The Sinking City 2: A Flawed Yet Captivating Survival Horror Experience Drawing Inspiration from Modern Resident Evil

Very few games manage to make me feel genuinely uneasy, but Frogwares’ latest Lovecraftian survival horror title, The Sinking City 2, is one of those rare experiences that had me saying “Bleh.” This game is packed with grotesque worms, unsettling growths, and an abundance of slime. Despite its overabundance of combat encounters, I had a blast navigating this eerie adventure.

Available now on PC and consoles, The Sinking City 2 serves as a standalone sequel to 2019’s The Sinking City. You don’t need to have played the first game to dive into this one, as it introduces a new cast of characters in a different New England city and unfolds a fresh narrative that stands apart from its predecessor.

Not only is the story distinct, but The Sinking City 2 also shifts genres entirely. While the original was a narrative-driven detective adventure with some lackluster combat, this sequel embraces a third-person survival horror style reminiscent of Capcom’s recent Resident Evil remakes.

Initially, I was skeptical about Frogwares’ ability to pull off this genre transition, but after a few hours, I found myself too engrossed in the tension—counting bullets and health items—to remember that the studio’s last outing wasn’t a survival horror game. The shift to Resident Evil-style action horror is a resounding success.

A significant factor in The Sinking City 2’s triumph as a survival horror game is its meticulously crafted levels, which exude a properly grotesque and creepy atmosphere. Set in Arkham, Massachusetts, a city succumbing to the sea, players encounter a flood of unnatural, grotesque worms that animate the dead, becoming one of the primary threats to protagonist Calvin Rafferty. And that’s just the beginning of the cosmic horrors you’ll face during the roughly 10-hour journey, including various side missions that I’ll leave for you to discover.

You might be wondering why Calvin is wandering through a decaying city filled with worm-infested zombies and other monstrosities. He’s on a quest to save a woman he loves, who is trapped in a magical coma after a spell gone awry. Time is of the essence, as he races against the clock to find answers before they’re lost to the depths.

To rescue her and himself, Calvin must traverse several key locations in Arkham, each more unsettling than the last. From a creepy hospital to a rundown nightclub housing a particularly nasty character in need of assistance, these areas are designed to enhance the horror experience. They’re expansive enough to require some navigation, but not so vast that they feel empty or tedious to explore. The nightclub, in particular, excels at using tight corridors and ambushes to create a sense of dread, pushing you into spaces most would avoid. But to progress, you’ll need to find the necessary keys, gears, or other odd items.

Much like Resident Evil, The Sinking City 2 populates these levels with the aforementioned creatures and undead foes. Managing your ammo and health items is crucial, as the game often throws more enemies at you than you can handle. Sometimes, running away is the best strategy.

However, if you choose to stand your ground, the firearms in The Sinking City 2 pack a satisfying punch, even if some animations feel a bit stiff. That said, the shotgun is still incredibly effective against worm-infested zombies, and even the starting pistol delivers a loud and impactful experience. With a few upgrades, your arsenal becomes a formidable force—assuming you don’t miss and have enough ammo.

The Sinking City 2

BACK-OF-THE-BOX QUOTE

“Why is it always cosmic horror? Why can’t we get some cosmic comedy?”

DEVELOPER

Frogwares

TYPE OF GAME

Third-person action-heavy survival horror

LIKED

Visually grotesque, plenty of scares and creepy monsters, satisfying ending, powerful firearms.

DISLIKED

Minor performance issues, stiff animations, excessive wave-based combat encounters.

PLATFORMS

PlayStation 5 (Played on PS5 Pro), Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC

RELEASE DATE

August 18, 2026

PLAYED

11 hours. Completed main story and most side missions.

Unfortunately, while the combat is solid, The Sinking City 2 suffers from an overabundance of “fight for your life” scenarios. These encounters confine Calvin to a small area, forcing him to fend off waves of enemies. To escape, you must eliminate them while scavenging small crates scattered throughout the area for ammo and health replenishments.

These moments highlight where Frogwares may have overreached, as the combat and controls don’t feel responsive or deep enough to justify the focus on wave-based firefights.

Fortunately, the rest of The Sinking City 2 avoids this pitfall. The game maintains a brisk pace, levels don’t feel bloated, and the weapon selection is just right. Even the cutscenes are concise and engaging.

This is a well-crafted survival horror experience. The Sinking City 2 aims to immerse players in a world of cosmic horror, slime, and unsettling monsters while challenging them with Resident Evil-style puzzles. It doesn’t waste your time with sprawling open worlds or convoluted RPG skill trees.

While you can purchase upgrades in safe rooms scattered throughout the game, the system is straightforward and can be ignored if you prefer. It’s unlikely to significantly impact your experience.

The Sinking City 2 also features a rare perfect ending. It may not be a happy one, but it fits the game’s Lovecraftian themes. This narrative explores the futility of resisting ancient cosmic forces and the consequences of meddling with powers beyond human comprehension. The game recognizes that such stories rarely conclude with a tidy resolution.

For the developers behind the game, The Sinking City 2 represents a triumph. This survival horror adventure was crafted by a team in Ukraine, enduring the ongoing war against their country and its people.

The game opens with a message reflecting their struggles and sacrifices in bringing The Sinking City 2 to life. While exploring the eerie hospital, I stumbled upon a hidden area filled with X-rays depicting real injuries suffered by people known to the developers due to the ongoing invasion. It serves as a stark reminder that this game was created in a place where tomorrow is uncertain.

The odds were stacked against the studio. Powerful forces beyond their control could have brought everything to a halt. That threat still looms large.

Yet, unlike the characters in most Lovecraftian tales, the developers have survived, triumphed, and continue to stand strong. And they’ve delivered an exceptional survival horror game for the world to experience.