Software:Sword of the Sea

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Short description: 2025 video game

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Sword of the Sea
Developer(s)Giant Squid
Publisher(s)Giant Squid
Director(s)Matt Nava
Producer(s)Patrick Quah
Designer(s)Tim Ambrogi Saxon
Programmer(s)
  • Derek Cornish
  • Brian Balamut
Writer(s)Steve Lerner
Composer(s)Austin Wintory
Platform(s)
ReleaseAugust 19, 2025
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Sword of the Sea is a 2025 adventure video game developed and published by Giant Squid. In it, the player assumes control of a character named Wraith, who rides on a "hoversword" to restore life to a barren wasteland. The game released on PlayStation 5 and Windows on August 19, 2025.

Gameplay

In Sword of the Sea, the player assumes control of a Wraith, who explores an abandoned, desolate world and seeks to bring life back to it. The Wraith explores the world with a hoversword, which combines parts of a snowboard, a skateboard, and a hoverboard into one. As the player explores the world, they will collect Ocean Seeds, which upon collecting, will bring back water to the desert wasteland. Returning the ocean to the world provides new opportunities for surfing, and the returning marine life opens up paths for exploration. The player can find Tetra, and donate them to vendors to unlock hoversword tricks.[1] While the game is about surfing the landscape using the hoversword and keeping momentum, the player will battle large creatures named leviathans at certain points.[2]

Development

Sword of the Sea was developed by Giant Squid, the studio behind Abzû and The Pathless. The game was directed by Matt Nava, who worked as the art director of Journey, a game also set in a desert.[3] Nava decided to return to a desert landscape for Sword of the Sea because he felt he had many ideas that were not used in Journey. As with Journey, Sword of the Sea has no dialogue, and its storytelling relies on its visuals and music.[2] Giant Squid unveiled Sword of the Sea in May 2023,[4] and released on Windows and PlayStation 5 on August 19, 2025.[5]

The gameplay is influenced by snowboarding games such as 1080° Snowboarding, though Sword of the Sea is an exploration-focused game rather than a score-based game.[6] The team drew from their experiences with scuba diving, snowboarding, and surfing while working on Sword of the Sea, reflecting on how these extreme sports foster a "spiritual connection" with nature by mixing both mindfulness and motion together.[7] Nava stated that players must "harness" the waves while surfing, and added that the game focuses on developing the relationship between the player and the environment. Early prototypes of Sword of the Sea included elements commonly found in Sonic the Hedgehog games, such as speed boosts and grind rails, but these were later removed as Nava felt they did not fit the style. Shadow of the Colossus inspired the leviathan encounters.[8]

Austin Wintory, a frequent collaborator of Nava's, composed the music. The soundtrack was created in collaboration with the London Voices Choir and the Phoenix Boys Choir. He described the score by saying, "At the heart of this one was an electronic soundscape enveloping a piano." Werner Herzog was noted as an influence, hearing on a podcast that "he'd use Orthodox monk chanting as underscore were he to make a skating documentary."[9]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PC) 82/100[10]
(PS5) 88/100[11]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer5/5[13]
Game Informer8.5/10[15]
GamesRadar+4/5[14]
PC Gamer (US)78/100[16]

Sword of the Sea received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.[10][11] Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received "mighty" approval, being recommended by 96% of critics.[12]

Chris Tapsell from Eurogamer compared the game to skateboarding games, though he noticed that the gameplay was forgiving, and remarked that the game was about "feeling good more than being good". He also praised the game for encouraging players to explore, as the game was filled with optional locations.[13] Writing for GamesRadar, Rachel Watts remarked that the gameplay was "simultaneously thrilling and relaxing". She also praised the game's pacing, Wintory's soundtracks, and noted that it had more replay value than Giant Squid's previous games due to its inclusion of gameplay upgrades and collectibles. She wrote that Sword of the Sea combined "the majesty of Journey, the action of The Pathless, and the tranquillity of Abzû" and that its release marked "the end of a four-game odyssey that started in 2012 and has reached a simultaneously exhilarating and meditative crescendo".[14]

