Vessel
Vessel
Game
Game2008
Aquaria
Developer Bit Blot, LLC
Aquaria is an action-adventure game designed by Alec Holowka and Derek Yu, who published the game in 2007 as an independent game company Bit Blot. The side-scrolling game follows Naija, an aquatic humanoid woman, as she explores the underwater world of Aquaria. Along her journey, she learns about the history of the world she inhabits as well as her own past. The gameplay focuses on a combination of swimming,… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
253 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Oct 24, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
82
LovedLoved
150 positive · 34 negative
95% range 75–86%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 150 | 34 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 15 | 1 | 36 |
| Lemmy * | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 8 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
940 of 1,084 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
81% recommend · 149 yes, 34 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 183 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (1,354 of 1,536 positive).
Players praise Aquaria as a beautiful and influential underwater Metroidvania with a memorable soundtrack. [1][2][3] Some reviewers note technical issues and bugs that remain unfixed due to the developer's death. [4][5] A few players find the game tedious due to excessive backtracking and unclear direction. [6][7]
Liked
Representative posts
- [4]
The man who designed and programmed the game is dead. The studio is gone. Controllers don't work correctly and will never be fixed (again, the only programmer died) Where does the money go if you buy it now? The idea of the game is interesting but given the bugs and quirks that will never be fixed I can't recommend buying it or really even bothering to play it free.
- [1]
Loved the game from when i was a kid, and returned to replay it a couple of times. This steam replay I just finished was, like, the fourth or fifth one, and I don't regret it for one bit. It's a beautiful game of exploration and loneliness, wonder and challenge. The soundtrack is amazing, the game mechanic of singing songs to "cast" the abilities blew my mind when i first played it, the art style and visuals still …
- [3]
I worry people forget about Aquaria. I think this game is hugely influential on our modern understanding of metroidvanias and indie games in general. Aquaria is a work of art.
- [10]
When I think of video games as an art form, this game is often the first to come to mind. The character designs, game play, and story all mix together in such an excellent way. The bow on top, and I cannot express this strongly enough, is the soundtrack. This was one of my earliest purchases on Steam, and I've had the soundtrack for years. Even if this game is not your thing, I would highly recommend getting the …
- [2]
Overview: Aquaria, developed by Derek Yu and Alec Holowka, is a unique indie game that combines elements of exploration, puzzle-solving, and storytelling in an underwater world. The game is often praised for its beautiful hand-drawn art style, atmospheric music, and engaging gameplay mechanics. Gameplay: Players control Naija, a mermaid-like creature, as she navigates the vast ocean, uncovering secrets and solving …
Summarised from 34 of the 253 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Aquaria sits at 82% positive across 184 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Aquaria was the Seumas McNally Grand Prize winner of the 2007 Independent Games Festival, and was also a finalist in the categories of Design Innovation, Excellence in Visual Art, and Excellence in Audio. The festival praised the game's "fluid controls, unique, non-linear gameplay, and vibrant hand-drawn storybook-style graphics". The game received praise from many different reviewers; Cam Shea of IGN called it "a stunning effort from such a small team", Richard Naik of GameCritics called it "an extremely high-quality product" and a fine example of the side-scroller genre, while Chris Dahlen of The A.V. Club termed it "not so much a retro adventure as a fresh take on everything that made…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 253 · most liked first(indie game: the movie dropped in 2012, and even accounting for leadup every featured game fits entirely in this window, shit was waaaay different in 00's indie, that was more stuff like Gish and Aquaria)
neutral · AI labelView post →Largely forgotten due to age, but Aquaria still holds up great for a nearly 20-year old game. Made even better by the community-updated Open Source Edition. Updated for modern machines and has an in-game mod browser and even a couple big community-made story expansions. github.com/AquariaOSE
