Highwater

Item: Highwater
Rating: 59
Author: VaporLens

Last updated: 2025-06-14

Summary

Compelling story, characters, and world-building.
Excellent music and radio enhance the experience.
Strategic and engaging turn-based combat system.
Unique and beautiful post-apocalyptic setting.
Camera and controls are problematic.
Combat feels slow, repetitive, and uninspired.

Reviews (sample size): 88
Helpful reviews: 90%
Unhelpful reviews: 10%
Protest reviews: 0%

59%
Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
41%
Helpful reviews with negative sentiment

Positive points: 180
Negative points: 178
Gameplay points: 73
Perf. points: 7
Rec. points: 65
Misc points: 30

Point	Description	Importance
Compelling story, characters, world Description The game features a compelling narrative, memorable characters, and excellent world-building. The story explores themes of hope, friendship, and survival, enhanced by well-written dialogue and a melancholic atmosphere. The music and sound design are also praised for complementing the narrative and world. Importance 91%	The game features a compelling narrative, memorable characters, and excellent world-building. The story explores themes of hope, friendship, and survival, enhanced by well-written dialogue and a melancholic atmosphere. The music and sound design are also praised for complementing the narrative and world.	91%
Excellent music and radio integration Description The game features an exceptional soundtrack with bittersweet alternative and indie music, enhancing the atmosphere and complementing the game's themes. The radio, featuring a returning host and pirate radio tunes, adds significantly to the road trip atmosphere and is considered one of the best aspects of the game. Importance 91%	The game features an exceptional soundtrack with bittersweet alternative and indie music, enhancing the atmosphere and complementing the game's themes. The radio, featuring a returning host and pirate radio tunes, adds significantly to the road trip atmosphere and is considered one of the best aspects of the game.	91%
Strategic, engaging turn-based combat Description The turn-based combat system is enjoyable and strategic, encouraging players to use character abilities, manage equipment, and utilize the interactive environments to their advantage. Encounters can be resolved peacefully or through strategic thinking rather than relying solely on powerful weapons. Importance 85%	The turn-based combat system is enjoyable and strategic, encouraging players to use character abilities, manage equipment, and utilize the interactive environments to their advantage. Encounters can be resolved peacefully or through strategic thinking rather than relying solely on powerful weapons.	85%
Unique, beautiful post-apocalyptic setting Description The game is set in a unique and beautifully rendered post-apocalyptic world, where a climate catastrophe has turned Earth into an archipelago. The visuals combine low-poly elements with a rich color palette, creating a distinct and visually pleasing atmosphere. Importance 79%	The game is set in a unique and beautifully rendered post-apocalyptic world, where a climate catastrophe has turned Earth into an archipelago. The visuals combine low-poly elements with a rich color palette, creating a distinct and visually pleasing atmosphere.	79%
Witty humor and social commentary Description The game incorporates witty humor and comedic situations, offering a sarcastic look at society and politics. It also includes musical numbers integrated into the narrative and references to local newspapers and books. Importance 12%	The game incorporates witty humor and comedic situations, offering a sarcastic look at society and politics. It also includes musical numbers integrated into the narrative and references to local newspapers and books.	12%
Additional stories unlock post-game Description The game features additional chapters and stories that add narrative depth and provide a bonus after completing the main story. These additions offer further exploration of the game's world and characters. Importance 10%	The game features additional chapters and stories that add narrative depth and provide a bonus after completing the main story. These additions offer further exploration of the game's world and characters.	10%
No bugs encountered Description Reviewers reported encountering no bugs during their playthroughs, indicating a stable and polished game experience. Importance 4%	Reviewers reported encountering no bugs during their playthroughs, indicating a stable and polished game experience.	4%