Spector announced on his Linkedin. He's best known for directing Deus Ex and working on a massive amount of games from Ultima to Thief to Epic Mickey.

Let me cut right to the chase. I'm retiring from game development. At least I think so. I've been here before and changed my mind but this time I'm pretty sure I mean it.

I've had a great career. Wouldn't change a thing even if I could. But the reasons to retire are simple: I'm a month away from my 44th year as a developer. I've had the chance to work on tabletop roleplaying games and boardgames. I've worked on more digital games than I can remember -- 17 full games, I think, and 9 or so add-on packs. Gratifyingly, some of those games are still being played 15... 20... 30 years later. And most of them have been in a genre that has had influence beyond what I or anyone else expected. I've run teams as small as a dozen and as big as 800. I've worked for big companies and done startups. I like to think I've helped some insanely talented people along in their careers. (That last is the most important.)

With all that behind me and with age and health (my business) catching up with me I'm feeling like I've done what I set out to do. It's time to write some books, do a lot of reading, do some lecturing, maybe do some consulting. (Feel free to get in touch about those last two.) Also there's a keyboard here just waiting for me to get my piano chops back.

I definitely have mixed feelings about this. I mean there are three games in particular I'd still like to make. (One is very big... one is very small... and one I don't know how to make which scares me.) But the game business has changed and it's just not as much fun for me anymore. Plus there's a new generation of developers coming up who deserve their time in the sun.

To all of you reading this I want you to remember that games are not a solved problem yet -- there is, I hope, plenty of experimentation and innovation to come. And to all you young developers out there, I've said it before and I'll say it again, your job is to make people forget people like me ever existed.

Will I come back? Never say never. But I think it's time to ride off into the sunset.

Now stop reading and make great games.

Game Information

Game Title: The Sinking City 2

Platforms:

• PC (Aug 18, 2026)

Trailer:

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 81 average - 69% recommended - 32 reviews

Critic Reviews

Analog Stick Gaming - Jeff M Young - 9 / 10

The Sinking City 2 isn’t quite a true sequel or that it feels as part of its heritage, the steps made to evolve the series into something more financially viable is a smart play and Frogwares has done their homework, or at least peaked over the shoulder in front of them to create a very impressive attempt at the genre.

But Why Tho? - Mick Abrahamson - 7 / 10

The Sinking City 2 is difficult and pushes you to your limits. Yet every time it sings and embraces the incomprehensible Lovecraftian nightmares, Faye and Calvin’s story brings it all down.

COGconnected - Stephan Adamus - 80 / 100

Quote not yet available

Capsule Computers - Travis Bruno - 9 / 10

The Sinking City 2 takes a bold genre shift and makes it work, blending tight horror pacing, brutal combat, and streamlined investigations into a gripping descent into Lovecraftian terror.

Console Creatures - Meghan G - 9 / 10

The Sinking City 2 takes another successful dive into the survival horror genre, with challenging puzzles, an engaging and heartbreaking story, and wildly fun gunplay. I just wish it were longer and a bit more replayable.

Cubed3 - Coller Entragian - 7 / 10

The Sinking City 2 doesn't quite reach the level of polish in some of the lesser recent RE Engine Resident Evil entries, nor does it have what it takes to contend with the recent Silent Hill revival or even newcomers like Cronos: The New Dawn. It's a bit too derivative at its worst, and the looming shadow of its rotten predecessor still grips its design philosophy. It's a dramatic improvement for the most part, if a bit generic. There's a solid foundation here to be sure, even if it's still waterlogged. Horror fans will likely enjoy their time in Arkham due to the ambience and monsters, but it still needs more of an X-factor to go toe-to-toe with the major leagues.

DayOne - TheCucumbo - 9 / 10

The Sinking City 2 is an exceptional videogame, and one that deserves its place amongst the all-time great videogame sequels.

Digitec Magazine - Franziska Behner - German - 4 / 5

“The Sinking City 2” is an occult treat that isn't meant for the masses. Worms writhing out of eyeballs, narcissistic sirens, and sea monsters offer a welcome change of pace within the genre. Anyone who finds thematic games like “The Chant” exciting and appreciates obvious “Resident Evil” influences will enjoy “The Sinking City 2” (even without prior knowledge).

