There are very few games that can deliver an emotional punch like Journey. A decade after its release, the experience of Journey has yet to truly be replicated. From its nonexistent UI to its unusual mechanics to its unexpected emotional appeal, Journey is truly one-of-a-kind.
At the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Giant Squid—a studio founded by the creators of Journey—revealed their latest title, Sword of the Sea, and the similarities to Journey were immediately apparent. While Giant Squid has released a handful of Journey-like titles such as Abzu and The Pathless, Sword of the Sea takes players back to where it all started: the desert.
How Sword of the Sea Compares to Journey
The first and most obvious comparison between Journey and Sword of the Sea is the art style. The brief trailer for Sword of the Sea shows off the classic Giant Squid style that has been employed in all of their titles: a desaturated, matte finish, minimalist yet grandiose level design, and atypical camera work. Not only is the style easy on the eyes, but it's one of many factors about Journey that have aged well, and it actually serves a functional purpose. Since Giant Squid games offer less in the way of guidance, they implore players to explore the world and engage with their surroundings. By default, they become a learning experience. Sword of the Sea should be no different.
While it may sound like a knock against it, Journey is, at its core, one of the best walking simulators ever made. Of course, the beauty of Journey lies in its mystery and exploration thereof, and its lack of complicated mechanics allows players to immerse themselves more completely. Sword of the Sea might have found the perfect recipe for players that prefer a bit more involved gameplay while still offering the fundamentally emotional experience of Journey.
Sword of the Sea is built around a surfing mechanic. The trailer shows a player carving around sand dunes, performing a front flip, and performing tricks in a half-pipe-like structure. If first impressions are anything to go on, Sword of the Sea looks like it will offer the same intrigue and emotional appeal as Journey but with a more interesting movement mechanic. Since the landscape of Sword of the Sea is constantly moving in waves—even the sand dunes—players will be able to surf around for the entire experience.
What Sword of the Sea is About
Sword of the Sea promises to offer a meditative, intriguing experience like all of Giant Squid's previous zero-dialogue games. The player will take control of the Wraith and seek to return the desert landscape back to life. The trailer shows the Wraith interacting with areas in the game and transforming them from featureless sand dunes into thriving aquatic realms.
Ultimately, Sword of the Sea resembles a blend between Journey and Giant Squid's Abzu, tangling the exploration of a harsh desert landscape and the underwater setting of games like Subnautica, Abzu, and others. As the Wraith surfs around the liquid, ever-shifting landscape, restoring areas back to life, players must also avoid massive creatures that inhabit the desert and look to impede them in their quest.
While initial details are relatively scarce surrounding Sword of the Sea, the trailer suggests that fans of Journey have a title to look forward to. It also resembles Journey in a manner that not even Giant Squid's other titles Abzu and The Pathless do. As with all Giant Squid titles, though, players should anticipate far more than a fun surfing experience and prepare themselves for an emotional gut punch at some point during their playthrough.
Sword of the Sea is currently in development for PS5.