PC Gamer's Sean Martin compared the game to Alto's Odyssey and wrote that the game excelled at taking the player from "spectacle to spectacle", though he felt that the game was short and its puzzles were simple.[16] Kyle Hilliard from Game Informer praised the game's movement, calling it "fluid and fast". He further applauded the game's art direction and visuals, though he was felt that the story was not as good as other aspects of the game.[15]

Awards

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2025 Golden Joystick Awards Best Visual Design Nominated [17][18]
Best Indie Game - Self Published Nominated
Best Soundtrack Nominated
16th Hollywood Music in Media Awards Score – Video Game (Console & PC) Nominated [19]
2026 15th New York Game Awards Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year Nominated
Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game Nominated
68th Annual Grammy Awards Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media Won [20][21]
29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition Nominated [22][23]
24th Game Audio Network Guild Awards Best Main Theme Nominated [24][25]
Best Music for an Indie Game Nominated
Best New Original IP Audio Nominated
Best Original Soundtrack Album Nominated
Music of the Year Nominated
22nd British Academy Games Awards Artistic Achievement Longlisted [26]
7th Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards Outstanding Original Score for Interactive Media Won [27]

Notes

  1. ↑ Based on 51 reviews

References

  1. ↑ Harmon Jr, O'Dell (June 5, 2025). "Sword of the Sea: hands-on report". PlayStation Blog. https://blog.playstation.com/2025/06/05/sword-of-the-sea-hands-on-report/. Retrieved June 10, 2025. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Conditt, Jessica (June 9, 2025). "Sword of the Sea is what happens when Matt Nava strides back into Journey's shadow". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sword-of-the-sea-is-what-happens-when-matt-nava-strides-back-into-journeys-shadow-233148894.html. Retrieved June 10, 2025. 
  3. ↑ Watts, Rachel (May 25, 2025). "Sword Of The Sea is a gorgeous new desert-surfing adventure from the devs behind Abzu and Journey". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/sword-of-the-sea-is-a-new-desert-surfing-adventure-from-the-devs-behind-abzu-and-journey. Retrieved June 10, 2025. 
  4. ↑ Ramsay, Robert (August 7, 2024). "PS5 Journey-Like Sword of the Sea Reappears Over a Year After Its PlayStation Showcase Reveal". Push Square. https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/08/ps5-journey-like-sword-of-the-sea-reappears-over-a-year-after-its-playstation-showcase-reveal. Retrieved June 10, 2025. 
  5. ↑ Franzese, Tomas (June 4, 2025). "Abzu Dev's New Game Sword of the Sea Is Finally Out This August". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/abzu-devs-new-game-sword-of-the-sea-is-finally-out-this-august/1100-6532113/. Retrieved June 10, 2025. 
  6. ↑ Crecente, Brian (June 9, 2025). "Serenity and beauty collide in sword-surfing game Sword of the Sea". Epic Games Store. https://store.epicgames.com/ru/news/serenity-and-beauty-collide-in-sword-surfing-game-sword-of-the-sea. Retrieved June 10, 2025. 
  7. ↑ Tapsell, Chris (August 15, 2025). "Sword of the Sea is an expression of the joy of movement in video games - PS Plus subscribers are in for an absolute treat". Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/sword-of-the-sea-is-an-expression-of-the-joy-of-movement-in-video-games-ps-plus-subscribers-are-in-for-an-absolute-treat. Retrieved August 21, 2025. 
  8. ↑ Packwood, Lewis (August 11, 2023). "Sword of the Sea channels surfing, spirituality and Shadow of the Colossus". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/games/2023/aug/11/sword-of-the-sea-channels-surfing-spirituality-and-shadow-of-the-colossus. Retrieved June 10, 2025. 
