Few places on Earth are as mysterious as the ocean. To this day, we’ve only explored a fraction of its depths, with most of its waters remaining a great unknown. That makes it ripe for some discoveries, and in Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss’ case, they’re much more personal.
Set in 1905, the story follows Cam, a deep sea diver who heads to the ocean floor to explore the titular Thalassa. It’s a melancholy trip, unfortunately. The rest of his crewmates were lost on the ship, and it’s up to him to piece together what happened during their final moments.
Aside from Cam’s diving support Bailey, who guides him from the surface, he is entirely on his own, left with his thoughts and memories of his crewmates. It’s a somber setup from the start. Exploring what is effectively an underground tomb alone in search of answers would undoubtedly be an overwhelmingly emotional experience.
Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss looks to explore human emotion
Although the game’s primary goal is to unravel what happened, you can also expect to learn more about the crew and Cam’s relationship with them. That includes learning of their personal struggles and how they tried to deal with them. All of this is discovered by finding notes, objects, and pictures that belonged to the crew.
As you might infer from that setup, Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss isn’t going to be action-packed. In fact, the developers state that the story isn’t graphic or violent. So, what do you get up to while searching the ship besides learning about Cam’s crewmates?
Well, you will find puzzle to solve, for the most part. Certain areas can only be accessed by using the right tools, meaning you’ll need to search for them before you can progress. For example, in the trailer, we see Cam opening doors with a screwdriver and removing debris to free up important areas.
The ironic beauty of a sunken ship
While a ship becoming a resting place at the bottom of the ocean is sad, it’s still undoubtedly a wondrous sight. The calm of the water, combined with the ship’s beauty makes for a naturally haunting piece of art. Something developer Sarepta Studio seems aware of.
And this can potentially add to the tone they’re shooting for. As you explore stunning rooms that used to be bustling with activity, it adds to the sense of loss. A once busy dining hall is now silent, with Cam the only living visitor. For me, that’s a powerful image, and no doubt makes him feel all the more isolated.
According to Steam, Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss will release on August 1st. However, have no fear. If you can’t wait until then, a demo is currently available as part of Steam Next Fest.
Thank you for reading this article. For more interesting coverage of all things indie games, be sure to check out the links below.
- Into Indie Games Homepage
- Best Indie Games of 2024
- Reveil Review
- Indika – Full Game Walkthrough
- Step into the psychedelic world of Nirvana Noir
