Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest

“As the descent continues and outside negative pressure multiplies, Siren's Rest's initial intrigue quickly begins to crack and then subsequently crumples like a soda can.”

“Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest looks amazing and features some incredible voice work - but, ultimately it's too short and only adds more questions to the equation.”

“Those who enjoyed the walking simulator developed by The Chinese Room now have a very original expansion.”

“If this had been offered for free, or even bundled into a definitive edition of Still Wakes the Deep, it might be easier to forgive. But asking players to pay for this feels like a breach of trust. It offers very little in return for your time or money.”

“For those hoping that this DLC will provide answers to what the Beira D drilled into in 1975, or even just an experience of exploring more of the crew's stories, you will be disappointed in Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest. But if it's simply more Still Wakes the Deep content that you're looking for, no matter the direction, then this DLC provides.”

“For those who loved Still Wakes the Deep, Siren’s Rest is an appropriately thrilling epilogue.”

“Still Wakes the Deep presented an intriguing tale to build off of, but Siren's Rest isn't it, wasting its lead's impressive performance and failing to provide any real - or interesting - answers.”

“Siren's Rest is a solid DLC in its own right, capable of creating a strong atmosphere and at times feeling like a diving simulator. However, its technical issues significantly hold it back from fully showcasing its strengths.”

“Siren's Rest dives deeper but surfaces with less - a murky, meandering return that dredges up atmosphere but offers no real answers.”

“Siren's Rest is an enjoyable, if a little short, dive beneath Still Wakes the Deep's waves that doesn't capitalise on its strong narrative, leaving players a little unsatisfied. The premise and setting do manage to build some solid tension, but it never elevates to a genuine scare factor that would take the experience to the next level.”

“The premise of Siren's Rest is strong enough to plumb the depths of Still Wakes the Deep's enduring mysteries, but as a compact story DLC, it's just too shallow. The principal goal of tracking down collectibles siphons the tension from its claustrophobic environments, and The Chinese Room's overreliance on scripted sequences creates missed opportunities for emergent horror.”

“Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest takes you back to the Beira D 10 years later, exploring the wreckage as it lies on the sea bed. It's an incredibly clever way to introduce an expansion, and the Beira D is perhaps even more eerie and atmospheric than it was the first time around. I've loved every moment with it — I just wish it was a little longer.”

“We’re sure that if you’re a fan of the base game, you’ll likely get some enjoyment here, as there are some genuine moments of tension, and we loved getting to hear wee tidbits about the Beira D disaster. However, what it does more than anything else is make us want to go back and play the base game.”

“For me, Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest is a fun and interesting title, as it provided me with plenty of answers to questions I already had while also providing new questions as it took me through detailed and challenging gameplay mechanics.”

“I find myself very conflicted with rating this game. On one hand, Siren’s Rest has built one of the most convincing terrifying underwater playgrounds I have seen in years. It is bleak and beautiful in the same breath and really does an amazing job at bringing you back to the events of the first game in the most depressing way possible. On the flip side, the gameplay is relatively tame. I don’t mind an “on the rails” narrative adventure, and they do a great job at that aspect of the DLC, but the gameplay and lack of many of the horror elements present in the base game are bound to make fans drawn to it’s Lovecraftian undertones a little disappointed.”

“Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest is an emotional dive back to the Beira D oil rig, with some seriously tense moments and a whole lot of heart.”

“A too short affair with a real threat at the conclusion of Siren’s Rest means a lot of the game is spent swimming and gathering narrative exposition rather than fighting for survival as in Still Wakes the Deep. Luckily, the story told is engaging enough to pull us through the few hours it takes, and the sense of being at the bottom of the North Sea is convincing enough to be its own threat for those of us who aren’t super keen on the water as it is. I’m not sure if it helped or hindered my preparation for real life though…”