ABZU

It's a nice short game about swimming through a beautiful ocean with fish. That's really about all there is to it, and all it needs to be.

Cute cozy game where you can just turn off your head and swim around with fishys

Mesmerizing journey in a phenomenal world with nice relaxing sound. Gameplay is quite satisfying. Story is simple but still interesting and even has a sort of deeper meaning.

This game is stunningly beautiful, but it's also incredibly unique. Travel the oceans uncovering a lost civilization and forging harmony with the denizens of the sea? Sign me up. I particularly appreciate the game's subtlety - the world is rich with hints of lore that add a deeper meaning to everything the character does, but it's up to the player how much they want to engage with that versus just enjoying the pretty scenery and the fun, fluid mechanics.

ABZÛ is a hell of a first game from a studio. It makes sense, since Giant Squid was founded by past employees of thatgamecompany, the studio behind Journey. This game really shows that these devs still have it.

ABZÛ is an underwater journey featuring beautiful visuals and a calming soundtrack. As I played, I found myself growing increasingly more and more confused as to what the plot of the game actually was. Nevertheless, the experience provided was gorgeous. I was able to complete the game in under two hours, so I would recommend waiting until the game goes on sale rather than paying the $19.99 USD.

Despite a controller being strongly recommended, my DualShock 4 controller was not recognized or did not work. I didn't grab either of my other controllers, and instead opted to just use keyboard and mouse - I would imagine a controller would certainly have been more comfortable to play with.

Additionally, I kind of wish there were an idle animation when you're not moving your character. It strongly looks like you might have drowned.

---{ Graphics }---
☑ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☐ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☑ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☑ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☑ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☑ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☑ Old Fashioned
☐ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☑ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☐ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☑ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☑ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☑ Short
☐ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☐ Worth the price
☑ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☑ Never heard of
☐ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☑ 8
☐ 9
☐ 10
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The controls are a bit hard to master and the gametime is quite short however I am in love with everything else.

This is the first game I've beaten in a while. The game was absolutely gorgeous, with some plot developments and twists players would not expect. However, I feel like this would have been much better as a short feature film/animation versus a game. It took me about 90 minutes to beat the game, with most of that being game-play filler. By game-play filler I mean, swimming between areas, puzzles, etc. Basically its a linear game, kind of like a roller coaster ride, where you simply move between story points to see what happens next. Think Journey for example.

The game is actually spectacular, and a very enjoyable experience. But I can't really say I had "fun" solving the puzzles. The puzzles require the player to swim to opposite ends of the gameplay map and flip a switch. You swim relatively slowly. This is mostly what I mean by, it could have accomplished its goal as a feature film as well, and been as equally, if not more enjoyable.

6/10.
Spectacular Visuals and memorable moments.
A suspenseful story with meaning.
Slow swim speed made getting around tedious
Game play felt underwhelming. Could have been a film.

this game is stunning! unfortunately though, my laptop isn't able to run the game smoothly, so currently i'm unable to enjoy the game. either way, the atmosphere is calming and beautiful, and the music is gorgeous. i highly recommend it if you have a good enough computer! i also recommend playing on a controller, since it's a bit difficult to play with a keyboard.

THIS GAME IS PERFECT!!!
Literally my fav game from entire steam, the soundtrack is absolutely magical, like god made this songs. The gameplay is calm and the colours used are in such harmony that i wish i could swim in those scenarios.
This game is not for understanding the story, but just foi chilling and enjoiyng the ambience and of course, sea life.

The game is beautiful and artistic, but not very engaging. It seems very familiar to Flower, which personally I would prefer to this game.

Short but sweet, very pretty visuals and great music. The story took an interesting turn I did not expect and the conclusion was pretty fun. At the end you can return to all the different areas you visited and collect anything you missed if you wanted to 100% it. I took my time with it and finished in ~2.5 hours. Probably a bit pricey at full price since it's not very re-playable, but good value on sale.

An utterly beautiful and wondrous experience, Abzu is the perfect dream of scuba diving and swimming with dolphins.

Swim with grace and power alongside fish from the tiniest yellow tang to a pod of colossal blue whales. Dance with a great white shark and ride upon an ancient armoured dunkleosteus.