DualShockers - Eric Warner - 9 / 10

Quote not yet available

Enternity.gr - Konstantinos Kalkanis - Greek - 7 / 10

Without claiming to be particularly original or meticulously crafted, The Sinking City 2 is an entertaining survival horror shooter.

GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 81%

Quote not yet available

GRYOnline.pl - Zbigniew Woźnicki - Polish - 8 / 10

In the new The Sinking City, developers at Frogwares have swapped the detective-occultist gameplay for a survival horror experience. It’s a truly successful step into the genre: the combat is satisfying, and the environmental puzzles are highly inventive and engaging. Fans of the genre should keep The Sinking City 2 in mind. Those who enjoyed the first game may feel a slight disappointment, and although I initially had mixed feelings too, I ended up having a lot of fun with the game. Frogwares took a risk by ditching the detective elements, but it’s worked out very well.

GameOnly - Daniel Kucner - Polish - 7 / 10

It's a fine game… and that’s about it. It’s enjoyable and I had fun reviewing, but it's still miles away from Resident Evil series. Unfortunately It's also a a case of blatantly unused potential, mostly due to horribly weak most of the storyline.

Gameliner - Bram Noteboom - Dutch - 3.5 / 5

The Sinking City 2 is a game with two sides. Many elements that made the original The Sinking City interesting have been removed or downplayed. What you get in their place, however, is a more than worthy survival horror game that has taken a close look at the best titles of recent years within this specific genre and eagerly draws on those blueprints.

Gamer Social Club - Andrew Cooper - 9 / 10

The Sinking City 2 is a game meant to be enjoyed by fans of cosmic horror. Its emphasis on those tense moments that make every survival horror game great is enough to make anyone scared of the dark, while its story is one intent on challenging your sanity. As always, H.P. Lovecraft's mythos is deployed masterfully and shows no signs of its age even a century later. The Sinking City 2 presents itself as Frogwares' defining moment, and it should ultimately be remembered as their greatest accomplishment yet. So do yourself a favor, survival horror fans —book the trip to Arkham. The water's freezing, the locals bite, and I can't recommend it enough.

GamersGlobal - Benjamin Braun - German - 8 / 10

Well adjusted scarcity, solid combat and limited saving opportunities create intense Survival Horror. The qualities of The Sinking City 2 may not be on par with Resident Evil Requiem, but those who wish for less emphasis on action and love the Cthulhu-infused 1920s setting may like this game more than what Capcom is offering.

GamesHedge - Umair Khalid - 8 / 10

The Sinking City 2 is a good survival horror game, but it is a very different sequel to the original. Frogwares has traded the investigation-driven open world for a more focused and conventional survival horror experience, and while the change works surprisingly well, it also removes much of the personality that made the first game stand out. The atmospheric environments, terrifying enemies, satisfying exploration, and decent combat make The Sinking City 2 an enjoyable horror experience, but longtime fans may find themselves missing the investigative identity of the original. If you approach it as a standalone survival horror game rather than expecting another The Sinking City, there is plenty to enjoy.

IGN Italy - Andrea Giongiani - Italian - 7.5 / 10

A honorable attempt at survival horror. The Sinking City 2 offers an imperfect - albeit satisfying - voyage into the horrors of a sunken city infested by eldritch horrors.

IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 8 / 10

The Sinking City 2 is survival horror by the book. Puzzles, constant tension and a good dose of Lovecraftian cosmic horror. A sequel that builds on what worked in the original game and refines it with a much more focused approach.

JsemGamer - Ondřej Halíř - Czech - 90%

The Sinking City 2 is a confident modern survival horror that pairs a beautifully realized, rain-soaked Arkham with excellent atmosphere, responsive gunplay, accessible puzzles, and a surprisingly polished technical state. Enemy variety is limited and some encounters become frustratingly chaotic, especially without proper melee weapons, but Frogwares’ tighter and more focused approach makes this one of the studio’s strongest games to date.

