Ukrainian studio Frogwares is releasing The Sinking City 2 on August 18 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The first reviews have arrived ahead of launch, with critics responding positively to the game and highlighting its atmosphere, exploration, and shift toward full-fledged survival horror as some of its strongest elements.
Based on the initial wave of reviews, The Sinking City 2 is currently sitting at around 81–82 out of 100 on OpenCritic, while its Metacritic score stands at 79.
The sequel marks a significant departure from the original The Sinking City. Frogwares has moved away from the large open-world structure of the first game and placed a much stronger emphasis on survival horror. Players are tasked with exploring locations, managing resources, fighting hostile creatures, and gradually uncovering the story behind a new city.
The investigative mechanics that Frogwares has been associated with for many years have not disappeared entirely. However, they no longer define the core gameplay loop of The Sinking City 2, with exploration, survival mechanics, and combat taking a more prominent role.
This shift in genre has become one of the main talking points in early reviews. Critics have praised the game’s oppressive atmosphere and location design, while its narrative has also received positive feedback. Technical issues and certain mechanics that may feel familiar to experienced survival horror players have been mentioned among its weaker aspects.
The early scores also indicate a relatively consistent critical reception across different outlets. GameSpew and Analog Stick Gaming awarded The Sinking City 2 scores of 9/10, while MondoXbox gave it 8.8/10. PlayStation Universe and CGMagazine both rated the game 8.5/10, with GamesRadar, GamingTrend, TheSixthAxis, and IGN Spain each giving it 8/10.
The release represents an important step for Frogwares. For more than two decades, the Ukrainian studio has primarily been associated with detective games, particularly its Sherlock Holmes series. The Sinking City 2 represents a much deeper move into the survival horror genre and a notable change in the studio’s established approach to game design.
The Sinking City 2 launches on August 18 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
