Sea of Solitude
By Neilie Johnson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Eloquent adventure deals sensitively with mental illness.
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Sea of Solitude
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Based on 1 parent review
Very Good for children 9 and up.
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What’s It About?
SEA OF SOLITUDE is an adventure platformer with puzzle elements. Starring a young woman named Kay who's suffering from depression, the game focuses on getting to the root of her problems by navigating a dark psychological landscape. Monsters dominate a dark, partially-submerged city, and Kay has to find her way (by boat and on foot) past them by plumbing the depths of her memory. The game alternates among exploration, platforming, and puzzle-solving, and mixes things up by tossing in the occasional timed challenge. Players progress by shedding light on Kay's buried memories, which, in turn, will literally cast light on the physical environment. The point of the game is to help Kay work through her relationships with friends and family and overcome her depression through a better understanding of herself.
Is It Any Good?
This pretty little game is a lesson in graphic simplicity, while providing an honest, emotional narrative that will no doubt hit a nerve for anyone dealing with sadness or self-doubt. Sea of Solitude's balance of dark/light gameplay, cartoony style, and minimal score prove you don't need complex effects to tell an effective story. It may also go a long way towards removing the stigma surrounding mental illness. Kids who've suffered from depression will identify immediately with Kay, the heroine. She looks like a monster because she feels like a monster. And the semi-submerged city she finds herself in is an obvious metaphor for her isolation and feeling of drowning in her own emotions.
Early on, Kay realizes how unreliable her memory is, and how she's soothed her conscience by altering it. It's a survival mechanism even more mature people fall back on when life gets scary or complicated, and Kay surprisingly taps into it without thinking. There's one thing about conscience though; it has a pesky way of revealing the truth when we least want it, and the same happens to Kay. She's forced to confront some painful truths, but in the process finds a deeper understanding not only of herself, but of the people around her. She becomes a better sister, daughter, and friend. Gameplay reflects this by lighting up the environment and filling it with color, and it's undeniably satisfying to watch the transformation happen. And while you get a definite sense of accomplishment from helping Kay, the game doesn't rely on an unrealistically "pat" ending. As anyone with depression knows, it can't be conquered -- only managed. Sea of Solitude does an admirably sensitive job of conveying that, along with the mix of fear and optimism that comes with that knowledge. Seen strictly as a game, it's an adventure that's well worth your time. But as a tool for helping kids with depression feel less alone, it's worth a good deal more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about mental health. Why is it important to have open communication when it comes to mental issues? Do your kids know they can come to you for help? Do you know who you can turn to if you're having concerns as well?
How does the media depict mental illness? Has it done better or worse than in years past?
What do you do when someone talks about suicide? Do your kids know to tell an adult if a friend talks about suicide?
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Release date: July 5, 2019
- Genre: Adventure
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures
- Character Strengths: Empathy
- ESRB rating: T for Fantasy violence, Mild language
- Last updated: May 12, 2020
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