Deepest Trench Review Summary

Great for co-op with an interesting underwater theme and good story and voice acting, but lacks a checkpoint system and online co-op, and puzzles are dull.

Great for co-op: The co-op experience is highly praised, especially for playing with a friend, partner, or spouse, making it ideal for duo play.

Interesting underwater theme: The underwater setting and premise of investigation make the game interesting and unique, with a moody atmosphere.

Good story and voice acting: The story is well done, fully voice acted, and enhances the overall experience with great backstory and surprises.

Fun and enjoyable gameplay: Players consistently report that the game is fun and enjoyable, with engaging gameplay that keeps them coming back.

Immersive atmosphere: The atmosphere is described as dark, heavy, thrilling, and haunting, with excellent deep-sea mood and predator tension.

No checkpoint system: Multiple reports indicate the lack of checkpoints, with death forcing a chapter restart and loss of progress. This is a core frustration across clusters 1, 27, 30, 35, 42, 47, 53, and 59.

No online co-op: The game lacks online co-op, only supporting Remote Play Together, which is described as glitchy, setup-heavy, and poor for remote players. Clusters 5, 12, 25, 33, 39, 65.

Poor graphics: Graphics are called rough, like early 2000s, needing optimization, and not the greatest. Clusters 6, 22, 29, 43, 60.

Dull puzzles: Puzzles are described as dull, uninspired, poorly paced, and sometimes obtuse, with a battery-collecting task singled out as the worst. Clusters 4, 51, 52, 61.

Boring and repetitive: The game is considered boring and repetitive, especially in solo play due to to-and-fro swimming and character switching. Clusters 18, 40, 45, 46.

Underwater puzzle adventure: The setting is an underwater environment focused on puzzle-solving and exploration. The game blends a narrative-driven adventure with chapter-based puzzle missions.

Strong co-op focus: The game heavily emphasizes cooperative play, supporting remote play, split-screen, and local co-op for two players. Multiple reviews highlight the necessity of teamwork and problem-solving.

Solo character switching: In single-player mode, players alternate between two characters to overcome challenges. This mechanic is a key part of both solo and co-op gameplay.

Short gameplay length: The game is relatively short, with a playtime of approximately 5-6 hours. This is consistently noted across reviews, indicating a concise experience.

Survival and oxygen management: Oxygen levels and pressure create urgency and are core survival elements. Resource management adds depth beyond simple puzzle-solving.

Graphics and atmosphere praised: Players appreciate the strong atmosphere and good visual quality. However, some note that optimization is needed for smoother performance.

Performance issues during cutscenes: Dialogue cutscenes suffer from lag, and cinematic sequences are especially heavy on PC. Smooth overall performance is noted by some.

UI and clarity problems: The user interface is considered weak, with unreliable map and objective systems that hinder player guidance.

Mixed audio and writing quality: Voice acting is decent but the writing is uneven, pulling down the overall audio experience.

Recommended for co-op: The game is frequently recommended for cooperative play, especially for couples, casual gamers, or those seeking shared experiences. It is seen as perfect for duo streams and teamwork.

Positive general recommendation: Many reviewers simply rate the game positively, with scores like 8.5/10 or 10/10, and express hope others will enjoy it. They recommend giving it a try.

Wait for improvements: Some reviewers advise waiting for the game, citing issues with usability and navigation that need fixes. Others suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing.

Not worth the price: Several reviewers feel the game is not worth its current price point, with one strongly advising not to waste time. This suggests a value-for-money concern.

Not for solo play: The game is not recommended for solo play, indicating it is primarily designed as a co-op experience. This is a key limitation for single players.

Game completion: 6.0h.

The game provides immediate fun in co-op for about an hour, but poorly paced puzzles, unclear objectives, and awkward controls turn the experience into a slog afterward for many players.

Friction: Unclear map and objective markers; Awkward camera and swim controls; Puzzle pacing issues causing tedium; Lack of online multiplayer (local co-op only); Unfocused narrative that doesn't hook.

Unlock drivers: Co-op coordination and communication; Voice acting and story surprises; Speed running replayability after first playthrough.

Co-op Duo Enthusiasts: Play with a partner, communicate, solve puzzles together, enjoy shared scares and discoveries. Motivation: Shared cooperative experience and bonding with a partner. Stance: buy.

Solo Critics: Play solo, manage oxygen and tasks, sometimes struggle with multi-person requirements. Motivation: Story discovery. Stance: deep sale.

Story-First Explorers: Explore environments, follow story, enjoy atmosphere and voice acting. Motivation: Narrative immersion and mystery discovery. Stance: buy.