positive · AI labelView post →Loved the game from when i was a kid, and returned to replay it a couple of times. This steam replay I just finished was, like, the fourth or fifth one, and I don't regret it for one bit. It's a beautiful game of exploration and loneliness, wonder and challenge. The soundtrack is amazing, the game mechanic of singing songs to "cast" the abilities blew my mind when i first played it, the art style and visuals still hold up till this day even though it's quite old. It is a project of love and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Still one of the best aquatic game to date created by 2 very talented guy (one of them being the creator of Spelunky) I recall back in the old days the dev released the mod version for free, not sure if we can still find that nowadays. Grabbing this on steam just for nostalgic collection. The BGM is still one of my favorite, I still have the CD bought directly from the creator, may your soul rest in peace Alec.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Overview: Aquaria, developed by Derek Yu and Alec Holowka, is a unique indie game that combines elements of exploration, puzzle-solving, and storytelling in an underwater world. The game is often praised for its beautiful hand-drawn art style, atmospheric music, and engaging gameplay mechanics. Gameplay: Players control Naija, a mermaid-like creature, as she navigates the vast ocean, uncovering secrets and solving puzzles. The controls are fluid, allowing for seamless swimming through the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I worry people forget about Aquaria. I think this game is hugely influential on our modern understanding of metroidvanias and indie games in general. Aquaria is a work of art.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One the best most memorable metroidvanias I have ever played. Fantastic story, gameplay and soundtrack: 10/10 This is only more exacerbated by the fact it was made by a single dev, RIP bro, you did a good job and a true work of art.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[Google Play] *Rotaeno*, gyroscope-based rhythm game. > Rotaeno is a heart-pounding, thumb-tapping, wrist-flicking rhythm game that fully utilizes your device's gyroscope for an unprecedented musical experience. > Rotate your device to hit notes as you soar through the stars. Drop into your headphones and immerse yourself in the kick beats and stellar synths of this astronautical adventure! > > ## =A Revolutionary Way to Experience Music= > What sets Rotaeno apart is all in the name -…
neutral · AI labelView post →It is weird to me how could i have possibly missed reviewing this game. It is a 2007 thing all right when story driven metroidvanias where still shaping up and it's mechanics at the time were quite advanced. And i still from time to time think about this game a good decade and more after i 100% it. It had such an impact at the time and still has potential to touch hearts in a way one would not expect a game to do. Dont really know or even care what this in 2026 watched trough modern lenses…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you see this, quote post a game with a 10/10 soundtrack Fuck there are too many. And most of them are just Squeenix RPGs... So I'm not gonna go with obvious ones. Let's dig deeeeeep into the indie game "tickle trunk" (Canadian reference). Aquaria infiniteammo.bandcamp.com/track/the-tr...
neutral · AI labelView post →one of my favorite childhood games
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this is literally the best game of all time
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very old Metroidvania game, which shows how the genre on itself was getting formed. It is, in a way, unlike many modern examples of games in this genre, but the way it was built still can be called unique. The story gives an eldritch and melancholic vibe along with the surrounding, so it might not be for everyone. Also the game itself didn't date too well due to seemingly not having a proper DirectX support, so you might expect some issues as you play it. But in general, everything was quite…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Oh, don't mind me. Just replaying my favorite game for the 4th time.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One day Naija notices that she is not like the other beings around her. She is surrounded by fishes, octopuses, clams, eels, anemones, all sorts of creatures but she doesn't resemble any of them! What IS she? She decides to go in an adventure ~~with a wizard and 13 dwarves~~ alone to answer this very question, just to find way more than she expected... This game is a VERY UNIQUE mix with 65% exploration, 40% metroidvania and 25% shoot 'em up (130%, like russian elections). Don't be skeptic, it…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Aquaria is a Metroidvania game where you go about as Naija, learning songs and dishing out malice upon the bosses of the under water world. I 100%'d achievements in 21.5 hours (A big part of this was not having the fish form until later), but you can beat it in 12-15 hours easily. Difficulty is deceptively hard. Used a game controller for the bulk of it, with mouse for the menu and keyboard for quick changes. Recommend keyboard over controller. Pros: - The art and environments of the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Metroidvania