Investigation takes a backseat in favour of survival horror in The Sinking City 2, a sequel set to ramp up the tension of its predecessor with a string of gameplay and mechanical innovations. Yet, while we’ve already explored these gameplay differences and finer details in separate features, there’s still plenty of useful information you should know before diving into its flooded vision. From optional content and Kickstarter stretch goals, to returning locations, editions bonuses, and accessibility options, here are fifteen more things you need to know before buying The Sinking City 2.
It’s a Standalone Story
Although The Sinking City 2 leans on the same Lovecraftian aesthetic as its predecessor, studio Frogwares has built the sequel specifically to stand on its own. Yes, you’ll be stepping into the shoes of new protagonist Calvin Raffety as he navigates the flooded streets of Arkham, but this follow-up tells its own self-contained story. Familiar themes and supernatural influence provide connective tissue to the first game, but newcomers should find The Sinking City 2 just as approachable.
Ammo Conservation is More Important Than Killing Everything
The sequel’s shift to survival horror means every bullet carries extra weight. Ammunition, healing items, and crafting resources are, as you’d expect, deliberately scarce, making you think twice before engaging every monster you encounter. Sometimes, the smartest decision is to high-tail it out of trouble, preserving your supplies instead for unavoidable fights. Resource management is a survival horror staple, but its one Frogwares is reportedly putting to good use, bringing tension by balancing risk with minimal resources.
Retreating and Returning Better Prepared is a Legitimate Strategy
We just alluded to it, but retreating with a plan to prepare for another go is often the best strategy. In fact, The Sinking City 2 encourages you to recognise when the odds aren’t in your favour, instead coming back with more ammo, additional healing supplies, or stronger, freshly upgraded gear. This preparation loop forms as important a part of the survival-horror experience as resource management itself, where your patience is rewarded by staying alive.
The Flood Brings Its Own Threat
Much like its predecessor, The Sinking City 2’s flooded streets aren’t just atmospheric set dressing. Unseen entities and absurd abominations lurk beneath the surface, ready to ambush careless wading. In a broad sense, the floodwater itself becomes an enemy, when the act of traversing by boat feels just as unsettling as navigating interior sections on foot.
Certain Monsters Can Affect The Space Around You
Not every creature in The Sinking City 2 rushes to kill you. No, some enemies possess abilities that shape and distort the world around you – or, at least, your perception of it. Certain monsters can influence rising flood waters, for instance, submerging dry paths and forcing you to find alternative routes. And other creatures can drain your sanity entirely, warping your senses with hallucinations, phantoms, and misheard auditory phenomenon like footsteps. The sequel’s bestiary demands a range of responses, from fearless quick thinking to improvisation, making each encounter less like a straightforward firefight.
The Shoggoth Arrives After Successful Fundraiser
While not being part of The Sinking City 2’s original lineup of beasts, after a Kickstarter stretch goal was reached The Shoggoth is now set to feature as a major boss battle. An intimidating spectre straight out of the Lovecraft playbook, The Shoggoth is a towering, amorphous blob of glowing flesh and blinking eyes, and it promises a very different encounter from the routine enemies roaming the streets. Because of its shape-shifting form, its attack patterns will be hard to predict, while its ginormous size means it can control space or tear down structures, demanding you maintain awareness of your surroundings in its presence.
Kickstarter Stretch Goals Added More Content
The Shoggoth isn’t the only gameplay addition funded by Kickstarter. Frogwares has also expanded the sequel with extra secrets and environmental puzzles, enriching the experience with meaningful content. Now, you’ve more reason to follow the hidden path, where exploration involves uncovering locations, optional discoveries, and additional challenges that reward observation and bravery.
A Familiar Location Also Returns
And yet another stretch goal addition is the return of a location that will be familiar if you played the first The Sinking City. An as yet unknown secret area, the location is reportedly set to be dramatically reimagined to suit the sequel’s newfound emphasis on survival-horror. If you’re a veteran, this means you’ll be able to step into somewhere that feels recognisable without the game forcing you to repeat the steps you’ve already taken.
Holloway Manor Adds Two Hours of Optional Gameplay
If you pick up The Sinking City 2 Premium Edition you’ll not only unlock twenty-four hour early access but also gain entrance to Holloway Manor, a standalone side investigation that offers roughly two hours of additional gameplay. Set within a decrepit mansion, where a family’s history was curdled by an occult practice, Holloway Manor promises to be a substantial diversion away from the main story.
Completing Holloway Manor Gives You a Weapon for the Main Game
Holloway Manor isn’t just an isolated bonus experience either, but completing the investigation rewards you with the Bucking Bronco revolver which you can bring into your arsenal in the main campaign. So, not only do you get additional story content, and the chance to uncover another one of Arkham’s mysteries, but a potential advantage once you return to the main story.
Pre-orders Give The Chthonic Arsenal
If you pre-order The Sinking City 2 you will receive the Chthonic Arsenal DLC, containing three extra weapons. Included is the Breakwater shotgun, and the Tektite Tommy SMG. Each firearm appears cosmetically enhanced with Lovecraftian mysticism, and while details on how each weapon handles is scarce, Frogwares has confirmed that each will possess a unique firing trait.
Some Editions Let You Accelerate Character Progression
The Deluxe Edition includes a bundle of outfits and useful consumables but arguably the most valuable is Dream Essence. This resource – of which the Deluxe gives three – feeds directly into The Sinking City 2’s Talent system, allowing you to unlock your first character upgrade sooner than you otherwise would. Combined with extra ammo, healing, and crafting items, the Deluxe Edition gives you a smoother start to life in Arkham compared to the Standard version.
Difficulty and Accessibility Can Be Adjusted
The Sinking City 2 includes a range of difficulty and accessibility options to help you tailor the experience to your preferences. Alongside four difficulty settings, from a more easygoing Story Mode right through to the highly demanding Survivor difficulty, you can customise subtitles and audio settings, including audio cue support to alleviate any disorientation during especially distorted scenes. The removal of rapid button presses, input, and motion controls improves comfort levels while optional HUD toggles and separate investigation difficulty sliders provide the option to simplify story progression whilst keeping the combat challenging.
A PC Demo is Available
You can try the opening segments of The Sinking City 2 via a free demo currently listed on the game’s Steam page. As with all demos, this gives you a chance to sample the game’s exploration, combat, atmosphere and overall performance before committing to a purchase.
Release Date, Price, Editions, and PC Requirements
The Sinking City 2 is set to launch on August 18th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, with Standard, Deluxe, and Premium Editions available. Priced at $49.99, $54.99, and $59.99 respectively, pre-orders include the aforementioned Chthonic Arsenal weapon pack, with Premium holders unlocking Holloway Manor and early access. If you’re a PC player, recommended specs include an Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X CPU, GeForce GTX 1070 or RX 5700 8GB VRAM GPU, and 16GB RAM. Recommended setup details an i5-14600K or Ryzen 5 7600X CPU, a GeForce RTX 4070 Ti or AMD RX7900XT 12GB VRAM GPU, and 32GB RAM.
