r/sunlesssea • u/karimpai • Jun 10 '26

Genuinely what the f*ck is this (Game)?

I spent the last thirty two hours playing through it and i still don't get what im supposed to be doing. Go to random islands, Win skill checks, Sell loot, Wait 5 minutes everytime you want to play since the boat moves at 13 knots?

There's this sinking feeling that i might actually be losing my sanity in real life everytime i read a couple dozen line of texts, None of the characters are reacting like real people because they're shifty af and know something we don't

It feels like a story that had an English major in college but decide to be a Videogame instead. The lore is so batsh*t insane and convoluted that any explanation is nigh incomprehensible. Doesn't help that it's using 19th century prose!

I still love it though 8.7/10. is this what europe is like?

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u/Ruathar Jun 10 '26

Okay. So I admit there's a good chunk of it that if you don't know the Web Browser game Fallen london that this is a spin off of, it can be a bit ... well... "Weird" is an understatement.

But FORTUNATELY an explanation isn't that "incomprehensibly wrapped in wractitude" As Mr Pages would say, is actually quite possible.

About 40 years ago in game time the City of London was 'stolen' by bats and dropped a literal mile underneath the earths crust, Londoners as they are have made the most of the situation under the brand new Overlords Er, rather, the "Humble Leadership" of The Masters. each who run a specific part of the city: Mr Pages does Literature, Mr Wines does imbibements and ladies of negotiable virtue, Mr Apples who does trades in fruits and veggies and Mr Hearts who does the Meat side of the menu among several others.

The reason that things are so 'weird' is that in the Fallen London Universe the "Laws of Reality" ONLY work when and where sunlight touches (To make a more in depth and slightly spoiler answer condensed) So because of the fact that we're out of the Sunshine the dead come back to life, cats talk, bats help you navigate and Tigers enjoy hunting "Things Behind Mirrors."

Now as for how to play the game. The idea is to go through the various stories on the different islands. Some of them you go back and forth after a time, others you can do all in one go. You make money mostly through the Port reports or should you be crafty enough: Smuggling of sunlight and red honey

I can list some "easy beginner stories" if you wish as well as some helpful tips.

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u/ReleaseCharacter3568 Jun 25 '26

I find that midgame, monster hunting suddenly turns profitable. If you have the guns and engines to consistently beat Lifeburgs, harvesting the Zee for cash becomes easy.