The Sinking City 2 is officially out today, and with it comes one of the widest score spreads of any survival horror launch this year. At the time of writing, the PS5 version sits at 79 on Metacritic (23 reviews, 18 positive / 5 mixed) with an OpenCritic average around 82 — solid, but the real story is the range: Player 2 handed it a 91 while Push Square landed at 7/10. That kind of split tells you the game is doing something interesting, and also something divisive.
If you're weighing whether flooded 1920s Arkham is worth your time, here's the full landscape of what critics are saying today.
The Scoreboard
Before we dig into the arguments, here's every notable review we've collected at launch:
| Outlet | Score | One-Line Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Player 2 | 91/100 | A well-told story built for repeat playthroughs — Frogwares' specialty |
| GameSpew | 9/10 | From engaging puzzles to thrilling combat, Frogwares proves it can make a great survival horror |
| Day One | 9/10 | Stunning visuals in both quality and performance modes; 12–15 hour campaign |
| CGMagazine | 8.5/10 | A solid survival horror experience, different from yet similar to its predecessor |
| GamesRadar+ | 4/5 | A confident adventure that stands toe-to-toe with Resident Evil and Silent Hill |
| Wccftech | Recommended | A far tighter, story-driven game — atmosphere dripping with eldritch dread |
| Push Square | 7/10 | A solid take on classic survival horror held back by limited-budget performances |
Where Critics Agree
Across the board — even at the low end of the scale — reviewers converge on the same core strengths.
The atmosphere is the star. Multiple outlets call the flooded, Lovecraft-drenched Arkham itself the most frightening element in the game. Wccftech wrote that smaller audio cues — ice crunching underfoot, buzzing flies, sloshing water — sell the dread as effectively as any set piece. We felt the same during our time with the demo: the shift from detective adventure to survival horror is Frogwares' best creative decision in years.
Puzzles remain the backbone. GameSpew singled out the puzzle design as one of the strongest elements of the game, with many conundrums entirely optional and tied to exploration. That's a welcome holdover from the first game's investigation DNA.
Combat is weightier than expected. Multiple reviews describe encounters as challenging and "weighty," noting that running is sometimes the correct answer — classic survival horror tension. The dodge mechanic and boil-bursting weak points on enemies keep early fights from feeling like shooting galleries.
Where They Clash
The disagreement is real, and it mostly comes down to expectations versus execution.
The investigation pivot. The original's open-world detective structure has been streamlined into a more linear, story-focused campaign. Critics who wanted more of the first game's freedom (Wccftech, Push Square) flag this as the main loss; critics who wanted a tighter experience (Player 2, GameSpew) call it the game's biggest win. If you loved the first game's open world, set expectations accordingly.
Boss fights and pacing. GamesRadar+ and CGMagazine both note that challenge segments and boss encounters land unevenly, and that some areas don't flow well into each other — the final hours apparently drag for some reviewers while feeling perfectly paced for others.
Technical polish. This is the biggest red flag in the room. Frogwares admitted before launch that the game ships with known issues: stuttering, visual bugs, slow texture streaming, DLSS problems in performance mode, and frozen enemies. GameSpew on PS5 Pro reported a clean run in 60fps performance mode, but PC reviewers warn that optimization is a lottery right now.
The opening hour is available as a free demo on Steam. If you're on PC and worried about the optimization reports, play the demo on your actual hardware before committing — it's the single best purchase decision you can make today.
Should You Buy It Today?
Here's our honest read. At $49.99 (Standard) / $54.99 (Deluxe) / $59.99 (Premium), the game is priced below the AAA survival horror tier, and most critics land around 13–15 hours for a full playthrough with New Game Plus and speedrun modes on top. The value case is strong if you're a survival horror fan.
- Buy it today if you're on PS5 or Xbox and love Resident Evil-style survival horror — the console reviews are more consistent, and GameSpew's clean PS5 Pro run is encouraging.
- Wait a week if you're on PC with a mid-range card — the known stuttering and DLSS issues are exactly the kind of thing the first post-launch patch typically fixes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Sinking City 2's Metacritic score?
79 on PS5 based on 23 reviews at launch, with 18 positive and 5 mixed. The OpenCritic average sits around 82.
Is The Sinking City 2 better than the first game?
Most critics argue yes as a game — it's tighter, better-playing, and more focused. But it drops the first game's open world and heavy detective focus, so fans of that structure may prefer the original's approach.
How long is The Sinking City 2?
Critics report 12–15 hours for the main campaign, with New Game Plus, speedrun modes, and optional puzzles adding meaningful replay value.
Does The Sinking City 2 have performance issues?
Frogwares acknowledged pre-launch issues including stuttering, slow texture streaming, and DLSS problems on PC. Console performance mode runs at 60fps and reviews there were mostly clean.
Should I play the first The Sinking City before this one?
No. It's a standalone sequel with a new protagonist (Calvin Rafferty) and a new setting. Our release guide covers everything you need to know before diving in.
For the full edition breakdown, early access timing, and beginner survival tips, check out our The Sinking City 2 release date and editions guide — and if you're comparing horror value this month, our Mortal Shell 2 best Shell guide pairs well with it.