  9. ↑ "Sword of the Sea, by Austin Wintory" (in en). https://austinwintory.bandcamp.com/album/sword-of-the-sea. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Sword of the Sea for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/sword-of-the-sea/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved August 18, 2025. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Sword of the Sea for PlayStation 5 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/sword-of-the-sea/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5. Retrieved August 18, 2025. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Sword of the Sea". OpenCritic. https://opencritic.com/game/19001/sword-of-the-sea. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Tapsell, Chris (August 18, 2025). "Sword of the Sea review - heaven really is a half-pipe". https://www.eurogamer.net/sword-of-the-sea-review. Retrieved August 18, 2025. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Watts, Rachel (August 18, 2025). "Sword of the Sea review: "Joyous, fluid hoverboarding connects together everything I loved about Journey and The Pathless"". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/sword-of-the-sea-review/. Retrieved August 18, 2025. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Hilliard, Kyle (August 18, 2025). "Sword of the Sea Review: Beauty For The Sake Of Beauty". https://gameinformer.com/review/sword-of-the-sea/beauty-for-the-sake-of-beauty. Retrieved August 18, 2025. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Martin, Sean (August 18, 2025). "Sword of the Sea review". https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/sword-of-the-sea-review/. Retrieved August 18, 2025. 
  17. ↑ Harris, Iain (2025-10-03). "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads the Golden Joystick Award 2025 charge for most nominations, nudging out Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/events-conferences/clair-obscur-expedition-33-leads-the-golden-joystick-award-2025-charge-for-most-nominations-nudging-out-death-stranding-2-ghost-of-yotei-and-kingdom-come-deliverance-2/. 
  18. ↑ Bevan, Rhiannon (2025-11-20). "All Of The Winners At The Golden Joystick Awards 2025" (in en). https://www.thegamer.com/golden-joystick-awards-2025-all-winners/. 
  19. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (November 19, 2025). "‘Sinners’ Swings With Three Wins At Hollywood Music In Media Awards; “Golden” Night For ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ – Full List" (in en-US). https://deadline.com/2025/11/hollywood-music-in-media-awards-2025-winners-list-golden-sinners-1236623914/. 
  20. ↑ Willman, Chris (2025-11-07). "Grammy Nominations 2026: Kendrick Lamar Leads With Nine as Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and Leon Thomas Land Among Top Nominees" (in en-US). https://variety.com/2025/music/news/grammy-nominations-2026-complete-list-kendrick-lamar-gaga-1236572363/. 
  21. ↑ Kerr, Chris (February 2, 2026). "Sword of the Sea composer Austin Wintory wins Grammy award". Game Developer. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/sword-of-the-sea-composer-austin-wintory-wins-grammy-award. 
  22. ↑ LeBlanc, Wesley (January 8, 2026). "The 29th DICE Awards Nominees Have Been Revealed, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 And Ghost Of Yōtei Lead The Pack". Game Informer. https://gameinformer.com/2026/01/08/the-29th-dice-awards-nominees-have-been-revealed-clair-obscur-expedition-33-and-ghost-of. Retrieved January 10, 2026. 
  23. ↑ "29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Winners Revealed". February 12, 2026. https://www.interactive.org/contact/29th_annual_dice_awards_winners_revealed.asp. Retrieved February 12, 2026. 
  24. ↑ Levy, Giana (December 17, 2025). "‘Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’ and ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’ Among Game Audio Network Guild Nominees". Variety. https://variety.com/2025/gaming/news/game-audio-network-guild-2026-nominees-1236609132/. Retrieved January 12, 2026. 
  25. ↑ Turkeltaub, Payton (March 12, 2026). "2026 G.A.N.G. Awards: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Hades II and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Lead Winners". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 12, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20260312220858/https://variety.com/2026/gaming/awards/2026-gang-awards-1236684796/. Retrieved March 13, 2026. 
  26. ↑ McGowen, Andrew (December 9, 2025). "‘Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,’ ‘Ghost of Yōtei’ and ‘Split Fiction’ Among Best Game Contenders in 2026 BAFTA Games Awards Longlist". Variety. https://variety.com/2025/gaming/news/bafta-game-longlist-indiana-jones-ghost-yotei-split-fiction-1236604921/. Retrieved December 10, 2025. 
  27. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (December 17, 2025). "Society Of Composers & Lyricists Tunes Up 2026 SCL Awards Nominations: ‘Sinners’, ‘Wicked: For Good’, ‘Frankenstein’ & More". https://deadline.com/2025/12/scl-awards-2026-nominations-list-1236651126/. Retrieved December 17, 2025. 

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