Abysses: Meridian is a first-person underwater exploration game set on the planet Meridian, where rising seas have submerged much of the surface. Players take control of a small submarine and a diving suit to descend through increasingly dark and hostile ocean layers in search of answers about a vanished research station.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on descent and discovery. A drop pod lands and begins to leak, forcing an immediate swim to the surface station Thétis at around forty metres depth. Inside the station, power must be restored to turn it into a functional base while piecing together logs left by its twelve missing crew members. Salvaged materials from deeper cargo pods feed a fabricator that crafts upgrades such as improved thrusters, brighter searchlights, enhanced sonar, a drill, additional air supply, and greater depth tolerance. These upgrades gradually transform the initial pod into a capable submarine.
Exploration moves through distinct vertical layers. Sunlit kelp forests give way to drowned plains, sheer rifts, and flooded caves that reach hundreds of metres down. Pressure increases with depth, and the environment grows stranger and more dangerous. Visibility relies on searchlights that produce volumetric effects, caustics, and drifting particles. Turning the lights off hides the player in darkness but removes all sight. Sonar pings map surroundings and can draw responses from unseen entities in the caves. An onboard AI named SEVEN provides guidance throughout each dive.
The ocean feels alive with schools of fish, rays, jellyfish, and whales. Surface conditions cycle through day and night, rain, storms, and auroras. A custom engine supports these atmospheric details across a wide range of hardware, from integrated graphics at 1080p to higher settings.
Game Modes
Abysses: Meridian supports single-player campaigns focused on methodical exploration and station restoration. Online co-op is available for shared sessions where multiple players can coordinate upgrades and descents. Procedural world generation from shareable seeds allows fresh starts in new ocean layouts while preserving the same core progression systems.
Exploration and Progression
Every recovered pod and salvaged resource directly expands capabilities at the fabricator. Early dives stay near the station at shallow depths, while later ones push deeper into bioluminescent caves and rifts. The emphasis remains on atmosphere and immersion rather than resource management or survival meters. Controls work with mouse and keyboard or gamepad, keeping the focus on piloting, scanning, and discovering what lies below.
Seamless transitions between submarine controls, swimming in a diving suit, and walking inside the station maintain continuity. The story unfolds through station logs and environmental clues rather than direct exposition, revealing the fate of the crew and the nature of the enormous ring structure far below that appears to influence the rising seas.
Is It Worth Playing?
Abysses: Meridian targets players who enjoy slow-burn atmospheric exploration in a first-person perspective. Its systems reward careful observation and incremental upgrades over fast action or complex crafting loops. With a planned release in Q2 2027 and no user reviews available yet, the experience will appeal most to those drawn to underwater settings, procedural ocean layers, and the tension of limited visibility and pressure. The absence of traditional survival chores keeps sessions focused on descent and discovery. Those seeking co-op sessions can join others to tackle deeper layers together, while solo players receive the same full progression path. The game stands as a distinct indie title built around immersion in a custom engine rather than broad simulation features.
