Call of the Sea

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 56

Play It

Clever puzzles, an engaging narrative, and a haunting adventure make Call of the Sea highly rewarding.

Play It

Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 56

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 56

Clever puzzles, an engaging narrative, and a haunting adventure make Call of the Sea highly rewarding.

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Critic Reviews for Call of the Sea

Critic Reviews

Score Distribution

56

Reviews

Average Score

100

Ranges

9/10

Simon Cardy (IGN)

Through engaging puzzles and a captivating story, Call of the Sea provides an excellent, poignant adventure.

December 8, 2020 |

Full Review

Call of the Sea’s original setting, narrative, and overall feel totally hooked me – even when I wasn’t playing I found myself working over the puzzles in my head. If you’re a fan of emotional stories and challenging logical puzzles then you should dive straight into this adventure.

December 8, 2020 |

Full Review

9/10

Steve C (TheSixthAxis)

6/10

Matt Bianucci (GamingBolt)

Call of the Sea’s intriguing piecemeal story and beautiful setting falls to the wayside when its lack of signposting and overall artificially obtuse puzzles take center stage for much longer than acceptable.

December 8, 2020 |

Full Review

Simon Cardy (IGN)

9/10 - (Read Review)

Through engaging puzzles and a captivating story, Call of the Sea provides an excellent, poignant adventure.

Steve C (TheSixthAxis)

9/10 - (Read Review)

Matt Bianucci (GamingBolt)

6/10 - (Read Review)

