Home NewsNew Brazilian Indie Game Takes Players to the Ocean’s Depths

New Brazilian Indie Game Takes Players to the Ocean’s Depths

by Bruno Pferd

Key Takeaways

Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark

  • A Tale of Silent Depths is an upcoming turn-based RPG set in a submerged world, developed by Crit42 Studio and currently available for free demo on Steam ahead of its May release.
  • The games setting, the ocean, acts as a narrative presence, with unique stories arising from player interactions and choices, making it a metaphor for contemporary issues like environmental collapse, resource scarcity, and technological adaptation.
  • Players assume the role of captain of a mobile underwater base, navigating procedurally generated ocean landscapes filled with hostile creatures, rival factions, and scarce resources. Combat takes place in turn-based tactical battles where positioning, range, terrain, and limited resources are crucial factors.
  • The game has been developed with support from the Start BSB program, an initiative aimed at promoting innovative entrepreneurship in the Distrito Federal.

Recommended products

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

A Tale of Silent Depths: An RPG Set in a Submerged World More than 80% of the world’s oceans remain unexplored, yet it is in these depths that humanity projects its greatest fears, myths, and fascinations: the unknown, loss of control, and the idea of being watched. From this imaginary, scientific, environmental, and emotional space, Crit42 Studio’s turn-based RPG, A Tale of Silent Depths, is born. Set in a future where the world has submerged, the game challenges players to survive under tons of water and pressure. Players can explore this universe now: a free demo is available on Steam, ahead of the full game’s launch in May. “The ocean floor is a post-apocalypse that already exists, a place where humans enter as intruders,” says Eduardo de Azevedo Dos Santos, founder and creative director of the project. “Unlike space, it has a more emotionally proximate weight. It’s here on Earth, our planet exacting its price—a submerged world that reacts.”

In A Tale of Silent Depths, the player assumes the role of captain of a massive, mobile underwater base, which functions as a gigantic, living home, fortress, and last refuge for humanity. The ocean is procedurally generated with mutable routes, forgotten ruins, debris, hostile creatures, and rival factions contending over scarce resources. Exploring deeper may yield rare technologies or awaken irreversible threats, making decisions far from neutral. Negotiation ensures short-term survival, while attacks can compromise future alliances. This all occurs within an AI-sustained ecosystem that avoids predictable patterns. “Instead of fixed scripts, we sought an ecosystem that appears organic,” explains Dos Santos. “Unique stories arise not because the player is a hero, but because he’s just another survivor in a living world.” Combat takes place in turn-based tactical battles where positioning, range, terrain, and limited resources make all the difference. Customizable drones function as front lines, while the ocean itself imposes constant risks. “If the player finds a formula and repeats it, the world loses tension,” says the director. “AI reacts to patterns because survival is adaptation. The ocean is not a static board.” Choices are pressure-driven.

More than just a setting, the ocean acts as a narrative presence. Creatures seem to learn from the player, encounters change according to choices, and there’s a constant feeling of being observed. This approach transforms the game into a metaphor about human decisions in crisis scenarios, a theme that directly addresses contemporary issues like environmental collapse, resource scarcity, and technological adaptation. “In crisis, we always decide between short and long term, ethics and necessity,” Dos Santos states. “And when the oxygen is running out, many things lose importance.” Crit42 Studio, an independent Brazilian studio, focuses on distinctive experiences, replayable games, and emergent narratives. The team has already released titles such as Dreadstone Keep, Afterlight Catacombs, and Oni Station, always exploring complex systems combined with rich atmospheric worlds and identities. A Tale of Silent Depths has been introduced to the international public through digital festivals and will participate in the Turnbased Thursday Fest in March, and the Earth Appreciation Festival in April. The game’s official release is scheduled for May during the Brasilia Game Festival, taking place from May 15th to 17th.

New Ocean’s Depths RPG Developed by CRIT42 Studio – Sponsored by BSB in Distrito Federal

The Start BSB program enabled the development of A Tale of Silent Depths, providing an incentive for innovative entrepreneurship in the Distrito Federal. This initiative is promoted by the Foundation for Research Support of the Distrito Federal (Fapdf), with support from the Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation. Demo on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2820850/A_Tale_of_Silent_Depths/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crit42studio/ Note: This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Portal Uai. With its reactive, AI-sustained ecosystem and pressure-driven choices, A Tale of Silent Depths promises a unique and engaging RPG experience set in the haunting depths of a submerged world.

In Case You Missed It

While we’re discussing upcoming releases and delving into the lore of Resident Evil, there’s plenty to explore in our latest blog posts. First off, Sophie Laurent shares some exciting news about Bethesda’s Starfield coming to PS5 within weeks in her article ‘Ambitious Xbox Game for PlayStation 5’, published on March 2nd. She reveals pricing and release dates, making it a must-read for those eager to stay ahead of the gaming curve Ambitious Xbox Game for PlayStation 5. Next up, Sophie guides us through another fascinating aspect of Resident Evil’s lore in her piece ‘What is the Ending of Resident Evil: Requiem?’, published on March 3rd. She explores how your decision to destroy or release Elpis shapes the fate of Leon and Grace and its implications on Umbrella Corporation’s schemes What is the Ending of Resident Evil: Requiem?. In other gaming news, Carlos Mendoza shares promising hints from Xbox Game Pass’ Twitter feed suggesting a major RPG could be joining the service soon. If you’re eager to stay ahead of the gaming curve and manage your cookie settings accordingly, don’t miss his latest post ‘Xbox Game Pass May Soon Receive One of the Biggest RPGs in Recent Years’, published just yesterday Xbox Game Pass May Soon Receive One of the Biggest RPGs in Recent Years.

New Brazilian Indie Game Takes Players to the Ocean's Depths og creation 6

Specification
Official NameGroove Coaster: Initial Initial Echo Ego
Brief SummaryTouhou Project music DLC for Groove CoasterTitle: Initial Initial Echo EgoArtist: RD-Sounds*Arrange from Touhou ShinreibyouDifficulty: Simple 2 / Normal 5 / Hard 8BPM: 156
GenreMusic
Play ModesSingle player

They also talk about it

Links to external sources for further reading

Have any thoughts?

Share your reaction or leave a quick response — we’d love to hear what you think!

You may also like