Still Wakes the Deep Review – Horror, Rust, and Eldritch Nightmares on a 1970s Oil Rig

TL;DR

A North Sea oil rig turns into the world’s loudest haunted house; imagine The Thing stuck on scaffolding while the weather tries to kill you out of spite.

https://youtu.be/JmLNTFofED8?si=xamRlB5kZkuMpIEf

Villain Power Ranking

The villain is… everything. The storm, the steel, and an eldritch “absolutely not” slithering through the pipes. It doesn’t need a haircut; it needs a hazard sign. You wouldn’t invite it on a bank job—you’d run, trip, scream, and then run faster.

Scare Factor

Dread-first, jump-second. You’ll grip the pad every time the rig groans like it’s about to fold in half (because it is). 8/10: “pants at risk, consider dark laundry.”

The Prey & Law IQ Test

Cops? None. It’s the 1970s on a North Sea platform—no cavalry, no signal, no OSHA help line (only their beloved yellow paint). Enemies aren’t masterminds, but they’re relentless, and the environment outsmarts everyone.

Opposition IQ: Brutally practical. 

Gameplay & Chaos Factor

• Core loop: Run, climb, squeeze, stealth, fix something terrifying, then leg it again. No combat—survival by wits and door handles.

• Freedom vs Railroad: Laser‑linear thriller with clear signposting (yes, legally yellow).

• Brains Needed: Light puzzles and spatial awareness; more “keep calm, don’t slip” than “solve Fermat.”

• Difficulty: Fair checkpoints; Story Mode exists if you mainly want the tale and the terror.

• Fun Factor: If you like narrative horror that squeezes your lungs, it sings. If you crave sandbox murder-sim, this is a sermon on not dying.

Style & Atmosphere

Grim 70s industry chic: orange hi‑viz, steel grating, and sideways rain. Audio is thunderous—much of the “music” is the rig ripping itself apart. It’s gorgeous, soggy, and miserable in the best way.

Villain Performance Rating

• You as villain: Not a villain—just a very damp electrician staying alive with bravado and ladders.

• The Big Bad: Cosmic HR policy: “No survivors.” Terrifying, stylishly unknowable. Join the cult? Hard pass.

• NPCs: Convincing, sweary Scots who sell the crisis. Performances and accents do heavy lifting. (BAFTA hardware agrees.)

Mayhem Quality Control

Highlights are white‑knuckle escapes, exterior catwalk slogs in hurricane conditions, and claustrophobic crawls where every bolt looks like a grave marker. Fewer “gotcha” jumps, more “my palms are waterfalls.”

Criminal Mastermind Score (CMS)

• Villain Power & Style: 8.5/10 (nature + nightmare = divorce the ocean)

• Scare Factor / Tension: 8/10 (sustained dread over cheap shocks)

• Brains Required: 5/10 (keep moving, use cover, breathe)

• Freedom to Be Bad: 2/10 (you’re prey, not predator; very guided)

• Fun Factor: 8/10 (tight, tense, handsome)

• Outcome Satisfaction: 7.5/10 (story-first experience with a tidy runtime ~6 hours)

Overall CMS: 7.3/10 — A maritime nightmare worth surviving, preferably in dry trousers.

Best Criminal Lessons to Steal

• When the sea starts singing, don’t duet—evacuate.

• Yellow paint isn’t hand‑holding; it’s survival flirting. Follow it. PC Gamer

• If a door says “keep closed,” assume it’s guarding Scotland’s angriest secret.

Final Verdict

A ferociously atmospheric sprint through steel and storm—more terror ballet than brawler—and one of the slickest “don’t die” tours you’ll take this decade.

Mini‑FAQ — Still Wakes the Deep

Q1: Do I get guns or glorious villainy?

Nope. This is hide‑and‑hustle survival, not a power fantasy. You’re the snack; the rig is the shark.

Q2: How hard and how long?

Moderate tension, generous checkpoints, optional Story Mode. Expect roughly a long evening or two (~6 hours).

Q3: Platforms and state of the port?

Launched June 18, 2024 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S (also on Game Pass). PC had some launch‑week performance grumbles, later improved—but check your rig.