**Read all 56 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (56 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
3DNews	Денис Щенников	9 / 10	01-16-2021	Mystical journey on a tropical island is what we all need during this period of closed borders.	Read review
Areajugones	Ramón Baylos	7.2 / 10	12-08-2020	Call of the Sea could be considered as a puzzle and exploration video game where the first element weighs much more than the second; although both depend on each other to exist. Thus and with a series of puzzles that will take the player into a smooth back and forth between the frustrating process of looking for a solution to the problem and the satisfaction of finding it, Call of the Sea offers a proposal that complies with all the basic rules of the genre and the topped off with a colorful artistic design and a plot that delivers what it promises.	Read review
BaziCenter	Omid Sedigh Imani	8 / 10	12-26-2020	Call of the Sea is a great adventure game with solid puzzles and story, and if you are an adventure fan who holds a Game Pass, then you are all set to enjoy a great journey without even paying for it.	Read review
CGMagazine	Zubi Khan	8.5 / 10	12-15-2020	Call of the Sea is a well-executed Adventure game that feels both familiar and distinct, with imagery evocative of both Monkey Island and H.P. Lovecraft that comes together in a fun and concise adventure game.	Read review
Checkpoint Gaming	Taylor King	8 / 10	12-10-2020	Call of the Sea is a charming adventure that immediately hooks you through its period-appropriate mystery, that slowly builds intrigue and excitement. The various puzzles you encounter along the way are thoroughly engaging, while at the same time offering enough of a challenge to not be too easy or annoying.	Read review
Chicas Gamers	Enrique Sanz	Recommended	12-21-2020	Call of the Sea is a risky proposal in the videogame industry mixing action, puzzles and a brilliant narrative sequence to create a truly marsterpiece of the puzzle-based videogames.	Read review
COGconnected	Alex Everatt	90 / 100	12-10-2020	When I finished Call of the Sea, I couldn’t help but smile. It was such an incredible journey with an intriguing story and a well-thought-out ending. From start to finish, with the exception of a couple of frustrating puzzles, I truly enjoyed this game. Considering it’s is launching on Xbox Game Pass, there is absolutely no reason for Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One gamers to not give this gem a try. The sheer amount of love and care that went into crafting this world should be the new standard that all devs strive to achieve. I can’t wait to see what Out of the Blue have in store for us next, and I truly hope we’ll return to the world of Call of the Sea in a future title.	Read review
Critical Hit	Noelle Adams	8 / 10	12-11-2020	Releasing early in the new gaming generation, Call of the Sea sets the benchmark for story-driven adventure puzzle games moving forward. It’s an experience full of surprises, from its lush game world that takes advantage of next-gen graphic capabilities, to its emotionally impactful story that puts a fresh spin on the Cthulhu Mythos. It’s also surprisingly challenging; so much so at times that the frustration over its obtuse puzzles damages your sense of immersion, and goodwill towards the game.	Read review
Destructoid	CJ Andriessen	7.5 / 10	12-10-2020	If the writers weren’t so eager to spoil their own surprises, I think we’d be looking at one outstanding narrative-driven adventure here. As it is, Call of the Sea is a pleasing piece of pulp fiction and a decent test of your puzzle-solving skills.	Read review
Digital Chumps	Steven McGehee	7.2 / 10	11-29-2020	Issues aside, though, Call of the Sea is pretty good. It was nice to play through a new story with new characters, even if the story design was somewhat familiar and the outcome (essentially the same despite which ending you choose) was fairly predictable. Solid voice-acting, good writing, and pretty graphics (nothing show-stopping, but they’re good) make for a nice presentation package on top of an alright game. If you’re looking for a more casual, story and character driven game to play this holiday, Call of the Sea is worth considering.	Read review
DualShockers	Peter Szpytek	6.5 / 10	12-08-2020	Call of the Sea is a great start for developer Out of the Blue but didn’t entirely capture me on any front, despite standout moments.	Read review
Eurogamer	Robert Purchese	Recommended	12-09-2020	A dazzlingly different debut with a haunting sense of place and adventure.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Marco Mottura	7.2 / 10	12-14-2020	Call of the Sea is an interesting but imperfect experiment, denoted by some (legitimate) error of inexperience. In general, the feeling is that of an adventure written in a pleasant and on average enjoyable way to play, but never get to that status of small gem to discover.	Read review
Explosion Network	Dylan Blight	9 / 10	12-10-2020	With beautiful art direction, smart puzzles and terrific performances, Call of the Sea is a must-play for anyone who loves mystery, puzzles and romance.	Read review
Game Informer	Marcus Stewart	8.5 / 10	12-26-2020	Clever puzzles and an engaging narrative make Call of the Sea a voyage worth taking	Read review
GameMAG	Unknown	8 / 10	01-04-2021	Call of the Sea is an example of a well-written and really captivating walking simulator, which, although inspired by the work of Lovecraft, tells a completely different story.	Read review
GamePitt	Rob Pitt	9.5 / 10	05-11-2021	Call of the Sea is one of the best puzzle-adventure games I’ve ever played. Each puzzle requires you to think logically and gather all the clues to figure out the solution, you’re rewarded with a trophy and more context to the story for exploring and finding documents, and your eyes are given a treat by looking at this visually stunning game. This is the first time I’ve played a Lovecraft-inspired game that isn’t focused on horror, jump scares, or disturbing themes, instead it’s a peaceful adventure that uses the influences perfectly to create a very interesting and memorable experience.	Read review
GameSpew	Kim Snaith	8 / 10	12-08-2020	If you’re not a huge fan of puzzles, then you might find Call of the Sea‘s gameplay more frustrating than satisfying. But if you enjoy solving logic problems, there’s a lot to love here. The game looks beautiful, and the island you find yourself on, complete with all of its mysteries, begs to be explored. Its few bugs aside, Call of the Sea is a satisfying adventure that will keep you gripped from start to finish.	Read review
