Going Hands-On With The Sinking City 2

May 12, 2026 - 21:06

CGM recently went hands-on with Frogwares' upcoming sequel, The Sinking City 2, and the early impressions point to a significant tonal shift from its predecessor. While the original game leaned heavily into detective work and open-world exploration of a flooded, cursed city, this follow-up appears to be doubling down on pure survival horror.

The demo reportedly emphasizes a more linear, claustrophobic atmosphere. Resources are scarce, and the player must carefully manage ammunition and health items while navigating dark, waterlogged environments. The Lovecraftian dread is still present, but it feels more immediate and threatening. Instead of piecing together clues in a safe office, players are now forced to confront the city's horrors directly, often with little more than a flashlight and a desperate hope that the next corner doesn't hold a creature.

Frogwares seems to be drawing inspiration from classic survival horror titles, focusing on tension and vulnerability rather than combat prowess. The enemy designs are grotesque and unsettling, and the sound design is crafted to keep players on edge. While the detective elements haven't vanished entirely, they have been streamlined to serve the horror, not the other way around. For fans of the first game, this is a bold new direction. For those who found the original too slow, this might be the terrifying descent into madness they were waiting for.