The game from Matt Nava and Giant Squid studio calls us not for treasures or for solving ancient mysteries. It calls for sensations. Abzû is not about answers or goals. It is a journey into the depths, where the main reward is emotions, silence and beauty.

Today, postmodernism is increasingly winning in the gaming industry: as in the recent Inside, it is not the meaning that is more important here, but the mood. You may not find a clear message here, but it is not necessary. Just allow yourself to forget, dissolve in this underwater meditation – and enjoy every moment.

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At first glance, Abzu may seem like just another relaxing indie game with beautiful underwater landscapes. But the longer you spend in it, the more you understand: this is not a diving simulator, not a meditative “swimming” game, and not a puzzle in the usual sense. This is a sensory experience. A story without words. A smooth immersion into a world where goals and rewards are not important, but sensations. The heroine, outwardly nameless, but internally full of mysteries, arouses curiosity from the very beginning. Who is she? Why is she here? These questions remain unanswered almost until the very denouement. But this is what creates the magic of Abzu – you do not just watch, you intuitively feel her path. The girl, deftly gliding among the waves, every now and then jumps to the surface in graceful movements, like a dolphin. By making sounds similar to the echolocation of beluga whales, she awakens the surrounding world, albeit delicately, without disturbing its fragile balance.

Every element in Abzu seems to be taken from nature. The fish here don’t just swim — they behave as in reality: predators set up ambushes, schools of nimble blue surgeonfish swirl among corals, seaweed sways in time with the ocean currents. The plasticity of the movements is especially surprising — it’s not animated, it’s alive. It seems as if you’re watching a National Geographic documentary rather than a game. But, unlike a film, you’re not a spectator, but a part of this ecosystem. Everything you see breathes. There are no abrupt transitions, nothing looks “made” — the entire underwater universe is whole, indivisible, and perceived as a single living being. It’s at moments like these that you realize that games can truly be a form of art. And the music of Austin Wintory, the composer of Journey, The Banner Saga, and Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, helps with this. His orchestral compositions seem to dissolve in the water, enhancing the emotional effect of each scene.

Abzu doesn’t offer you enemies, deadly traps or fights. There is no damage, no game overs. The game doesn’t set you any difficult tasks – instead, it offers peace and tranquility. You just swim. Sometimes you can sit on an underwater obelisk – and turn on the meditation mode, in which control is transferred to a school of fish. Want to take a break from navigation? Watch other inhabitants of the deep sea swim for you – wrasses, rays, sea turtles. This is not only a beautiful feature, but also a way to notice hidden secrets. Instead of traditional puzzles – easy tasks for interaction: open the gate, activate the ancient mechanism, accompany the assistant drone. No one will let you get lost – the entire ocean is divided into separate zones, each of which is logically connected to the previous one. Swimming through the remains of a sunken civilization, you step by step get closer to the secret that lies at the very bottom. And in this journey, every fragment of the environment works to create an atmosphere: columns reminiscent of the architecture of ancient Babylon, decorated walls that refer to the Ishtar Gate, halls that hold the echo of a long-gone race.

Abzu is not just a pretty name. It has deep roots in Sumerian mythology: “Apsu” is a mythical underground ocean, from which all the waters of the world were believed to originate. It was this image that inspired the creators of the game. Matt Nava, being not only a game designer but also an avid diver, sought to show not a specific ocean, but its archetype – symbolic, timeless. The world of Abzu sometimes immerses us in the cartoon atmosphere of “Finding Nemo”, sometimes in prehistoric times, where elasmosaurs, creepy dunkleosteus and tentacled ammonites swim among the waters. Everything here flows into one another: past and present, myth and reality, nature and spirit. This ocean is not geography, but an internal landscape. It is not so much about space as about a state of mind.

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The Hidden Meaning of Abzu: Life vs. Machines

One of the deep meanings embedded in Abzu by Giant Squid is the subtle conflict between the living and the mechanical, between nature and technology. This contrast permeates everything, from the game’s visual language to its emotional tone. The mechanisms here are alien, lifeless, like forgotten fragments of another world that has invaded the ocean. They are cold and repulsive. Even if their original purpose was noble, in the context of this underwater world they look like something alien and destructive.

The opposite of them is organic life. Algae growing on the reefs, schools of nimble fish, huge sea turtles and, of course, predatory but graceful sharks. All this is not just beautiful – it is filled with the spirit of harmony and naturalness. Even the great white shark, which is easy to imagine as an antagonist, is endowed with personality here. Its story is presented with unexpected warmth, almost cartoonishly touching – like scenes from Hayao Miyazaki’s films, where animals and spirits of nature are always closer to humans than machines.

