If Journey and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater had a baby, it might look a lot like Sword of the Sea, the latest indie adventure from Giant Squid. Out now on PS5 and PC, the game released on 19 August 2025. Giant Squid is the studio founded by alumni of Journey and Abzû, and creative director Matt Nava reunites with composer Austin Wintory. With that pedigree you’d expect meditative exploration and stunning art — and you get both — but you also get something very different: a surfboard‑sword called the Hojō that turns vast deserts and submerged ruins into a skate park.
Release & Platforms
The game launched simultaneously on PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam) and is part of PlayStation Plus at release. There’s no Xbox or Switch version yet, so if you want to carve dunes you’ll need a Sony console or a gaming PC. Giant Squid pitches Sword of the Sea as a “surfing adventure” rather than a combat‑heavy action game. The developers built an experience that celebrates momentum and flow — a fresh take on exploration that tries to make you feel like you’re shredding across an endless sand ocean.
Riding the Hojō: Movement Is the Message
At the heart of Sword of the Sea is the Hojō, a hoverboard‑sword that lets you glide across sand and water. The control scheme feels like a blend of snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing, rewarding you for carving smooth lines and chaining jumps together. The world itself flows like waves, so you’re always looking for the next dune to carve or the next ramp to launch off. The article from GamesHub explains that traversal becomes “the game’s heartbeat”, and that philosophy makes every corner feel alive and rideable.
New abilities unlocked throughout the adventure give you more tricks to play with; by the end of my playthrough I was speeding across dunes, wall‑riding ruins and leaping off crumbling aqueducts to catch that perfect line. Game Informer noted that the simple act of riding is the star of the show, with movement described as fluid, fast and addictive. The first run is short — roughly three hours — but the game encourages replay with a New Game+ mode that adds a speedometer (yes, you can hit 170 mph) and lets you finish collecting abilities.
Why surfing matters
- Constant momentum: The Hojō controls like a combination of a snowboard, skateboard and hoverboard.
- Living world: You carve through shifting dunes, launch off ramps and ride ancient chain bridges — the environment is designed to be ridden.
- Skill progression: New tricks and mechanics unlock as you play, keeping traversal fresh and rewarding.
World & Atmosphere
Giant Squid’s games are known for gorgeous, evocative worlds, and Sword of the Sea may be their prettiest yet. You play as a Wraith, a masked figure resurrected to restore life to a desolate world. The settings range from rolling sand dunes to submerged ruins and vibrant cultures. The game introduces massive leviathans that stalk the sands and seas, adding just enough tension to break up the serenity. Facing down one of these titans is as much about awe as it is about danger, and seeing them breach the sand like whales is a highlight.
The atmosphere is meticulously crafted. GamesHub notes that the art style shifts between desolate ruins, rolling dunes and submerged temples, drenched in colour and accompanied by a swelling score. The environments often take camera control to show you breathtaking vistas, and I found myself pausing just to soak in the view. Composer Austin Wintory, who scored Journey and Abzû, returns to provide an ethereal soundtrack that ebbs and flows with your surfing. The combination of minimalist UI, gentle music and cinematic camera gives the game an almost meditative quality.
Echoes of Journey and Abzû
Sword of the Sea clearly carries the DNA of Giant Squid’s previous work. Fans of Journey will recognise the silent storytelling and the focus on visual narrative. GamesHub remarks that the game blends the quiet storytelling of Journey with the fluidity of Abzû, building on those ideas by making the act of surfing central. Yet it isn’t simply repeating past successes; by marrying exploration with the rush of surfing it finds a balance that feels both calm and thrilling.
The team’s creative partnership shines through. Matt Nava’s art direction and Austin Wintory’s score work together to create a cohesive atmosphere. Whether you’re weaving through a school of fish in a submerged palace or gliding down a sand‑covered bridge at sunset, each location feels like a moving painting.
Story, Length & Replayability
Narrative has never been Giant Squid’s strongest suit. The story here is minimalistic: stone tablets offer cryptic prose about restoring life to a dried‑out ocean. There are no voiced characters or lengthy cutscenes; instead the world itself tells the tale through environmental details. While this ambiguity invites interpretation, it also means the narrative doesn’t hit the emotional heights of Journey. As Game Informer points out, the implications of the story don’t quite keep up with how good the game looks, feels and sounds.
The campaign clocks in at roughly three hours for a first playthrough. That brevity might disappoint players looking for a longer adventure, but it also means the pacing never drags. A New Game+ mode unlocks after completion, encouraging replay to master the Hojō and discover hidden secrets. I jumped straight back in just to see how quickly I could blitz through the world with my newfound abilities. There are no micro‑transactions or additional DLC announced; the game is a complete experience at launch.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Gorgeous art style and evocative soundtrack | Story lacks emotional depth |
| Fluid, satisfying surfing with evolving abilities | Short three‑hour campaign may feel brief |
| Rich atmosphere that feels both meditative and exhilarating | Only available on PS5 and PC at launch |
| Unique encounters with leviathan creatures add tension | Minimal narrative and no dialogue may not satisfy story‑driven players |
Verdict
Sword of the Sea isn’t trying to be a blockbuster; it’s a focused, artistic surf through a world that begs to be explored. Its combination of speed, style and serenity makes it one of the most unique releases of the year. The short running time and minimal story mean it won’t be for everyone, but for players who appreciate atmospheric adventures and innovative traversal, it’s a must‑play. Just don’t be surprised if you finish the credits and immediately start a New Game+ run — once you’ve carved your first dune, it’s hard to put the Hojō down.
