Highwater Review

There is something about the end of the world that I find comforting. At least the end of the worlds we take in through gaming. 

What should be a horrendous journey in hope of finding survival, where humans fight others over the scarcest of supplies, I find to be my comfy slippers game of choice. Maybe I’m a bit wrong and my brain has been wired incorrectly after The Division and The Last of Us playthroughs. 

And here we are again with a new apocalyptic game. Highwater takes us to a world that is mostly flooded, where the survivors travel by boat from island to island. It’s the set-up for another place that I enjoyed travelling around, listening to another end of day’s story. The thing is, for the end of world vibes, Highwater is funny, exciting, and full of vibrant characters.

Highwater started as a mobile game, and as part of the Netflix family. It’s now come to Xbox to tell a deep story. The world has suffered the Great Climate Catastrophe, leaving the globe flooded by water. There is a region called Hightower where the game is set. Here there are dry regions in the little Islands and the fortified city of Alphaville. You play Nico, a young survivor who ventures out on his boat to begin his adventures. When he hears of a rocket going to Mars to escape this world, he tries to gather his friends and get to the rocket in time to escape, in hope of building a new life. But will he make it?

The story and the writing are very good. Highwater has a fun tone, something which is unusual for a game stuck in the apocalypse. The characters you meet along the way are colourful and interesting, complemented by numerous books and papers you can collect that provide insight into the world and what has happened. A special mention goes out to the radio station that plays as you pilot your boat; I thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue with the DJ. 

The gameplay works as a mixture of exploration and turn-based combat. In the exploration mode, the main mode of transport is on the boat. It’s a very calming and relaxing experience, moving around the world and then having places to stop off and explore. Here you might find things you need for the main mission or discover collectibles or side hustles. But fighting is something you have to get used to in this world. 

When you start combat you are presented with a grid for the battle arena, as Highwater goes all turned based. You have different companions on the journey and they all come with their own set of skills and attributes. It’s not as complex as say X-Com, but it’s fun and challenging. There is a useful element where you have environmental attacks or use objects lying around. For example, early on there is a riot shield you can pick up to defend yourself, or knock down a beam trapping your powerful enemy in a garage. There are some nice special attacks too, like using a camera flash to confuse the enemy so that they miss a turn. It does get tricky in the latter parts of the game though, so be aware. 

Visually, Highwater, whilst not high-end triple-A quality, does a brilliant job with the assets it has. You can see its mobile roots, but I loved the world it builds and the way it is all drawn. Characters are simple but brightly designed and a big mention goes to the collectible fictional book designs you find along the way. The voiceover is excellent, whilst the original music you get played on the radio – and in story sequences – is sublime. 

Highwater could easily become one of those end-of-times comfort games; very relaxing with an interesting world to explore. Sometimes it might feel a bit empty and the combat does get slightly repetitive, but overall I had a great time playing and exploring this land. 

Further, it’s always nice to seek out loved soundtracks after you play a game and that found in Highwater is one I will definitely be adding to my playlists.