ABZU

 PlayStation 4
ABZU Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 72 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 460 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: ABZÛ is an grand descent into the depths of the sea, where players explore ocean environments with fluid swimming controls. The experience draws inspiration from the deep innate narrative that we carry within our subconscious: the story of ABZÛ is a universal myth that resonates acrossABZÛ is an grand descent into the depths of the sea, where players explore ocean environments with fluid swimming controls. The experience draws inspiration from the deep innate narrative that we carry within our subconscious: the story of ABZÛ is a universal myth that resonates across cultures. The name references a concept from the oldest mythologies; it is the combination of the two ancient words AB, meaning ocean, and ZÛ, meaning to know. ABZÛ is the ocean of wisdom. [505 Games]… Expand
Buy Now
Buy on

Trailer

Play Sound
Please enter your birth date to watch this video:
You are not allowed to view this material at this time.
E3 2014: ABZU Trailer at Sony Press Conference

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 72
  3. Negative: 3 out of 72
  1. Gameplanet
    Aug 3, 2016
    100
    If you aren't entranced by mechanically shallow games like Journey, don't bother. But if you find exploration titles even marginally interesting, Abzu is an absolute must-play – it's the most majestic one yet.
  2. ZTGD
    Aug 2, 2016
    90
    Abzu is something that was never even on my radar. Then I booted it up, and never let go. Every area was an experience, and it made an impact on me. I don’t spend my time trying to figure out what it means, I just enjoyed the ride, and it is easy to recommend. Especially to those that enjoy the idea of swimming in the depths of the ocean, and exploring the alien life found below the waves.
  3. Areajugones
    Aug 2, 2016
    87
    ABZÛ is a wonderful experience that follows the path of games such as Flower or Journey, where we play to feel. This is an almost perfect masterpiece which should be played by everyone.
  4. VideoGamer
    Aug 2, 2016
    80
    Abzu is a testament to where we are with video game development and shows how diverse the medium can and should be, even if it's not quite as emotionally resonant as it perhaps could have been.
  5. Impulsegamer
    Aug 7, 2016
    80
    ABZÛ is a very original game on the PlayStation 4 and if you played Journey before, you may see a few similarities but at the end of the day, this is game should be played on its own merits and on that level it succeeds.
  6. Hobby Consolas
    Aug 18, 2016
    72
    An astonishing, relaxing and beautifully crafted experience. It's not as thrilling as it pretends, but is able to link us with the ocean the same way Journey linked us with total strangers.
  7. GameCritics
    Aug 2, 2016
    40
    This undersea tour is quite short. I got through it in about two hours or so and was surprised by the brevity, but it’s probably better that way. No matter how beautiful it is to swim with whales or to descend into an undersea crevasse, there is precious little to do in Abzu, and it’s never particularly touching or thought-provoking. If it told a better tale or if there were more to it than swimming and occasionally pushing a button, it might have been a knockout. As it stands, the appeal of looking at pretty fish wears off in a hurry, and there’s not much else to recommend it.