There are some very light adventure elements - find the thing to open the door, find the collectable fossils to open a secret door - but largely Abzu is a game of being taken on a ride and going with the flow. It alternates between gentle exploration and rushing rollercoaster rides with the encouragement to take time out for mediation.

Special mention must be made on Austin Wintory's sweeping, mystical orchestration. It elevates every scene and I will definitely be listening to it outside of the game.

There is no danger, no challenge, minimal stress (though tension is used well in a few spots) and it was exactly what I needed on a difficult day. If you're looking for a couple of hours of peace and beauty, Abzu might be just what you need.

The controls were a pain in the ass but other than that the game was phenomenal!!!
Graphics, soundtracks and story was stunning!! You were truly immersed in this underwater world.

One of the most enchanting and entrancing games I've ever played. Very relaxing to play and beautiful to look at. 10/10

Such a relaxing piece of art. Very short and not much of a gameplay - it's mostly a 'walking simulator', or rather diving simulator, but one sure feel better after that experience. Something You may want to immerse Yourself after a hard, stressful day of work.

This was a hard one to not recommend, and maybe it comes down to personal preference, maybe I wasn't playing it right, but this game just didn't connect with me in the same way that Journey did. The visuals and soundtrack are both incredible. Seriously. Especially if you've got an HDR monitor (you may need to turn on Auto HDR), the game is an absolute work of art. But that's where my enjoyment ends. I found there to be very little of substance here beyond pretty music and visuals.
I'm a huge fan of ocean-centric games (Subnautica, Everblue 2, and Beneath the Waves come to mind), but I just didn't get this one at all.

I really didn't hold high expectations for Abzu. Just didn't seem like something I would like. I was so so wrong. This game is beautiful and amazing! Very relaxing. Also exciting and heart felt. Wouldn't think such a simple game could run you through all the emotions. I'm glad to have had the experience. I played in VR using UEVR. Game runs smooth.
SPECS: Ryzen 9, 32gb, 3060ti, ssd, Pico 4-Virtual Desktop-UEVR

I've played a few walking simulators and while i do not like the genre i can still appreciate a good walking simulator. This one falls a little short. Its not bad but its not worth it compared to the many other options out there nowadays

An almost artistic combination of image and sound.
You feel relief when playing.

A very nice change from the mainstream.

I would like to play it on quest 3.

Pretty relaxing game. great visual art style and music. quick and easy completion as well.

Its basically the game Journey but just in the ocean.

Amazing game! Every time I stumble back upon it all the great memories I had come rushing back. Its still very beautiful and I love the amount of unique creatures they were able to add using so many different environments. I played this game when it came out. I played it a year later. I even got it again on Playstation last year when I saw it and played it again there. Amazing game that I will always consider coming back to and relaxing in the beauty of the endless ocean, from the shallows to the deepest depths. Highly Recommend!

Possibly my favorite game of all time. One of the few i have replayed. Most beautiful ocean game EVER.

This is a great game, but it somehow doesn't quite capture that special thing that Journey had.

Stunning relaxing game. Very nice visuals and soundtrack.
But to be clear, it's very short.

I played it on Linux with Proton Experimental, with Proton 8.05 it didn't start. The performance above the water was somehow sluggish, within the water all fine. No display or sound problem nor any crashes.

6.5/10 Feels like a game you'd play at an art installation or a bachelors degree game design exhibition.
It's more of a meditative experience, with beautiful visuals and simple gameplay, and an easily forgettable story. That said, the game and its soundtrack both get more engaging towards the end, becoming more interactive and interesting to finish.

Not quite a game, rather an oceanic or aquatic experience. Beautiful is the only word to describe. Absolutely recommended, but only for those who seek just enjoyment of exploration.

A beautiful underwater journey that combines stunning visuals with a calming soundtrack. The game features fluid exploration and vibrant sea life, creating a relaxing and immersive experience. It also has some emotional moments that really add to the overall experience. It's a perfect pick for anyone looking for a peaceful, visually captivating adventure.

