The post-apocalyptic horror fishing RPG "Abyssal Echoes" will launch in Steam Early Access on November 9. Developed by Dream Dock and published by Digital Vortex Entertainment, the game has been in development for about eight years, with the team estimating another 6 to 12 months to complete version 1.0.
The horror fishing role-playing game "Abyssal Echoes" is finally ready to set sail. At the time of writing, there are only 24 hours left until the game's release on November 9. Although this Early Access launch comes after eight years of preparation, developer Dream Dock seems confident that the project's biggest hurdles have now been overcome, and expects "Abyssal Echoes" to reach version 1.0 within six to twelve months.
"Abyssal Echoes" is an action-horror RPG developed by Kyrgyzstan-based Dream Dock and published by Cyprus-based Digital Vortex Entertainment. Set in the "Sunken Lands," a post-apocalyptic region filled with flooded settlements, crumbling infrastructure, and mutated wildlife, players pilot a trawler between isolated communities, trading their catches for supplies. The desolate landscape readily evokes "The Island" from the "Far Harbor" DLC of "Fallout 4," while a mysterious biological threat known as the "Sea Plague" has completely transformed the region.
Fishing is the pillar of the survival mechanics in "Abyssal Echoes" and its core gameplay loop. Players must constantly seek out fish-rich waters, choose the right bait, and catch valuable species, many of which have undergone disturbing mutations. Some creatures continue to cause trouble even after being caught, as those stored together in the trawler's hold may devour each other. Larger predators pose a much more serious danger, potentially turning a routine outing into a battle where players must avoid becoming their next meal. The dilapidated coastal communities, hostile mutated creatures, and oppressive atmosphere combine to make "Abyssal Echoes" feel like a survival RPG told from the perspective of a fisherman in "Fallout 4: Far Harbor."
However, the specific gameplay of "Abyssal Echoes" is quite different. The game focuses on navigating dangerous waters and confronting Lovecraftian creatures lurking beneath the surface, making it more akin to a post-apocalyptic, fishing-centric "Subnautica." Similarities also extend to exploration and resource gathering: players can search abandoned buildings, caves, and shipwrecks for scrap metal, blueprints, and other valuables to supplement their fishing income. Recycled materials can be used to craft specialized lures, upgrade harpoons, produce medicine and survival gear, while the trawler itself can be fitted with better engines and upgraded hull reinforcements and lighting. The combination of exploration, crafting, and survival mechanics makes the gameplay loop of "Abyssal Echoes" richer and more diverse than the "horror fishing" label might suggest.
The game's Lovecraftian influences are primarily reflected through grotesque creatures and the "Sea Plague," which has altered most of the local wildlife. Traveling after dark is more dangerous, making the timing of voyages a crucial survival consideration. Like the terrifying sea monsters encountered in "Dredge," these threats make the waterways highly unpredictable. However, unlike that well-received fishing horror game, "Abyssal Echoes" further raises the stakes with real-time combat. Players can fight hostile creatures on both sea and land; if a particularly irritable creature chases the player ashore, they may sometimes need to handle both sea and land battles in the same encounter.
Upon entering Steam Early Access, "Abyssal Echoes" will offer a main area to explore, a complete core gameplay loop, and a story campaign with a definite ending. After completing the campaign, players can continue fishing, exploring, collecting rare specimens, and upgrading their equipment.
Dream Dock has set the initial launch price at $19.99 in the US and €20.49 in Germany; an optional Supporter Pack will also be available, priced at $4.99 and €4.89 respectively in these regions. The game will support 12 languages at launch, including English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, with Chinese supporting both Simplified and Traditional characters.
Publisher Digital Vortex Entertainment plans to increase the game's price after the 1.0 version launch. Currently, this version is expected to be released between mid-to-late 2027 or early 2028.