See all 73 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 116
  2. Mixed: 37 out of 116
  3. Negative: 14 out of 116
  1. joshcam19
    Aug 2, 2016
    10
    A combination of Endless Ocean and Journey. A wonderful game and incredibly beautiful. When you are swimming with literally hundreds ofA combination of Endless Ocean and Journey. A wonderful game and incredibly beautiful. When you are swimming with literally hundreds of different kinds of fish at once it is like nothing ever. Completely breathtaking.… Expand
  2. NickCrit
    Feb 26, 2017
    10
    This is more a relaxing meditative experience than a game. Beautiful underwater / ocean scenery and relaxing artistic experience. If you areThis is more a relaxing meditative experience than a game. Beautiful underwater / ocean scenery and relaxing artistic experience. If you are looking for an action / shooting game; this isn't it.… Expand
  4. Gautham27
    Aug 4, 2016
    9
    An amazingly beautiful game with an incredible array of different species. The levels and habitats were brilliantly made with lots of fineAn amazingly beautiful game with an incredible array of different species. The levels and habitats were brilliantly made with lots of fine details. Not to mention that the art is incredible too. Only complain is the lack of a story and the play time.… Expand
  5. Termin8ter
    Aug 12, 2017
    8
    From the same talented composer and art director of the amazing Journey comes Abzu, a great looking, nice sounding, short but very sweetFrom the same talented composer and art director of the amazing Journey comes Abzu, a great looking, nice sounding, short but very sweet experience. I'll say this right now: This game is very similar to Journey. And if you liked that game, it is almost certain that you will like this game too. It has most of the same great components that Journey espoused, which is definitely not a bad thing. And the story is quite a lot more easy to decipher than Journey's, which is also good. Overall, if you liked Journey, you will love this game. If you didn't, think twice before you give this game a shot. But I thought it was great.… Expand
  6. VirgonoShaka
    Jul 8, 2017
    7
    Playing through the two hours and twenty minutes of Abzu's "story" reminded me a lot of the movie Fantasia, a movie that is not veryPlaying through the two hours and twenty minutes of Abzu's "story" reminded me a lot of the movie Fantasia, a movie that is not very traditional at all, and is more of a moving painting, and is more about putting the right images to the music than telling a story. In that way, Abzu is an interactive painting, and is more about appreciating what it shows than about a story or the gameplay. In some ways, in a game that is not so cool because it leaves you as a gamer not feeling involved or interested for long. But if you like appreciating a piece of art just because of what it is, then Abzu showcases that games can be made to be appreciated like that with some of the most amazing pieces of graphics I have seen this side of Journey or the like, all complimented by another excellent score from Austin Wintory. Also added to this is the not so bad mechanics for swimming which is practically everything you do in the game. On its bad side, I can't say that the "story" it kind of sort of wants to present is that interesting, and that it doesn't have a lot of replay value. Nevertheless, I don't regret at all playing it, just for the time that I used to appreciate the incredibly colors, lights, sounds, and shapes that it presented. Can't recommend to everyone, because it is not exactly the type of game that anyone can like, but if you like this type of game, it is definitely worth checking out and diving in. Final verdict: 7.5… Expand
  7. Nel
    Jun 20, 2017
    7
    Very simple artistic game, similar to journey. The game has wonderful music, and is very short. It does not have the best graphics, but theVery simple artistic game, similar to journey. The game has wonderful music, and is very short. It does not have the best graphics, but the graphics are very artistically designed, other than a few camera problems here and there I really enjoyed the experience… Expand
  8. Xemnios
    Apr 1, 2021
    0
    It's not a game. You can swim for 2 hours and doing nothing: abzu is complete

See all 116 User Reviews

Trailers

Related Articles

  1. 2016 Preview, Games

    Most Anticipated Video Games of 2016, Part 2: New IP and Indie Releases

    Most Anticipated Video Games of 2016, Part 2: New IP and Indie Releases Image
    Published: January 21, 2016
    Preview 25 notable new videogame franchises debuting in 2016, including No Man's Sky, Star Citizen, The Division, Firewatch, Battleborn, Horizon: Zero Dawn, The Witness, Quantum Break, Overwatch, and more.
    More »

Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Best PS4 Game of 2016
32
#32 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
67
#67 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

Current PS4 Games

Full List »
89 Rolling Gunner + Over Power
86 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
86 AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative
83 Infernax
83 Moss: Book II
83 Horizon Forbidden West
82 The King of Fighters XV
82 Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream
80 Cotton Fantasy
80 Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
79 Pocky & Rocky Reshrined
79 RiffTrax: The Game
79 Capcom Fighting Collection
79 Rise of the Third Power
78 Young Souls
78 Metal Max Xeno Reborn
76 WWE 2K22
75 Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden
74 Slipstream
74 WindJammers 2
All Current Games »