We live in a world of story-rich games. Of course there’s Baldur’s Gate 3, then newcomers like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and South of Midnight, with old favorites like the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series feeling like timeless classics. For me, The Sinking City is one of those iconic narrative-driven adventures, thrusting you into the bowels of Oakmont, a once-bustling metropolis that’s slowly falling into the sea. Lovecraftian horrors stalk the streets, every shadow is a threat, and now it’s back, ahead of its sequel, in Unreal Engine 5.
Set in a twisted version of the 1920s, The Sinking City casts you as a private investigator who’s determined to uncover Oakmont’s dark secrets. Pitted against the region’s former inhabitants, who have been driven mad by mysterious supernatural forces, you need to piece together clues, track down leads, and try not to get brutally murdered by the RPG’s myriad horrors. No pressure, then.
But The Sinking City isn’t an LA Noire-style experience, where there’s a right answer or specific approach. You can solve your various cases in different ways, using a collection of clues and tricks to wind your way through Oakmont’s waterlogged streets. As someone who loves puzzle games (even if she’s not very good at them), this was one of The Sinking City’s real highlights.
Shooting monsters in the face, however, is also pretty satisfying. Equipped with an arsenal of period weaponry, you’ll have to face off against Oakmont’s former residents, each of which have been twisted and corrupted in their own unique, mind-bending ways. Don’t trust anyone – especially not women looking for help on top of cars. That sounds very specific, but just take my word on it.
The new remaster brings all of this chaos to life in full, 4k gory glory, reimagining the world of Oakmont in Unreal Engine 5 and enhancing a lot of its textures. There’s a new photo mode, various gameplay adjustments, and some new accessibility features, too, but the main focus is the visual polish and, honestly, it’s gorgeous.
Frogwares has shadow dropped its remaster of The Sinking City, so it’s available right now on Steam. You can pick it up for half price ($19.99 / £18.50), until Monday May 19, and, if you already own the game, you’ll receive the remastered version for free. Just head over to Steam.
If you, like me, love narrative-heavy adventures and getting caught in suspicious, often bloody rain, check out our rundown of the best story games. Alternatively, if you’re more excited for The Sinking City 2, we’ve got a list of all the upcoming PC games for 2025 and beyond.
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