7.5 /10 15

Still Wakes the Deep represents The Chinese Room’s return to first-person narrative horror, delivering a tense supernatural thriller aboard the Beira D, a North Sea oil rig engulfed by storm and something unknowably sinister. Released in June 2024, the game has garnered strong critical acclaim for its immersive atmosphere, authentic Scottish dialogue, and visceral creature horror without traditional combat. Unlike linear action games, Still Wakes the Deep prioritizes environmental storytelling and character relationships, creating dread through isolation, environmental hazards, and an ever-present supernatural threat. The game’s 5-6 hour playtime delivers concentrated narrative intensity without padding, making it ideal for players seeking cinematic horror that respects their time investment. This review explores why Still Wakes the Deep succeeds as contemporary horror and identifies the players who will find it most rewarding.

How to Play Still Wakes the Deep

Still Wakes the Deep eliminates traditional combat, forcing players to rely on stealth, navigation, and problem-solving to survive encounters with the rig’s supernatural infestation. Movement emphasizes careful pacing and caution over sprinting, though platforming sequences require explosive action during chase scenes. The control scheme prioritizes immersion through deliberate, weighty character movement.

1. Controls – WASD movement with Shift-sprinting (note: 10-minute sprint achievement discourages constant running). Crouch with Ctrl for stealth, climb ladders with RMB held while pressing W/S. F-key operates flashlight, essential for navigating pitch-black maintenance corridors. Mantling and jumping occur contextually during platforming sections.
2. Progression – Navigate through eight interconnected rig sections (Accomodations, Machinery Deck, Processing Quad, etc.), completing environmental puzzles and evasion challenges. Story beats trigger automatic progression; no branching choices affect outcome but exploration reveals character backstory through dialogue and environmental details.
3. Stealth and Evasion – Hide behind cargo containers, inside lockers, or within ventilation systems when creatures patrol. Audio cues (wet footsteps, creature calls) indicate danger proximity. Sprinting generates noise; crouch-walking remains silent. Some creatures ignore specific light or sound stimuli—experimentation reveals survival patterns.
4. Tips – Conserve sprint for mandatory chase sequences; walk everywhere else to manage stamina and reduce creature attention. Listen intently to dialogue—Scottish accent subtleties reveal crew member relationships and story context crucial for emotional impact. Save frequently at natural checkpoints.

Who Should Play Still Wakes the Deep

Still Wakes the Deep targets horror enthusiasts seeking atmospheric dread over jump-scare mechanics. Its narrative-first design suits players who appreciated Amnesia or Alien: Isolation’s non-combat survival tension. The 5-hour runtime attracts busy gamers wanting complete cinematic experiences without 100-hour commitments.

• Lovecraft horror fans – The cosmic unknowable entity permeating the rig echoes Cthulhu Mythos themes. Creature design references tentacled horrors emerging from deep ocean, emphasizing incomprehensibility over traditional monsters.
• Atmosphere seekers – Those craving immersive environmental storytelling will find the Scottish oil platform setting meticulously realized through sound design, architecture, and crew interactions. The Scottish dialect and regional authenticity ground fantasy horror in gritty reality.
• Story-focused gamers – Characters feel genuinely connected; crew member fates resonate emotionally because dialogue reveals personal struggles, family concerns, and authentic working-class struggle. Voice acting elevates emotional stakes considerably.
• Skip if – Players seeking combat encounters, action-oriented gameplay, or traditional scare tactics will find the slow-burn pacing and walking-simulator structure tedious. Those desiring gameplay variety beyond evade-and-hide will feel limited by the 5-hour scope.

Still Wakes the Deep Platform Performance

Still Wakes the Deep maintains consistent performance across current-generation platforms with optimization specifically targeting atmospheric immersion. Ray tracing implementation enhances underwater reflections and character detail. Performance modes prioritize 60 FPS stability while quality modes target 4K resolution with potential frame-rate dips during intense creature sequences.

Still Wakes the Deep System Requirements

PC specifications remain accessible to mid-range systems while supporting modern high-end hardware for maximum visual fidelity. The 9 GB install size accommodates most contemporary storage solutions. Recommended specs unlock ray-traced reflections and stable 60 FPS performance without compromise.

Similar Games to Still Wakes the Deep

Still Wakes the Deep joins an established lineage of non-combat horror experiences emphasizing atmosphere and story over mechanical challenge. These comparable titles share its commitment to environmental immersion and dread-based pacing.

• Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs – The Chinese Room’s previous horror work set in industrial Victorian facility. Shares protagonist helplessness and creature horror but focuses on puzzle-solving rather than pure evasion; shorter 3-hour runtime.
• Alien: Isolation – Survival horror against singular relentless pursuer in claustrophobic space setting. More gameplay-focused with resource management; longer 15-20 hour campaign offers more mechanical depth than Still Wakes’ streamlined approach.
• Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture – The Chinese Room’s spiritual predecessor emphasizing environmental storytelling in abandoned English village. Similar non-combat focus and narrative discovery through exploration; 3-4 hour playtime.
• Dear Esther – The Chinese Room’s foundational walking simulator through mysterious Scottish island. Established their signature environmental storytelling but lacks creature threat and survival mechanics; pure narrative experience.

Still Wakes the Deep vs Competitors

Still Wakes the Deep competes primarily with indie narrative horror experiences, matching or exceeding competitors’ critical reception while offering superior atmosphere and voice-acting quality. Its competitive advantage lies in setting authenticity and emotional character development rather than gameplay innovation.

Still Wakes the Deep Story and World

Set aboard the Beira D oil rig in 1975, Still Wakes the Deep follows electrician Caz McCreary navigating catastrophe on multiple fronts: a violent North Sea storm, catastrophic structural failure, and a mysterious entity emerging from the ocean depths. The creature spreads parasitically through the crew, transforming workers into horrific vessels for its alien consciousness. What begins as natural disaster escalates into cosmic horror as the crew realizes something fundamentally wrong inhabits their rig. The narrative avoids explicit explanation, allowing ambiguity about the creature’s origins and intentions. Scottish working-class authenticity grounds the fantastic horror in realistic human struggle—these are ordinary people facing extraordinary terror with only courage and community bonds sustaining them. Emotional climax arrives through character sacrifice and impossible choice rather than action heroics.

Still Wakes the Deep Multiplayer and Online

Still Wakes the Deep remains a single-player narrative experience with no competitive or cooperative multiplayer functionality. Focus remains entirely on personal survival story, though the June 2025 DLC expansion and community engagement creates ongoing player connection.

• Single-Player Campaign – Entire 5-6 hour narrative plays offline without internet requirement. Game autosaves at checkpoints; no multiplayer lobbies or online progression systems exist.
• Achievements and Trophies – Platform-specific achievement hunting encourages speedruns (sub-10 minute sprint achievement particularly challenging) and alternative exploration strategies. Leaderboards track completion times across Steam and console networks.
• Community Storytelling – While not official features, players extensively share emotional reactions, theory discussions, and streaming content across YouTube, Twitch, and gaming communities, creating social connection despite single-player design.
• Cross-Platform Save – Cloud saves sync between PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC Steam, allowing story continuation across devices.

Still Wakes the Deep DLC and Expansions

Still Wakes the Deep received substantial post-launch support through the June 2025 expansion Siren’s Rest, extending the narrative 11 years beyond the original game’s conclusion. This planned expansion demonstrates developer commitment to deepening the world established in the base game.

• Siren’s Rest Expansion – Released June 18, 2025, this 2-3 hour DLC follows saturation diver Mhairi exploring the sunken Beira D wreckage in 1986. New environmental setting (underwater) and protagonist offer fresh horror angles while deepening lore and answering questions about creature origins and victim fates.
• Expansion Features – Introduces diving mechanics distinct from original platforming. Explores separation anxiety through oxygen-tether dependency. Continues thematic investigation of survivor guilt and exposure to lingering supernatural presence.
• Free Updates – Additional patches addressed reported audio bugs and technical improvements. Optional cosmetic additions may appear; narrative DLC structure suggests story-focused post-launch content prioritized over cosmetics.
• Game Pass Inclusion – Both base game and Siren’s Rest expansion released day-one on Xbox Game Pass, maximizing player accessibility across subscription service and direct purchase options.

Still Wakes the Deep Community and Support

Still Wakes the Deep maintains active community engagement through official channels and player-driven platforms. The Chinese Room provides consistent technical support while community members document secrets, strategies, and emotional responses across multiple forums.

• Official Support – Secret Mode (publisher) and The Chinese Room (developer) respond to technical reports through Steam community discussions and official social media. Regular updates address reported bugs; development roadmap transparent about content plans.
• Community Hubs – Reddit’s r/StillWakesTheDeep hosts thousands of discussions, emotional reactions, and fan theories. Discord servers dedicated to the game connect players for real-time conversation and mutual support through story-driven emotional moments.
• Content Creation – YouTube playthroughs and Twitch streams became major community gathering points. Community guides map secret crew dialogue and optimal achievement routes for speedrunners. Fan wikis compile complete narrative information and lore interpretations.
• Ongoing Communication – Developer maintains regular blog updates about expansion development, post-launch support philosophy, and behind-the-scenes creation insights, demonstrating respect for community investment and transparency about creative choices.