Still Wakes the Deep is a tense, taught thriller that ultimately gives too little away

If you like taut, intense narrative horror games that feel like a AAA horror movie, then you can probably just go ahead and download Still Wakes the Deep right now. This deeply authentic exploration of a 1970’s oil rig looks, feels and sounds as authentic as it gets, and whilst I loved the characters, the script and the Colours Out of Space vibes, I wish it had just a bit more connection to home.

Playing as the newly-resident rig electrician Still Wakes the Deep‘s protagonist, Cameron “Caz” McLeary, players begin their journey by exploring the more mundane aspects of the Breira D rig, learning some of its quirks and most importantly, its scale. As it turns out, oil rigs are gigantic structures with winding corridors, storage rooms and maze-like stairwells. The Breira D just became the most obviously underused setting for a horror-themed experience I could possibly imagine.

With the uncaring and overzealous Rennick in control, it isn’t long before the trouble begins. What seems like a gas pocket or some other drilling anomaly soon reveals its true nature, and Caz is thrown into a nightmare from which there is no waking. What Still Wakes the Deep does incredibly well is use the physical aspects of the rig to emphasise just how awful things can be.

From creeping through near pitch black pump rooms to being chased down once familiar hallways, Still Wakes the Deep delivers terror in every form. There are relatively few jump scares, but the three or four that do happen (usually followed by a chase) are powerful and effective. 

Aside from these, there are several sections where Caz must navigate his way past hostile ex-crewmates who are unaware of him. There are a few ways to do this, but creeping from one dark corner to another, or through the many ducts and vents is one of them. Another is to use spanners or cans left lying around to distract the would-be attacker. 

These sneaking sections are less satisfying than the chases, but still serve to create tension in the experience due to just how awful some of the enemies are. Each enemy retains the original character of the crewmate that it once was, and so you have some fascinating moments where a one time friend will try and appeal to Caz — begging for some release that never comes — or where a less pleasant rival might try to taunt you into showing yourself.

Immersion in the narrative is everywhere in Still Wakes the Deep, from the crewmates turned creatures as I’ve just described above, down to the actual physical environment. As the story progresses, the Beira D becomes increasingly unstable until entire sections are shearing away or submerged. Some of the very best sections feature no enemies at all, but instead see Caz on a desperate mission to swim through a flooded section of the rig.

Where I felt Still Wakes the Deep was in the more human narrative. Caz is clearly well liked by his crewmates and has one good friend — Roy — who he shares a particularly strong bond with. It’s made clear early on that Caz committed a crime of some kind and is wanted by the police, so going to the Breira D is part of his rather clumsy plan to lay low for a while. 

Through letters and flashbacks, we also learn that Caz is married with two children, and due to his actions and his decision to head to an offshore rig for what will probably be six months, his marriage is in jeopardy. I enjoyed these flashbacks and glimpses of home life during the first half of the game, but in the later scenes (and especially at the end) I found myself underwhelmed with the way that Still Wakes the Deep linked the two narratives together.

Similarly, I was also disappointed at how linear Still Wakes the Deep is, despite one fairly obvious late game decision that can change the outcome just slightly. That said, a game like this has to have a strong story with a clear ending — and Still Wakes the Deep does have that. No spoilers here, but if you spend the 6-8 hours that this game takes to play, you won’t be too disappointed by how it ends.

Still Wakes the Deep is probably the best narrative horror game I’ve played. From the chases and QTE sequences to the scale of the Breira D oil rig on which it is set, a lot of thought has gone into this game mechanically, and you’ll do far more “exploring” than you’d see in almost any other walking simulator. Equally, the horror sections and the narrative itself are satisfying, with my only issue really being that slight disconnect between Caz’s home life and the otherworldly experience he has on the oil rig. A very strong recommendation from me.

Still Wakes the Deep is available on Xbox, PlayStation and PC.