ABZU

[h2][i]ABZÛ - Beneath the Surface[/i][/h2] Water has always scared me. I've nearly drowned a few times in my life, so anything involving the deep ocean usually makes me a little uneasy. Abzu, on the other hand, somehow made me fall in love with the underwater world. It looks exactly how I imagined the ocean as a kid vibrant, colourful, peaceful, and full of life. Combined with its beautiful soundtrack, it creates an incredibly calming atmosphere. Sometimes all you need is a relaxing game to escape from the stress of everyday life, and Abzu does exactly that. The amount of marine life in the game is honestly impressive. Every area is filled with different species of fish and sea creatures, making the world feel alive. You can even swim alongside them, interact with them, and ride some of the larger fish, which never stopped putting a smile on my face. I played the game on my Steam Deck OLED using a mix of Medium and High settings for a smooth 60 FPS experience. The achievements are also very approachable thanks to the chapter select feature, making 100% completion a relaxing experience rather than a grind. If you're looking for a short, beautiful game to unwind with, Abzu is an easy recommendation. I can definitely see myself returning to replay it someday. Much love <3

i find myself randomly thinking about this game even 5 years later. not alot of games can fill me with this kind of wonder but it left a permanent mark. i'm not gonna say it's the best indie game out there but it touched me very deeply for some reason. maybe because it's beautiful to look at? maybe because there's a profound message that never gets said directly? possibly the fact that every experience feels special and meaningful which makes you eager to move to the next area... but sad to leave the current one. what a game

A wonderful little experience with a captivating story and soundtrack, especially if you have a soft spot for sea life. The depth of storytelling and emotion that it's able to convey without any dialogue is amazing.