A Cry in the Deep

A Cry in the Deep is a very well crafted game. I haven’t played it, just read it, but boy do I like it! The theme and setting are so wonderfully, refreshingly unique that from the get-go I was sold by the concept! I’m also just a sucker for Space Whales.

Its mechanics are really tight, I was consistently impressed by how easy to grasp the format of play was! It feels mechanically tight like board games, ala Forbidden Island, with how you interact with the cards and how there’s a constant rising tension. It feels very intentionally designed to fight you, which a lot of RPGs don’t do.  

BUT what really impressed me was how open-ended it is for allowing roleplay! Being able to add biomes and choosing which ones get hit by the Cataclysm is small but very strong in allowing players to dictate the pace of their game. I can see myself playing in a group that is actively fighting the Cataclysm and really leaning into the cards to win as best/fast we can OR another group where we take our time, really draw out each scene and traverse the politics of space whales in the ocean core of Europa, making specific choices to strengthen our narrative over a pressuring Cataclysm. Or somewhere in between, and I believe all styles will be really fun!

Definitely worth the $7 I paid for it, and more, from what it’s got me to think about with its mechanics! Consider tossing a few bucks upon download, you won’t regret it!

Small Note: The “In Play” section cuts off at the very end, “...and the last player to”!

If you want to see me read through this game and give my thoughts live, you can find the video here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/678200598