Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 80 | 174 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 83% | 76 | 721 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 84 | 65 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 84% | 78 | 1183 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jun 12, 2026) · 387 reviews sampled · 1183 total reviews in window · weighted 248.9 up / 51.3 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (102)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 75
“The Sinking City 2 is considered a very courageous and bold step from Frogwares studio, and a tangible success in shifting from open investigation to pure survival horror in the footsteps of games like Alan Wake 2 and Resident Evil. The game succeeded in delivering a terrifying and visually stunning Lovecraftian atmosphere, with focused level design and highly enjoyable puzzles. Despite this quantum leap, the game suffered from some design contradictions; most notably breaking survival rules by providing unlimited resources in key encounters, alongside voice acting that did not rise to the level of the story. If you are a fan of survival horror and enjoy dark atmospheres and smart puzzles, the experience offers an enjoyable journey worth attention, even if some of its aspects cracked under the rubble of combat details.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The Sinking City 2 is a linear and utterly derivative game that is nonetheless well-crafted and visually stunning. That said, it can still be enjoyable if you ignore its toothless political agenda and a number of idiotic design choices. This budget Resident Evil clone can very well hold its own against other horror projects on the indie scene, which is no small achievement.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Sinking City 2 is a good survival horror game, but it is a very different sequel to the original. Frogwares has traded the investigation-driven open world for a more focused and conventional survival horror experience, and while the change works surprisingly well, it also removes much of the personality that made the first game stand out. The atmospheric environments, terrifying enemies, satisfying exploration, and decent combat make The Sinking City 2 an enjoyable horror experience, but longtime fans may find themselves missing the investigative identity of the original. If you approach it as a standalone survival horror game rather than expecting another The Sinking City, there is plenty to enjoy.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Sinking City 2 is a game that bring nothing new to the table and doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, which can be very disappointing as this title comes from a studio who has always been one of the most unique in the industry. Despite that, The Sinking City 2 is a very well crafted Survival Horror experience that fans of the genre should take the time to enjoy. Its fast-paced gameplay, fun set pieces, and Lovecraftian horror elements allows the title to stand alongside the titans it is derived from.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“In the new The Sinking City, developers at Frogwares have swapped the detective-occultist gameplay for a survival horror experience. It’s a truly successful step into the genre: the combat is satisfying, and the environmental puzzles are highly inventive and engaging. Fans of the genre should keep The Sinking City 2 in mind. Those who enjoyed the first game may feel a slight disappointment, and although I initially had mixed feelings too, I ended up having a lot of fun with the game. Frogwares took a risk by ditching the detective elements, but it’s worked out very well.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Sinking City 2 is a classic success story in an industry that has often proven inhospitable. Frogwares shows courage in setting aside much of its detective-game identity to embrace a survival horror title inspired by the genre’s classics but decidedly more action-oriented, succeeding for the most part in achieving the desired result. The narrative is full of surprises, and the technical aspects demonstrate commendable scalability even on older hardware. There are still a few rough edges, an action pace that isn’t always well-calibrated and a monster roster that’s a bit too sparse, but overall, this is one of the most successful survival horror games of the year, capable of doing justice to Lovecraft’s creative genius without ever losing sight of the fun.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While it suffers from occasional missteps in combat design and enemy pacing, The Sinking City 2 successfully evolves the franchise into an essential Lovecraftian survival horror experience through its rewarding exploration, brilliant puzzles, and atmospheric, highly detailed world.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The Sinking City 2 proves that cosmic horror still has entire worlds to devour. Frogwares crafts a terrifying, tense, and oppressive experience that transforms Lovecraft’s myths into a playable, beautiful, and unsettling nightmare. Although its performance issues mar some moments, its atmosphere, narrative, and design turn every descent into Arkham into a journey into the unknown.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The Sinking City 2 is a confident modern survival horror that pairs a beautifully realized, rain-soaked Arkham with excellent atmosphere, responsive gunplay, accessible puzzles, and a surprisingly polished technical state. Enemy variety is limited and some encounters become frustratingly chaotic, especially without proper melee weapons, but Frogwares’ tighter and more focused approach makes this one of the studio’s strongest games to date.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Sinking City 2 doesn't quite reach the level of polish in some of the lesser recent RE Engine Resident Evil entries, nor does it have what it takes to contend with the recent Silent Hill revival or even newcomers like Cronos: The New Dawn. It's a bit too derivative at its worst, and the looming shadow of its rotten predecessor still grips its design philosophy. It's a dramatic improvement for the most part, if a bit generic. There's a solid foundation here to be sure, even if it's still waterlogged. Horror fans will likely enjoy their time in Arkham due to the ambience and monsters, but it still needs more of an X-factor to go toe-to-toe with the major leagues.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Sinking City 2 is an excellent survival horror game. It delivers an intense journey with captivating characters whose stories I enjoyed following throughout the campaign.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The Sinking City 2 is a solid attempt at the classic survival horror formula that'll please those looking for preposterous puzzle design and tense resource management. A smaller development budget means the performances aren't quite up to the standards of the genre's biggest names, but Frogwares still has an admirable Resident Evil-esque effort on its hands. This is good - sometimes really good.”
read full review ↗
Eternal Games
GameMAG
GamesHedge
Raider King
GRYOnline.pl
STWGames Italia
EvelonGames
JsemGamer
Cubed3
Pizza Fria
Push Square…and 90 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- The Sinking City 2 — Hotfix 1.0.2Aug 21, 2026
- The Sinking City 2 — Hotfix 1.0.1Aug 19, 2026
- The Sinking City 2 Demo. Patch Notes #1Jun 12, 2026significant · resets scoring window