At some point, you begin to feel that your goal in Abzu is not to conquer the world, not to achieve any victories, but to be a part of it. To help, to restore, to bring back balance. And even if you cannot save all living things, you are able to simply be there, to support their existence, not to destroy, but to protect. This, perhaps, is the main idea of ​​the game. It is not imposed, not presented as a moral – it is born from contemplation, from interaction, from silence. And it leaves a feeling that to be human means to be on the side of life.

Is Abzu Worth Playing in 2025? Pros, Cons, and Final Thoughts

Abzu is not a project you play. It is a project you immerse yourself in. Without words, without voices, without a clearly defined plot, it speaks to you in the language of color, movement and sound. And it does so much more powerfully and sincerely than many stories with cutscenes and monologues. You are not a hero with a mission, you are part of the ocean. There is no need to save anyone, fight with anyone or solve complex puzzles. All that is required of you is to let go of control, relax and let this living world carry you along with the current. It becomes clear from the very first minutes: this is not just a game, but an artistic statement. Not a competitive arena, not a sandbox of possibilities, but a contemplative experience. The kind that can most often be found in contemporary art galleries, and not in digital game stores.

Abzu deliberately avoids anything that could disturb its silence. There are no dangers here. Even the largest sea predators pose no threat. The machines encountered along the way frighten you not with aggression, but with contrast – their cold mechanical carrion against the backdrop of a warm and living world. You don’t go through the game – you watch it flow past you. You dive deeper and deeper until the boundaries between the player and the environment disappear. The music enhances the effect – gentle waves of the orchestra perfectly complement the movement, as if commenting on your every breath.

If challenges, tactical battles or mechanical complexity are important to you, Abzu will most likely leave you indifferent. This is an experience in the spirit of Journey and Flower – more about feelings than actions. There is nothing to “go through” here, except perhaps yourself. In about two hours, you will see everything this game has to offer. And for some, this will be a disappointment – because the world is so beautiful that you want to stay in it longer. But maybe that’s the idea: to give you a sip of silence, so that you yourself will want to look for it in life.

Strengths of Abzu:

• A magnificent visual palette. Each level is like a painting that combines the living colors of the underwater world.
• Atmospheric music. The soundtrack does not just accompany – it leads, it feels like part of the overall breath of the game.
• Meditation. This is not just a rest, it is a way to slow down and feel the beauty.
• Goodness and light. There is no darkness, violence or tragedy here. Only life, light and harmony.

What can be off-putting:

• Little interaction. There is almost no gameplay in the usual sense – Abzu is not about action, but about perception.
• Hints of a plot. There is a story, but it is hidden between the lines. If you want to understand – think it up yourself.
• Short duration. If you want, you can complete the game in one evening. And it will be a magical evening – but short.
• Not everyone will like it. If you’re expecting dynamics, challenges, and branching lore, you’ll be bored.

Abzu is an inward journey, disguised as an underwater fairy tale. It may seem empty if you’re looking for action and challenges, but it will fill you up if you just want to be. Not to play, not to win, not to achieve – just to be. And that’s a rare, truly valuable experience in a world where even games are in a hurry.

ABZU System Requirements

How to play ABZU for free on Steam via VpeSports

Sometimes, all you need is a moment of silence — not the kind that’s empty, but the kind that’s full. Full of color, of weightless motion, of quiet awe. ABZÛ isn’t just a game you play — it’s a place you enter. A place where the ocean welcomes you with open arms and secrets whisper from the depths.

You don’t run, you glide. You don’t fight, you flow. Every dive brings you closer to something ancient, something sacred — whether it’s the flicker of forgotten temples beneath the waves or the way a school of fish parts around you like a living constellation. ABZÛ isn’t about victory. It’s about connection — to nature, to emotion, to the quiet within yourself.

And starting your journey couldn’t be easier. No payments, no complications. Just head over to our website, sign in — or register if you’re new — and you can begin exploring this underwater dream world with a free Steam account. It’s our way of making sure anyone who needs a break from the noise can find it.

After your first swim through the coral gardens, we’d love to hear how it made you feel. Every review matters. And if your message doesn’t appear instantly, it’s just going through moderation — give it a little polish if needed, and you’ll receive your access info in your email shortly after approval.

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