Highwater. A Flooded world

Highwater is a Turn based adventure game developed by ‘Demogog Studio‘ and published by ‘Rouge Games‘. Highwater is said to be coming out the 14th of March 2024 on the Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS PS5, PS4 and PC. X35 Earthwalker is powerful swimmer… floods are no problem. Highwater looking to get players wet. Let’s take a look.

Highwater is set in a world that suffered from a “global climate catastrophe”. The events of the game take place after the catastrophe. The place is submerged. A flood. Players control Nikos and his friends. Their mission? To find and board a rocket on its way to Mars. This rocket is only a rumour though but when faced with a flooded destroyed world, you got to take the chance.

Highwater is a weird one because it’s described as an adventure game but also a turn based strategy game. There’s also puzzle elements too. There’s lots going on here. Highwater will have players travel around primarily on what looks like a speedboat. You will hopefully find others out there who will join you in your mission and even better, help you out in a fight. So navigate this flooded world, clash with insurgents, use your head to solve puzzles and hopefully make it to the rocket.

It’s quite clear but friendship seems to be at the centre of this game here,. Trusting others, working together, being willing to help, getting each others backs and never giving up. To make things better, players got Highwater Pirate Radio to keep the tunes coming. Read this official text, “In Highwater, the true essence lies in savoring the modest victories, grappling with the harsh setbacks, and overcoming the peculiar obstacles encountered throughout this unconventional journey. These experiences take precedence over the destination itself, making for a captivating and thought-provoking adventure.” We doubt it but let’s see.

We checked out some Highwater gameplay and it’s what we expected. There is more than just water. There’s also Alphaville and the war zone. Both on either side of the flooded Hightower. We like that alphaville plays a role in this game. It’s fortified and where the wealthy are holding up. Nikos better steal a sandwich. Gameplay is standard indie game stuff. Thanks to the Highwater Pirate radio, this game has the tunes. Games like this rely on music to get the atmosphere, mood and feelings going. The combat is standard for this type but more emphasis on using items and the environments… hence some puzzle elements. Like knocking down a tree to get the upper hand. We won’t say much.

Overall Highwater looks like an alright game so far. Highwater is blending a bunch of things and it seems to work so far. There’s more than one type of transportation. We wonder if the rocket is actually true. If it is true then why haven’t the rich gone for it? Maybe their life is better here. Who’s in charge of the radio? Questions indeed. The developers ‘Demogog studio’ have done a good job so far. We at X35 Earthwalker will have to hear what what this game gets done. Highwater may have floods but those water are too shallow for… the ‘Earth Walk!’