Review [url=https://metroidvaniareview.com/2020/09/21/aquaria/] Metroidvania Breakdown and Full Review| | [url=http://store.steampowered.com/curator/30503887/] Subscribe to our Curator How Metroidvania is it? High Fit. The game takes place underwater, so traditional platforming isn't a thing, and the argument could be made that ability gating isn't super strong, but otherwise Aquaria checks all of the Metroidvania boxes quite nicely. Curator…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Engine interpreters, source ports, wrappers, etc.. Here are some I've come across over the years, in case people want / need to play games of a given engine in a system other than the supported ones, or (points at a physical copy of Monkey Island I have) if the game is having trouble running on the supported system. Also, considering if I should include more game-specific tools too, since Aquaria is pretty close there already, and if I should add how to identify the engines. Also…
neutral · AI labelView post →Hello fellow tiny indie enthusiast! Here are a few I hold dear: [Beyond All Reason](https://www.beyondallreason.info/) - FOSS RTS game about robots destroying each other. Pick one of 3 factions and build up your army to crush the opposition. Great for multiplayer co-op or PvP, even has modes to face off against boss factions. Surprisingly robust and balanced. [PictoQuest](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1014040/PictoQuest/) - Picross is a pretty niche genre, but it's a very rewarding…
neutral · AI labelView post →A game halfway between a shoot 'em up and a metroidvania. It's deeply dreamlike and set in an underwater universe full of mystery where music plays a major role. It hasn't aged a bit, it's still a pleasure to play. It's a shame there is no sequel.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Forgotten classic, played it many years just to enjoy it again. :3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →HOW IS IT POSSIBLE, that one of the pioneers of indie games, one of the most beautiful games I've EVER played, has fallen into obscurity so hard??? Aquaria is an underwater exploration metroidvania with a huge world and a variety of places to discover. Made by the same people who made Night In The Woods, it has some of the best soundtracks and atmosphere building I have ever experienced. Aquaria succeeds in making exploration and puzzle solving very rewarding. No hand-holding, the hints are…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →When I think of video games as an art form, this game is often the first to come to mind. The character designs, game play, and story all mix together in such an excellent way. The bow on top, and I cannot express this strongly enough, is the soundtrack. This was one of my earliest purchases on Steam, and I've had the soundtrack for years. Even if this game is not your thing, I would highly recommend getting the soundtrack. If you want a whimsical game about a fish girl on an adventure of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Aquaria, from the creators of Night in the Woods This is a classic, reinterpreted Metroidvania that's underwater, similar to Echo the Dolphin or ABZU. The game is mainly focused on exploration and battling. It's fairly short to complete with a guide, about an hour or two. Playing without it may vary depending on your skills for puzzle solving and sniffing out boss weaknesses. You play as Najia, though not as yourself. To quote the trailer: Naija is a lonely sea creature who has called a small…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Honestly one of my favorite games. It's a shame that not a lot of people knows about this.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This must be the hardest review I wanted to write a long time ago. I must confess I'm very biased towards liking this game so some of the elements in this review might be affected. I must begin by saying that this game actually cured my depression. I had some hard times in my life back when this game wasn't on Steam. I got it from the website itself when this was released back in 2007. My low played hours can be explained by just saying that I cannot play this game too long because I get too…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is almost 20 years old now? I'm one of those people who wouldn't register a Steam account before a few more years after the time it came out. I wanted a quick play as I asked, "Has it aged graciously?" and the answer is "No, but also not enough for it to feel bad to play nowadays". I wasn't a fan of the pivot animation back in the day and it doesn't look any better today, getting especially awkward in some cutscenes, and keeping its contrast with the beautiful art. One of those games…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I don't know if it's "favorite", but an old classic was Aquaria. It had a surprising amount of content, even to the point of several secret bosses, and an absolutely excellent soundtrack. Sadly, the main guy behind it is dead now. Ori was also fantastic.
