Sword of the Sea

A meditative adventure game where you sand-surf across desert ruins with a swordboard, chaining flowing movements to uncover forgotten lore.

Last reviewed: May 1, 2026

Released Aug 2025 Singleplayer / 3D / Atmospheric

Giant Squid's at the height of their flow-state powers — Sword of the Sea is sand-surfing as meditation, and Wintory's score makes every dune feel monumental.

8.5 /10

Strong

Previously an Editor's pick

For you if

Abzû and The Pathless were exactly your kind of meditative-traversal experience — Sword of the Sea is in that lineage at peak form.
Austin Wintory soundtracks are the reason you'll buy a game on day one — this is some of his best work since Journey.
A 5-6 hour 'experience over mechanics' game appeals more than a 60-hour grind.

Not for you if

You measure value by hours-per-dollar — Sword of the Sea is a one-sitting game, and proudly so.
Combat depth and progression systems matter to you — this is barely-a-game by traditional metrics.
Abzû left you cold — Giant Squid hasn't fundamentally changed their philosophy.

What critics say

5/5Eurogamer
Movement, meaning and mindfulness combine in Giant Squid's latest, a game of free-form expression and flow.
Chris Tapsell Read review →
78/100PC Gamer
A short but spectacular surfing game, Sword of the Sea's atmosphere and movement propel it where its simple and repetitive puzzles can't.
Sean Martin Read review →
8.5/10Game Informer
It moves at the pace of a magical swordsperson speeding across sand dunes on a floating blade at 170 miles per hour.
Kyle Hilliard Read review →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly

What should new Sword of the Sea players know about controls?

Sword of the Sea has no classes, builds, or skill trees — your "loadout" is mastery of the movement system itself. The Wraith glides on a sword like a hoverboard, and tricks (jumps, grinds, spins) directly fuel speed and traversal. Push the trick buttons constantly, even on flat ground; chain combos to maintain flow-state momentum. Don't fight the control scheme — the game is designed to feel slippery, and resistance is the wrong instinct. Most "stuck" moments resolve by trying a different trick, not by pushing harder against the geometry.

Source: GamesRadar Review

Does Sword of the Sea have selectable difficulty modes?

No traditional difficulty settings — the game is a linear flow-state experience designed to be accessible at any skill level. The challenge comes from mastering momentum and trick chaining rather than overcoming fail states. There's no death penalty in the punishing sense, no enemy gauntlets, and no time-based pressure on the main story. The only "hard" content is the optional Untouchable trophy (beat the final boss without taking a single hit), which is the recognized hardest achievement.

Source: PowerPyx Trophy Guide

Are any collectibles missable in Sword of the Sea?

Nothing is permanently missable — Chapter Select after the credits lets you re-enter every level for any collectibles you missed: 50 hidden shells, 5 frogs, 23 stone steles, and 74 water restoration points. New Game Plus opens new paths that weren't accessible on the first run, so some collectibles are easier to find on a second pass. Trophy hunters typically need 2 playthroughs (one normal, one NG+) plus dedicated collectible runs to hit 100%.

Source: PSNProfiles Trophy Guide

Do I need to play Journey, Abzu, or The Pathless before Sword of the Sea?

No. Sword of the Sea is its own contained experience and assumes no prior knowledge. That said, it's the spiritual successor to Journey, Abzu, and The Pathless — same team (Giant Squid; creative director Matt Nava was Art Director on Journey), same wordless storytelling, same focus on movement-as-meditation. If you've played any of those, you'll recognize the design language; if not, Sword of the Sea works as a standalone introduction to the studio's style.

Source: Wikipedia

Is there content to do after beating Sword of the Sea?

Yes. New Game Plus unlocks after the credits and is more than a cosmetic mode — your movement speed cap increases, new paths open up that were inaccessible on the first run, and certain environmental puzzles have alternate solutions. Beyond NG+, completionists chase the 50/5/23/74 collectible counts and difficult achievements like the 2-hour speedrun and the Untouchable trophy. The base story is short (1.5-3 hours), but full completion runs around 8 hours across 2 playthroughs.

Source: PowerPyx Trophy Guide