GameWatcher	Jack Trumbull	7 / 10	12-08-2020	Call of the Sea feels like a mix between a puzzle game and a 1930s pulp novel. It blends these varied genres to mixed success; the puzzles are largely solid but you can find yourself banging your head against the wall in frustration for some, and the writing can be a bit campy but is carried by brilliant voice acting. While the game is decent, the visuals, the acting, and the setting are top notch. If entered with the right mindset, The Call of the Sea can be a good companion for an evening in.	Read review
GamingBolt	Matt Bianucci	6 / 10	12-08-2020	Call of the Sea’s intriguing piecemeal story and beautiful setting falls to the wayside when its lack of signposting and overall artificially obtuse puzzles take center stage for much longer than acceptable.	Read review
GamingTrend	Ben Lombardo	95 / 100	12-22-2020	Call of the Sea might be short, but it’s a highly rewarding puzzle game with a fascinating narrative that keeps getting better and better as the game slowly reveals the truth to you. It’s a fully engrossing experience that showcases the best parts of the Lovecraftian genre, but makes it fully accessible to players who want to experience the mystery but none of the horror.	Read review
Generación Xbox	Javier Gutierrez Bassols	8 / 10	12-15-2020	In short, Call of The Sea is a title that everyone who approaches it will enjoy, discovering a good story, with touches of Lovecraft and showing that not everything has to be horror and fear, but that there is space for paradisiacal islands and irrational mysteries.	Read review
God is a Geek	Chris White	7.5 / 10	12-09-2020	Out of the Blue’s debut game manages to pack in some complex puzzles set amongst some beautiful environments, and has a story that keeps you hooked throughout.	Read review
Guardian	Stacey Henley	4 / 5 stars	12-10-2020	Carefully crafted puzzles and clues in the story give this game, set on a Polynesian island, the satisfying feel of a journey	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Kyle LeClair	3.5 / 5 stars	12-08-2020	Call of the Sea could benefit from having more substance, but otherwise it’s a solid adventure game that manages to put a unique spin on the traditional Lovecraftian adventure.	Read review
Hobby Consolas	Álvaro Alonso	80 / 100	12-11-2020	Quotation forthcoming.	Read review
IGN	Simon Cardy	9 / 10	12-08-2020	Through engaging puzzles and a captivating story, Call of the Sea provides an excellent, poignant adventure.	Read review
IGN Italy	Davide Ambrosiani	7 / 10	12-08-2020	Call Of The Sea is a good debut, that uses puzzle and riddle-based gameplay to tell an atmospheric story. Its weakness lies in a conception of riddles that is not always very clear, source of some moments of frustration, and in a limited duration. It will probably not remain among the most notable examples of the genre, but we must give credit to the fact that it manages to offer an alternative vision of the Lovecraftian narrative universe, potentially capable of satisfying those who do not always want monsters or scares.	Read review
IGN Middle East	Mohamed Shorby	8 / 10	12-27-2020	Call of The Sea brings a good story with a different than the usual narrative, and the gameplay is filled with puzzles scattered in a mysterious unique world that’s shaped with beautiful artistic design.	Read review
IGN Spain	Álex Pareja	7.5 / 10	12-08-2020	Puzzles with a great design (mostly) and a story that captures without remedy from the first minute. A must for lovers of narrative adventures and puzzles.	Read review
INDIANTVCZ	Václav Šourek	9 / 10	01-10-2021	Call of the Sea certainly isn’t an experience meant for long winter nights. However, in its few hours of playtime it presents a well-written story full of mysteries, which are gradually discovered by the player. Moreover, the title has astounding graphics and music, which is a treat worth listening to after finishing the game. If you’re a fan of adventure games, this is a title that you must play!	Read review
Jump Dash Roll	Matt Jordan	8 / 10	05-10-2021	With attention beneficially split between puzzles and story, Call of the Sea charms with an enjoyable pulp adventure.	Read review
JVL	DonBear	8.5 / 10	12-30-2020	Call of the Sea is a success. Taking the best of Firewatch as well as Lovecraft’s books, Out of the Blue has managed to digest its inspirations to mix them and offer a moving story.	Read review
KeenGamer	Andy J. Dobeson	8 / 10	12-15-2020	Call of the Sea dares to ask a question no game has ever asked before	Read review
New Game Network	Ben Thomas	78 / 100	12-17-2020	Call of the Sea is a new take on Lovecraft’s lore with a vivid introduction that enhances the moments when the game transitions into darker waters. With an interesting story and solid puzzles, it is an adventure game worth playing.	Read review
Noisy Pixel	Unknown	8 / 10	12-08-2020	Call of the Sea is a puzzle adventure that should be played by all fans of the genre. Its writing and environments are strikingly immersive as the player and Norah find themselves traveling deeper down this rabbit hole of mystery. There are moments of confusion in its design, but all the tools are present to explore this beautifully charming adventure; my only wish is that it was longer.	Read review
PC Invasion	Andrew Farrell	8 / 10	12-08-2020	Call of the Sea might have an overly familiar premise and some less-than-stellar puzzles, but it’s a gorgeous, enjoyable game boosted by strong production values and involved world design.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Garri Bagdasarov	7 / 10	05-12-2021	Call of the Sea puts all its eggs into its puzzles. They’re fun to solve and feel as rewarding as slaying a boss in some of the most difficult games. The mysterious island Norah explores is gorgeous and full of mysteries that even Nathan Drake would appreciate. It’s just a shame that its narrative is such a letdown. Norah may be the main character but I think Harry’s adventure would have made a more compelling narrative.	Read review
