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I was sent Highwater for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Make sure you follow the socials, and you can always buy me coffee!
What is Highwater?
Highwater is an action turn-based RPG out now for on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC via Steam and Epic Games, and on Netflix Games for Android and IOS devices.
A great flood has changed the course of human history. Society now exists on the few remaining high rises that peak over its endless oceans. For a time, survivors adjusted to this new normal. A new society birthed from the old, and those who fill it do what they can to survive.
But with each passing day, the situation grows dire. Hostility between the fragmented factions grows as the food and resources grow scarce. There are rumors of a rocket to Mars. Rumors of an elite controlling the narrative. Travel as Nikos and his companions over flooded terrain and uncover the truth. Can you find a better life behind the fortified walls that surround Alphaville, or is this endless suffering the hopeless conclusion of Highwater?
Gameplay
Maps will have items or special terrain that a player can interact with to gain a tactical advantage. For example, a player can pick up a rock to throw, knock an enemy into a hole, or run into them with a shopping cart. This gives players the unique freedom to solve a combat in creative and fun ways.
Highwater also has an exploration mechanic where players move through the flooded world to collect items and lore. Exploration is built on a railroad, but that doesn’t make exploration any less fun.
Thoughts
I loved Highwater. I am a huge fan of the art style, the tone was the perfect kind of quirky, and the gameplay is phenomenal. Most importatly, Highwater has one of the best soundtracks I’ve heard all year. If you enjoy Indie music, you need to play this game. I’ll leave you with a taste to get you hyped for this title.
I enjoyed the story and collecting all the bits of lore around the world. Some of the social commentary is a bit on the nose, but it is solid satire. Keep in mind that the story is short, but you’ll get $20 worth of fun.
Gameplay is simple when you compare it to other games in the genre. This could be because they needed to dumb it down so it could be played on mobile devices, or because they wanted to focus on the narrative. Either way, combat and exploration make for a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
If you’re looking for a game that isn’t a huge commitment and fun, check out Highwater. It’s a solid and unique experience that you should check out at least once, even if you have to wait for a sale.
You can pick up Highwater on Xbox, Playstation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games for $19.99. It is currently on sale on Xbox, Switch, Steam and Epic Games for $15.99 until March 21st. If you have Netflix, you can play it for free on your Android and IOS devices.
