ABZU

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.

I loved it! Super fun and beautiful

A nice short relaxing game that excels in music and visuals. I especially liked all the prehistoric fish, I was not expecting them to make an appearance.

Simple and relaxing, but get it on sale. 20 bucks for 2 hours of gameplay isn't really worth it.

An amazing game perfect for relaxation and contemplation. The graphics are stylized enough to be timeless while they are still impressive on a technical level. There is an elegant simplicity to this game and it lasts as long as you want it to due to the minimalistic story. Play this if you in anyway like the ocean or exploring beneath the waves.

Sublime. It is a work of art that is also a pleasant game that is meant to be revisited.

Simple yet beautiful experience that knows exactly what it wants to be and wastes none of your time. I've bought this game on two systems and I'd almost argue it's worth more than that. By far one of my favorite soundtracks of any game I've played. I revisit this game whenever I need to experience a few hours of short, utterly untainted whimsy, and would recommend it to anyone with 20 bucks to spend, 3-5 hours to kill, and the patience for controls whose jank I find more than forgivable everything else considered.

Abzu is a stunning underwater adventure that offers a peaceful, meditative experience. With breathtaking visuals, a mesmerizing soundtrack, and fluid swimming mechanics, the game immerses players in a vibrant ocean teeming with life.

I had this sitting in my library for over 8 years before finally getting around to playing it. While it’s short (probably around 3+ hours for the main storyline) and lacks traditional challenges, it's a must-play for fans of artistic, exploration-driven games. If you can snag this on sale, I think you'll find this a calming and worthwhile experience.

the single most artistically beautiful game I've seen

Short and great
For a low price, its definitely worth it

Loved the music, the flow was awesome, plot was awesome, visuals were fantastic, I'll always remember the part with the whales

This realy is one of my favorite games of all time simply because of the art style and its wonderful depection of all the life under the waters

I have 100% completed this on 2 other accounts, about to playthrough again on this account, the game is fantastic and got me through tough times. I would do almost anything to have this as a functional VR game.

The Visual story telling in this game is marvellous that's all i have to say now go scuba diving!

Abzû is an adventure game about a diver exploring the ocean and restoring life using sonar calls. I was curious about this game because one of the members from thatgamecompany who gave us Flower, Flow, and Journey made his own game company where this game comes up. The game cover looked really pretty, and I went into it blind. That honestly did a good thing with having no expectations because this was a fun one!

It’s such a beautiful-looking game where you explore places underground whether it be sea creatures, landscapes, or pillars that feels like we’re discovering an underground place that has been flooded for years. The soundtrack has such a soothing mood to the game that feels just as relaxing as playing the game that makes you want to explore everything and find collectibles like random shells lying around. You get to interact with sea animals by riding them, and their designs look so pretty that you want to ride as many different animals as you can find. The story is pretty simplistic, so it leads to the gameplay being the main focal point. I find it engaging that the more you explore, you start to see the darker aspects of the location where you face an unknown foe where it’s left to your interpretation of what it’s there for.

I find the runtime a lot shorter than I thought. It took me less than two hours to finish it, and I feel like it should’ve been a lot longer that wasn’t fully explored. A lack of variety in that department. The controls do get a bit finicky with the camera being sometimes a complete nightmare to control when you couldn’t. Other than that, Abzû is a great game that lets the beauties of it take over which leads to a visual experience.

8 out of 10.

I've never loved a game more, it's thrilling and calming all at once. I felt at home in the temple too and was so emotionally attached to the shark. i even made my partner play and he also got emotionally attached to the shark. It was also super exciting to swim with whales <3. Although the controls can be a little confusing and it's slightly terrifying to swim down into the deep dark to complete all achievements.

A Game that still is beautiful despite it's age. If you Love beautiful games that more about the art world and music, this is an amazing game especially on sale. if you loved subnautica for it's beauty, you'll also love this game. If you do scuba diving or free diving, this is also the game for you. I don't think any of the reviews on yt do this game justice, this is an amazing experience.

bought mostly on a whim, looking for something chill and relaxing. It literally saved me from a day of depression.

You'd be doing yourself a favor to buy this game, its an amazing experience!

The controls are somewhat confusing on pc. I did help a great deal when I pushed esc while in the game (I needed "pause") and changed "swim pitch" from "inverted" to "normal". I would have liked to be able to use the mouse to steer, it seems more intuitive, and I would have liked "dive" was "swim" when showing controls, "dive" just doesn't make much sense to me when I have to use that button to swim. After some practise it got easier.
It's a very beautiful game, and I'm glad I don't have to worry about oxygen, diving too deep or aerobullosis. It makes it very relaxing to play. The ocean has always been fascinating to me with all its creatures - especially sharks, whales and manta rays. This game had so many wow moments for me - thank you so much.
I didn't find anything scary at the bottom or the cold place first time around (too mezmerized) but I guess it's the perfect reason to dive in again. This game is certainly worth a try if you like a calm and beautiful game.

Scenic, relaxing, atmospheric. A love letter to marine life. Really beautiful visuals.

Even though it is technically made by different studio, Abzu cannot avoid being compared to Journey. What's more, Journey art director and composer worked on it. Sadly, it seems inferior in most aspects. That is not to say soundtrack is bad, or it does not look good, on the contrary, ocean fish and plants are more beautiful than in most other games, you even interact with fish and can ride them. But where is a fish, there is a catch.

Some scenes and overall plot have almost one to one correspondence with Journey. It's like they used the same idea board for this game. It's the same simple puzzles solving or activating switches, even story is presented in a similar manner. But Journey was more mysterious, I was constantly wondering, what would come next and what it all was about. Here, it's mostly more ocean, different kind, but still ocean. Somehow, empty desert felt more alive than water with all the fish around. Where the Journey was about movement, Abzu is about stillness, meditation, observation.

Controlling character in 3d is way more complicated than walking on a sand and I spent a bit too much effort navigating around to appreciate the sights. Journey also had flying mechanics, but they felt more like usual game jumps. I needed to search for small crevices or buttons or holes in ground but I'd rather swim with fish and appreciate the beauty.

No gameplay element is done better than Journey, although the last seemed more minimalistic in nature. Where Journey felt like living through different stages of life, here it's a more of a sidequest to fix several pipes to bring life back to oceans. Sure, the message is correct, but the emotional struggle is not quite there.

Also, there is no coop at all, one of the biggest surprises and unique mechanics that is not replicated much anywhere else to this day after Journey. But there is no such thing here, which makes you wonder, does anyone care? Is anyone around any more?

Abzu feels like a prequel rather than a sequel and is so heavily inspired that does not bring enough new things. It's all about water. There is even underwater water. And that's what it is: a nice journey with too much water.

I was expecting a game where I could swim with marine life. I was not expecting this but I am so glad I got it.