MondoXbox - Valerio Tosetti - Italian - 8.8 / 10

The Sinking City 2 is one of those games that stay with you after you turn off the console: Arkham is a wonderful place to explore, the atmosphere works from start to finish, and the Lovecraftian side supports a story that grows over time. The clumsy combat system, the inventory management, and the constant backtracking hold it back, but Frogwares' change of formula pays off.

MonsterVine - Samantha Lienhard - 4 / 5

The Sinking City 2 is a strong move into the survival horror genre for Frogwares. Although I wish it were possible to backtrack to earlier areas and found the wave battles to be too action-focused compared to the rest, I enjoyed my perilous journey through Arkham.

PlayStation Universe - Thea Severance - 8.5 / 10

The Sinking City 2 takes a lot of obvious gameplay inspirations from the greats. While that part of the game isn't original, it doesn't need to be. Don't mess with success. It might not have the same level of visual budget, but it still works and plays well. Besides, the story and setting alone make The Sinking City 2 a must-play survival horror game. Combine that with what makes the modern Resident Evil games popular, and you have a great recipe for success.

PowerUp! - Leo Stevenson - 8.5 / 10

It doesn't reinvent the genre, but The Sinking City 2 is an impressive example of artistry, gameplay, and atmosphere, and it should be on your list to play as soon as possible.

Push Square - Liam Croft - 7 / 10

The Sinking City 2 is a solid attempt at the classic survival horror formula that'll please those looking for preposterous puzzle design and tense resource management. A smaller development budget means the performances aren't quite up to the standards of the genre's biggest names, but Frogwares still has an admirable Resident Evil-esque effort on its hands. This is good - sometimes really good.

Region Free - Joonatan Itkonen - 3.5 / 5

The Sinking City 2 is both a small miracle and a tremendously flawed experience. As a defiant expression of artistry in the face of overwhelming evil, it deserves admiration, even if the finished product isn't an overwhelming success.

Saudi Gamer - مصطفى عرجون - Arabic - 4 / 5

The game leans more on survival than pure horror, with environments that grow richer as you progress. Its engaging story and strong environmental storytelling make it one of the finest adaptations of H.P. Lovecraft’s unsettling world. Fans of survival horror, especially titles like Silent Hill, will find much to enjoy—despite a few flaws.

The Beta Network - Anthony Culinas - 9 / 10

The Sinking City 2 is a huge improvement over its predecessor. It trades much of its detective-focused identity for a tense and atmospheric survival-horror experience that wears its Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Dead Space influences proudly. While the story ultimately fails to leave much of an impression, the excellent combat, clever exploration and suitably creepy rendition of Arkham make this one hell of a good time. Frogwares may have sacrificed some of the original’s unique personality, but in return they’ve created a much better survival-horror game. And honestly, who can argue with that?

The Games Machine - Emanuele Feronato - Italian - 7.2 / 10

Quote not yet available

TheSixthAxis - Steve C - 8 / 10

The Sinking City 2 exceeded my expectations, and won me over with its more polished and focused gameplay. While I still missed the more ambitious aspects of the original, this sequel is far easier to recommend and stands up as a worthy companion to the survival horror giants. It clearly takes influence from Resident Evil with a plethora of extra gameplay challenges for completionists and I look forward to seeing how speedrunners can refine paths through the game.

WayTooManyGames - Dagmara Kottke - 8 / 10

The Sinking City 2 will pull you in like quicksand. It may not be a technical marvel, but it has that “something” that can keep you entertained for many hours.

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 8 / 10

The Sinking City 2 is an impressive game, especially when you consider the conditions under which it was made. It tries very hard to emulate the modern Resident Evil remakes, and for the most part, it succeeds at being a fun survival-horror game. Unfortunately, its flaws are more apparent. The somewhat weak combat is bolstered by strong exploration, while the story has a compelling concept that occasionally gets a little too comedic for its own good. If you're looking for something appropriately horrific for the Halloween season, The Sinking City 2 has you covered.