This game is so satisfying to just play through when you have a solid chunk of free time. Being a walking (swimming) simulator by the developers of journey, having beautiful visuals and fluid movement is something you can expect and because the game is so short you can go through and play it a few times. Definitely a great game to just unwind with since there's no real stakes either and because it's easy to get through.

*play this with a controller, it's night and day compared to mouse & keyboard!*

This a very chill game, a very relaxing, contemplative experience. There's gamey stuff like collectables and such, but the game isn't too worried about it. Just... follow the current and see where it leads you.

Nice game! It's an atmospheric game à la Journey, Gris etc. and it delivers where it counts for this kinda game:
- looks great
- sounds amazing (very adaptive)
- controls feel satisfying (not to be underestimated if you're supposed to be comfy!)
I especially enjoyed how playful and whimsical this game is! It just invites you to fuddle around and see what happens. Sometimes it also had some spookiness.

I still would put it below some of the standouts in this genre. I think, I can verbalize some reasons:
- There's no sense of story or intellectual engagement on any level (at least for me)
- For the largest part, it felt a bit samy and repetitive.
- I found it did not really create memorable moments as much. Noteworthy/outstanding while playing - yes. Memorable afterwards - no.
- It's quite short - I think, one should defo wait for a discount. For €5 this is good value. €20 seems too much!

Overall - in the genre - good but not great. I enjoyed!

Soooo nice.
Really relaxing. Played it twice for the achievements.
I found myself taking my diver breathing rythm while playing this game, that tells you how immersive and calming this game is.

Excellent atmospheric game that nails visuals, gameplay, and soundtrack.

this game is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. i have a strong fear of oceans, but found this game rather relaxing !! really, it is 3 hours of pure bliss. i highly recommend to anyone who wants to unwind after a long day of work.

One of the best adventure games I've played this year. Loved listening to the OST while exploring too.

I must say, this game is indeed better than Journey, it has more interesting and fascinating moments, and it has less forced slow-downs, but still there were many times when the envinronment and the fishes weren't that majestic to justify that much time of a forced slow-down (like with some generic ruins), so to sum it up, there were many times where the timing was off.
And the fact that you had to time the speed boost just to make it less of a pain, because the difficulty of any kind is absent so there isn't really a need to be careful with timing, didn't help for sure.
And also I think that being a fish instead of a sub, still with some little powers (like a special sonar) like in this and other games of yours, would have made the experience more immersive in every sense possible, also to give the sense of fishes saving themselves (since you know the sense about any humans/robots that can help the animals decades if to do so you effectively need some god-like powers in the end, while in Flower it made way more sense since it was the nature gradually collecting power to burst it out in one final confrontation against the overbearing artificial environment).
Still worth the experience, but Flowers (also for its higher and more enjoyable replayability), even in its simplicity of the concept, it's leagues above ABZU and Journey.

Journey took place in a grand desert.
ABZU takes place in a deep sea.
Somehow, ABZU manages to be the shallow one of the two.

After Journey, this is bit meh.

I was enamoured with this game when I started it. There's a lot of side-scroll underwater games so this was something different. I felt really immersed and the game achieved a sense of mysticism which I think it was going for. It's a short but enjoyable experience.

A gorgeous, smooth, fun, and incredibly captivating experience. Short, but totally worth it.

What. An. Experience.
This felt more like an epic movie than a game. The surroundings were quite accurate—amazing stuff. I got fully immersed. The last time I was so relaxed playing a game, I was in Passiflora, Novigrad.

BEWARE! Once it grabs you, it keeps you hooked till the end.
10/10 for the game. 4/10 for the name. I'd name this game "Brain Massage".

This game is so beautiful and made me feel so at peace when I got stressed. Plus, it was fun testing my oceanic species memory.

Sometimes you wonder why you've waited 8 years to play a game. Then you play it and wonder why everyone isn't talking about this game because, it's so incredible, it's a work of art, you've never seen or heard anything like it before.... and then you remember, oh yeah, it came out 8 years ago.

Seriously. Do yourself a favor. Don't wait any longer than I did.

