Sword of the Sea Review (PS5 & PC)

Sword of the Sea is one of those indie games that doesn't need much explanation. The moment you start playing, you understand what it's about. Players wake up in a strange, quiet world with a sword in their hand. But this isn't a place full of battles or long quests. The land feels empty, broken, and covered in endless waves of sand. There are no menus on the screen, no quest lists, and no glowing arrows telling you where to go. It's just you and the vast horizon, calling you to explore what lies ahead.

If this feels familiar, that's because it comes from the same creator behind Journey and Abzû. The style of those games is clear here: the huge landscapes, the mystery in the air, and the simple joy of moving forward. But Sword of the Sea goes even further. The sword you carry isn't just a weapon. It's also your skateboard, your surfboard, and your snowboard all in one. Now, let's dig deeper into the game through this review. 

Surfing on a Sword

The sword you carry in this game isn't just a weapon. It's so much more. Think of it like a skateboard, a surfboard, and even a snowboard all rolled into one. This sword becomes your best buddy on the journey, letting you move in ways that feel amazing. With it, players can slide across soft dunes, skim lightly over rolling waves, and ride up sandy ramps as if the world itself is cheering you on.

The first time you try it, you'll notice how smooth and natural it feels. Instead of clunky or stiff movement, the sword makes every ride fast and fun. Best of all, the controls are simple. You don't need hours of practice to get the hang of it. A few minutes in and you'll already feel like you're surfing on sand or carving across a giant wave. It's easy to learn, satisfying to master, and it never gets in the way of the adventure.

One of the coolest things is that you don't have to be chasing scores or missions while doing tricks. Players can pull off flips, spins, and even grinds in midair just because it looks incredible. Surprisingly, the game never pressures players into being perfect. Instead, it invites players to have fun with movement itself. Later on, upgrades add more depth, higher jumps, new stunts, and better speed boosts, but even from the start, it's easy to get hooked.

It's rare for an adventure game to make movement feel like the reward, but Sword of the Sea nails it. Sometimes you'll find yourself riding across a flat stretch of sand, and the terrain suddenly rolls like an ocean wave, giving you an unexpected ramp. Ultimately, those moments remind you why this game works. It's not about winning; it's about enjoying the ride.

Exploring Without a Map

Modern games often overload players with waypoints, minimaps, and endless checklists. Go here, collect this, defeat that. It can start to feel more like work than play. Surprisingly, Sword of the Sea takes an entirely different path. There's no map to follow, no glowing arrows, no list of chores. Instead, you're set free in a beautiful world and told to explore.

That freedom feels exciting and refreshing. Players climb a dune without knowing what's waiting on the other side. Maybe it's a hidden cave filled with glowing fish, or perhaps it's the skeleton of a giant sea creature half-buried in the sand. Sometimes curiosity rewards you with puzzles, secret paths, or even a chest of currency. Other times, the only reward is the discovery itself, and honestly, that's more than enough.

What makes this design so powerful is how it puts the focus back on the world. This indie game doesn't tell you what's important; you figure that out for yourself. A cracked wall, a rock sitting in a strange place, or a shimmer on the horizon might all be clues that something is waiting to be found. The fun isn't in following a marker; it's in chasing the unknown.

Bringing Life Back to Ruins

Now, beneath all the beauty and freedom, Sword of the Sea carries a story that quietly drives everything forward. The world you explore is broken and lifeless, but the sword you wield has the power to change that. It's not just a tool for movement; it's a force of renewal. By reaching special points hidden in the land, players can bring life back to once-empty places. A desert can suddenly flood with clear water, seaweed begins to move in gentle currents, and schools of glowing fish dart between the ruins. Each transformation feels magical, as if the world is slowly waking up again.

The puzzles tied to these moments are never meant to frustrate. Sometimes you'll guide a fragile bubble of water across a tricky path, and other times you'll flip switches or redirect streams of energy to spark life back into the environment. These challenges are short and satisfying, always keeping players moving forward. The real reward isn't solving the puzzle itself; it's what happens afterward. Watching a space blossom with color and life is worth far more than a simple “objective complete.”

What makes this process so special is how it changes the way you look at the land. A valley that once felt barren becomes a playground full of fish, plants, and new challenges. A forgotten ruin suddenly feels alive with mystery. You're not just exploring for yourself; you're healing a broken world, piece by piece. And the more you play, the more you realize that every restored place adds meaning to your journey.

When Music and Motion Become One

If you've played Journey or Abzû, you already know how vital visuals and music are to the experience. Sword of the Sea follows the same path, and in some ways, it does it even better. The world is vast, colorful, and full of surprises. Every area feels like it was made to keep your eyes glued to the screen.

The art style is stunning, but what pulls everything together is the music. Austin Wintory, the famous composer behind Journey, returns with another unforgettable soundtrack. His music doesn't just play in the background; it reacts to how you move and explore. Instead of big, scripted songs, the music flows naturally. Sometimes it's soft and calm, and other times it swells into something powerful as your speed and momentum grow.

This mix of sights and sounds creates what players often call the “flow state”. It's when you stop worrying about what's next and just lose yourself in the game. You explore, you surf, and the music carries you forward. Notably, very few games can achieve this feeling, but Sword of the Sea nails it.

Flaws

No game is perfect, and Sword of the Sea has a few flaws worth mentioning. On PC, some players may notice minor technical issues like resolution problems or sound effects that don't always land as strongly as they should. There's also a final boss fight that feels a bit out of place. It isn't bad, but it doesn't match the calm and dreamlike mood the rest of the game creates.

A bigger issue is more complicated to describe: the game doesn't always hit the same emotional highs as Journey or Abzû. Those games had powerful climaxes that stuck with players long after finishing. Sword of the Sea has amazing visuals and music, but it sometimes feels like it pulls back instead of delivering that big, unforgettable punch. Of course, that doesn't ruin the game, but it means it won't hit everyone as deeply as its predecessors. Nevertheless, these problems are minor compared to what the game does right. At around three hours long, the length feels just right. 

Verdict

Sword of the Sea isn't trying to outdo or completely change how these kinds of games work. Instead, it stands proudly next to them as another piece of art built around beauty, movement, and discovery. The sword-surfing mechanic is the heart of the game, and it feels incredible every time you ride across dunes, waves, or ramps of sand. The world is full of secrets that reward exploration, and the visuals and soundtrack combine to create moments players won't forget.

Of course, the game isn't perfect. It has a few technical issues, and it doesn't always reach the same emotional peaks as its predecessors. But it honestly doesn't need to. What Sword of the Sea offers is three hours of pure, flowing gameplay that feels like a dream and an adventure like no other. 

If you enjoy adventure games that make you feel something, whether it's wonder, peace, or just the thrill of surfing on a sword, this is absolutely worth playing. What makes it special is that it isn't only another indie adventure game; it's an indie project that has gone beyond those classics and made something fresh.