meditate you can look at their species name.

I recommend ABZÛ to all who love the ocean, or easy zen like games.

Not sure how to rate this one. On the one hand, I did think it was pretty, and kind of interesting. On the other, it kind of felt like a cheaper Journey, without the interacting with other travelers and without the well executed environmental storytelling.
It was fine, but it also felt somewhat lacking whilst playing. The controls also felt a bit wonky to me (Also made me kind of dizzy, I did play on keyboard though so that might have been the problem).
Probably wouldn't recommend it.

Beautiful and artistic game, it's pretty much on the short side, but enjoyable nonetheless.
The game allows you for checking most of the collectibles but not in a very clear / specific way. But again, with chapter select and being so short, it's not like they are that difficult to collect normally

There's not much direction on pointers, just swim swim swim and enjoy the view

A simple yet beautiful story that is handed to you through a setting, giving the player a reason for exploration aside from curiosity. That, paired with above average gameplay compared to most triple A games and a divine soundtrack that ties in perfectly with what youre seeing on your screen easily makes ABZU one of the greatest games ive ever come to play.


In the darker, deeper areas of the ocean, you cant help but feel intimidated by some of the creatures that you'll see and how dark the the ocean floor can be yet for some reason, atleast for me, i thought it was still so beautiful. I think it's really impressive if a game manages to make you feel intimidated, scared even, and awed by beauty at the same time.


In conclusion, there wasnt a time when i was playing the game where i wasnt in awe by it's beauty. It's an experience that you wont get anywhere else. Just because of that fact alone, this game is a 10/10.

It's a short game, but im one of those people that likes to do things at their own pace. Played 5.8 hours of it and got all of the achievements within that span of time.

I know that for nearly 6 hours, $20 dollars is a lot for some people and i totally agree, so i recommend that you wait until it goes on sale. I got this game for $4.99.

I was playing the game when it first came out, and I enjoyed it so much. I liked the textures, story, design, basically everything. I replayed it after 9 years and I still love it. This is a short but an excellent game. I can recommend it to anyone, who wish to meditate a bit, also to look for fish names in a bit more enjoyable way.

One of the best in its genre, short but beautiful adventure ^-^

911, I became emotionally attached to an apex predator.

Beautiful game, though its definitely a "walking/swimming simulator".
Subnautica's soft and loving sibling.

Swim swim swim,
You also sometimes swim.

Other than that, it's an amazing and relaxing game.
Should try.

Achievement hunters: chill and easy achievement hunting.

No idea what this was going into it- holy shit my heart. The music, the wordless storytelling that is better than 99% of games with fully voiced dialogue, the fact that at every turn there is something spectacular, mysterious, and compelling to see. God. Damn. One of the only games I think everyone should play.

the peaceful vibes combined with a plethora of prehistoric marine species is an instant positive

10/10

Breathtaking images and interesting gameplay, but a bit confusing sometimes. Dropping this while I try other exploration games.

Style score: 100
Substance score: 0
Get it if you like marine life, I do, it has very good, albeit the opposite of accurate, simulation of fishes and aquatic mammals and reptiles, like what is disappointing is how I don't see cachalots eat giant squids in the abyss level even though they are both present there, or some large fish fight other large fish, or presence of fictional animals like whathisnamesaurs, is pretty questionable, well what else sea is very pretty here, "game" is too short to be considered a fullfilling experience, i didn't understand the plot, that was conveyed with murals in temples. why is white shark so friendly anyway?
final score: whatever, it's good at what it tries to be, a mediocre art project but that's it.

An incredible game just like Journey despite the polar opposite setting. In fact it's hard to discern which of the two i like most, all i know is that both are unforgettable must play experiences!

can't praise this game enough. beautifully designed, smooth graphics, impressive soundtrack, and a compelling story. the puzzles are easy to figure out, but not so simple that they dull the experience. easily one of my favourite underwater games

This game absolutely rules. Recommended to absolutely everyone.

More of an experience than a game, worth checking out on a steep discount.

This game is gorgeous! Both music and visuals really create quite an immersive and "zen" experience. There are multiple unique biomes, lots of sea creatures to observe, and it's all so beautifully crafted. Truly perfect for you if you were the kid dreaming of being a marine biologist when they grow up, but also still wonderful for anyone else.

Total playtime is only a few hours, even if you hunt down all the collectibles and achievements, but it's a good time all the way through. Controls took some getting used to at the start, but it's a well-designed game.

Its such a simple game, yet I find so much replayability in it. Art style and lighting put big studios to shame, in fact, this whole game puts large studios to shame. I have never seen an ocean feel more alive in a game than this.

Beatiful and relaxing game. It is a bit short but soundtrack and artistic design are incredible. Is a good game, but it is not for action gamers. Work perfectly in steam deck

I prefer Journey. I mean, probably you won't be wrong with it but it's not necessary enjoyable if you are expecting something like that one.
Changing wind for water and transcendence for inconsequential didn't catch me.