Now, I'm not saying that the price tag is worth the rather short game, completed in under 2 hours.

What I AM saying, is that if Disney had to make a sequel to "Fantasia", and they decided to make it an interactive underwater swimming game, the result would be pretty damn close to this.

other than the pc controls being a little hard to get used to this game is pretty great. I completed it in its entirety in one day but spent a portion of that time just hanging out with all the fish :)

Beautiful game with tons of interesting fishes to see and ride with.

Incredible visuals and world exploration. If you are a fan to anything wildlife or aquatic related, then this game is a must. I can't comprehend how this game went under my radar for so long but it's truly a dream come true for all animal lovers.
10/10 fish.

Abzû is a stunning underwater adventure that beautifully captures the magic and serenity of the ocean. From the creators of Journey, it once again showcases a masterful blend of storytelling and breathtaking visuals. The vibrant underwater landscapes and fluid mechanics make exploring the depths feel soothing and immersive. However, what truly elevates Abzû to another level is the mesmerizing score by Austin Wintory. The music intertwines seamlessly with the gameplay, amplifying the emotional depth and sense of wonder. Without it, the game simply wouldn’t evoke the same feelings of awe and tranquility. An absolute must-play for fans of atmospheric storytelling and artistic design.

It's a beautiful experience with a heartwarming little story and breathtakingly stunning moments.
My only strive are the controls, as someone who rarely uses a controller they can be tedious at times.

ALSO I LOVE FISH AND WHALES!!!
9.5/10

I've always been enamoured with the ocean.

When I was a child I'd watch the same documentaries about the ocean over and over again, enraptured with the creatures that resided within it. Whether it was sharks, other fish, cephalopods. whales or any other sea creature, I was captivated, unable to avert my gaze. As a natural extension of this one of my favourite places to visit as a child was the aquarium, as it allowed me to come as close as feasibly possible to that environment and those animals with which I was obsessed. Though I have always remained fascinated with the ocean, I had lost much of that childlike wonder and reverence that I had previously held for it.

ABZU, for me, was first and foremost an emotional experience. The game lacks gameplay in a traditional sense, with the game being minimally interactive, yet I don't think any other medium would have been adequately able to convey the same experience. The game's interactivity, its deftly crafted environments, its art direction, its soundtrack, and its story coalesce to create a symphony that is much greater than the sum of its parts. The ocean feels alive, seemingly thousands of different creatures swimming around you at any moment, not only interacting with the player, but all other creatures in the environment. The game's periodic provision of meditative statues really drives this home, with these statues allowing you to focus on a singular creature in the environment, following as it goes about its life, eating, being chased, or playing with others around it. In playing ABZU I felt as if I had been transported back into my childhood, the same feeling of reverence for the ocean re-emerging from a long period of hibernation as I found myself surrounded by an environment that felt real.

Although ABZU is minimalist in its presentation, especially in regard to its story, the game manages to convey a great concern for humanity's impact on the ocean. From what I can tell the story centres around an ancient civilisation that in utilising the ocean's resources rendered much of it barren, with life being unable to propogate and survive. The player character is a product of that civilisation, and throughout the game give's back the life force that had been stolen from the ocean, making these barren areas once again liveable. Since ABZU's release in 2016 the world has become increasingly aware of the disastrous impact our actions have had upon the ocean, with both micro and macroplastics having been found at the deepest known parts of the ocean, insidiously worming their way into everything. Under these circumstances it's easy to be pessimistic, the scale of damage appearing irreversible, however, ABZU's story is one that demonstrates a genuine belief in the possibility to repair things, its thesis appearing to be that it's never too late to fix things, a beautifully optimistic and moving vision for the future.

In playing ABZU I was moved to tears on multiple occasions, its beauty being something few other games have ever come close to matching. Although it is short, ABZU is, to me at least, one of the best games ever made, and I'd highly recommend it to all.

This isn't as much of a video game as it is an experience, a common theme with the devs. The beautifully detailed underwater environments are a joy to explore and interact with. The soundtrack is also incredible. I'd definitely recommend it whenever it goes on sale.