Push Square	Jade Sayers	6 / 10	05-11-2021	Aesthetically, the game looks really pretty and is totally evocative of its 1930s setting. The game is plagued with hammy dialogue that makes it feel totally campy and like an old B-movie, but not altogether terrible when coupled with the Lovecraftian influence it draws on. Call of the Sea is a mostly fun puzzle game that falls short on the mystery it tries to have you unveil. While it looks aesthetically pleasing and ticks a lot of boxes for its period setting, the story is lacklustre and predictable.	Read review
Screen Rant	Rob Gordon	4.5 / 5 stars	12-08-2020	Call Of The Sea is a real surprise. A perfectly-paced puzzle adventure that manages to pour more than the expected amount of heart into its story, it manages to combine a number of disparate elements into a hugely enjoyable game, and certainly not one to be missed.	Read review
SECTOR.sk	Jakub Pokorný	9 / 10	12-30-2020	Finding missing husband is amusing and island is full of puzzle and beauty.	Read review
SelectButton	Marcus Jones	8 / 10	12-09-2020	I think Call of the Sea has something to offer a variety of gamers. The puzzles are fun, challenging, and genuinely make you learn more about the world around you and Norah’s personal challenges. On top of that, learning more about Norah herself and what has caused her illness is a huge draw – it’s one of those mysteries you want to figure out more and more as things progress. The bright, popping visuals and simplistic gameplay all tie this into a pretty good bow for those who want to give it a shot.	Read review
SomHráč.sk	Daniel Palička	75 / 100	12-29-2020	Call of the Sea is a game that definitely has something going for it. If you’re looking for a brief relaxing distraction, you’re at the right place despite several minor annoyances.	Read review
SpazioGames	Unknown	7.6 / 10	12-17-2020	Intriguing and fascinating, Call of the Sea is a worthy new addition to Xbox Game Pass.	Read review
TechRaptor	Kate Mitchell Jewett	7 / 10	01-23-2021	Call of the Sea is a visually stunning game offering a compelling story hidden behind a mixed bag of puzzles and a few frustrating pacing decisions.	Read review
The Games Machine	Claudio Magistrelli	8 / 10	12-14-2020	What a surprise Call of the Sea was! Out of the Blue’s debut title shows off its own well-defined personality through a very accurate artistic direction and attention to details. All puzzles have their own logic and the idea of proposing them in blocks, separating the adventure into sealed chapters, helps to focus attention on a limited number of elements. With its crazy atmosphere and an eight-hours duration, which prevents any kind of fatigue, Call of the Sea is a highly recommended game for adventure’s (and Lovecraft’s) lovers.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Steve C	9 / 10	12-08-2020	Call of the Sea’s original setting, narrative, and overall feel totally hooked me – even when I wasn’t playing I found myself working over the puzzles in my head. If you’re a fan of emotional stories and challenging logical puzzles then you should dive straight into this adventure.	Read review
Unboxholics	Λεωνίδας Στραβάκος	Not Recommended	12-14-2020	Call of the Sea looks like a blend of a walking sim game with puzzle aspects, that in general will satisfy your appetite if you’re a veteran of games like Myst and Riven. In no way this game is intended for casual gamers because the lack of guidance and sense of ambiguity will get on your nerves. These Lovecraftian moments and aspects of the story are incorporated in a fantastic manner through the game. In the end, It doesn’t have to be groundbreaking for something to be satisfying and unique and that’s exactly what it is.	Read review
VGChartz	Lee Mehr	7.5 / 10	12-31-2020	Fitting for this studio’s name, Out of the Blue’s puzzle-adventure debut resonates due to its mechanical challenge and atypical approach to Lovecraftian fiction.	Read review
Video Chums	A.J. Maciejewski	8 / 10	01-30-2021	As far as first-person adventure games go, Call of the Sea is a somewhat short and memorable one that you’ll be glad you experienced.	Read review
VideoGamer	Josh Wise	7 / 10	02-05-2021	Who would have thought that the solution to madness might be marriage?	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Heidi Hawes	8 / 10	12-23-2020	Call of the Sea wasn’t quite what I expected, but that’s not a bad thing. It surprised me in a lot of ways. While the ending was easy to guess early on, the writing for the rest of the story was so strong that I still found it compelling.	Read review
Wccftech	Rosh Kelly	8.9 / 10	12-09-2020	Call of the Sea is a gripping, interesting, and creative take on the Lovecraftian formula. It moves away from the oft-trodden horror roots and creates an imaginative and immersive puzzle adventure with none of the lingering racism you might expect.	Read review
Worth Playing	Chris Barnes	7.5 / 10	12-23-2020	These gripes didn’t detract too much from my overall enjoyment of Call of the Sea . With a gripping, well-paced story that isn’t afraid to delve into the realm of surreal and weird, Call of the Sea is an adventure title that’s sure to please fans of the genre. You won’t feel like the next Einstein when completing its puzzles, and the love story won’t bring you to tears, but there’s something charming about it for that very reason. It’s a concise, seven-hour journey that progresses at a steady rate without ever overstaying its welcome.	Read review
Xbox Achievements	Richard Walker	80 / 100	12-08-2020	A thoroughly enjoyable first-person adventure brimming with mystery, intrigue and intricate, well-thought-out puzzles, Call of the Sea is a journey into the unknown that proves both rewarding and memorable.	Read review
Zoomg	Mohammad Hossein Jafari	7 / 10	01-04-2021	Call of the Sea tells the story of Norah and her meaningful journey to an island. This journey has some ups and downs, and you can say that the ups are more often and more important at the end of the day. I think that perfectly describes the game itself as well; A good adventure game that could really be better in some aspects.	Read review

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About Call of the Sea

Game Description / Storyline:

Call of the Sea is a first-person adventure puzzle game set in the 1930s that tells the story of Norah, a woman on the trail of her missing husband’s expedition. The search takes place on a strange but beautiful island in the South Pacific, filled with secrets waiting to be unearthed. It’s an otherworldly tale of mystery, adventure, and self-discovery.

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