positive · AI labelView post →Let's remember Silksong is: -Polished -Incredibly animated -Intentionally challenging (esp. bosses) -An indie game I'd say: -Axiom Verge 2 -Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights -Aquaria -Shadow Complex -Dust: An Elysian Tail -Salt and Sanctuary -The Swapper -Owlboy -Iconoclasts -Tevi
neutral · AI labelView post →Beautiful, memorable, really satisfying underwater metroidvania. The music is excellent!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The man who designed and programmed the game is dead. The studio is gone. Controllers don't work correctly and will never be fixed (again, the only programmer died) Where does the money go if you buy it now? The idea of the game is interesting but given the bugs and quirks that will never be fixed I can't recommend buying it or really even bothering to play it free.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gosh, I remember when this first came out. The idea of *gasp* --paying money-- to play an indie title was UNTHINKABLE. Thankfully, quality titles like this one (and World of Goo, and Gish, and...) helped steer the ship forward through a troublesome decade. I'm really glad it all worked out. Oh right, the game itself is pretty great too (I mean, gosh, we all knew that already right?)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I demand a sequel for that masterpiece.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Getting 100% was enjoyable in this aquatic metroidvania. approximate amount of time to 100%: 20-25h ~ Estimated achievement difficulty: 6/10 Minimum number of playthroughs needed: 1. Multiplayer achievements: No Multiplayer. Missable achievements: Yes*. (Fast travel turtles available) Grinding Achievements: A bit *. All recipes require farming for ingredients. DLC-Only achievements: No. Time-gated achievements: No. Speed-run achievements: Yes. Sea-horse race under 1 minute (Attempt late game…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you listen to just one soundtrack from my latest list, it should be this one. And while you're at it, play Aquaria! It's a lovely game.
positive · AI labelView post →i will be a bit biased here since it is my favorite childhood game and i still very much cherish it dearly, but i absolutely recommend it for everyone, like i can't say it enough, this wonderful game is absolutely worth playing. yes, it is a bit clunky and sometimes feels odd or unfinished, but it is an indie project made by two guys, so i think it can be forgiven. the story is mystical, sacred, fairytale-esque, it deals with the themes of divinity, identity, life and death cycle, destruction…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →probably the first metroidvania I have played and I really enjoyed it. The music is also pretty good!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm a bit hesitant to give a bad review on this because it does a lot of things very well. Graphics, soundtrack, controls, game mechanics, storytelling are very good. But the game would have been a lot better if it had been only somewhere around 10 hours long. It consists pretty much of 3/4 of backtracking. And with a game map this big, if you don't use the built-in map markers extensively you will get frustrated a lot because you don't know where to go next. Even with the fast travel system it…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very fun mostly forgotten indie game. I've had this in my library since it came out and never got around to playing it. I'm trying to clear out my backlog of games before I buy anything new, and this was on the list. Gameplay is "underwater metroidvania". Don't worry, the controls are actually very good, although be warned myself and at least a couple other people have a strange bug where sometimes the game will just not let you move at times. It's super rare though, and I still beat the game…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is the best game. I played as a kid but never beat the game and replaying it now, the world is so much bigger and lore deeper than I ever knew! Finding new forms to play as and creatures to meet every day!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Why does this game not get the credit it deserves? It deserves in top 10 best metroidvanias of all time lists, but its barely even found on any metroidvania games lists or review videos. Why? This game is a work of art and a truly memorable experience. Easily in my top 5 Metroidvanias that aren't Metroid or Castlevania games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Excellent music and atmosphere Lots of cool areas to explore Controls hold up well Story is good too
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really respect the creative vision of this game, but I just don't find it very fun to play.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It’s almost impossible to approach Aquaria without anchoring it to 2007. This was an "Indie Metroidvania" released before I was fully familiar with those terms, and before digital storefronts made small‑team projects feel commonplace. I don't think I even had a Steam account in 2007! For its time, it’s remarkably accomplished: you can see clear echoes of Ecco the Dolphin and Super Metroid, and the ambition behind it is unmistakable. Bit Blot was working hard to prove that a handcrafted indie…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Aquaria is a little gem, especially considering the fact that it was released back in 2007 and developed by just two people. It surely deserves much praise for delivering a quite unique Metroidvania experience, focusing on the ability of the protagonist to use special songs to change form and unlock new powers. The hand-drawn graphics are impressively detailed, and the game map is quite large, with lots of secrets to find. However, it is worth noting that some aspects of the game didn't age too…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Love the writeup on Bastion. I have very similar feelings about Aquaria, an indie metroidvania from the beforetimes. The entire game is centered around the soundtrack, weaving the motifs into the game's narrative. Even moreso than Bastion or Undertale, Aquaria makes it's soundtrack a key narrative driver.
positive · AI labelView post →TONIGHT AT 6 PM CST: It's another dono-funded request stream, and an old indie game I've never played for more than 20 minutes: I'm diving into Aquaria and finally giving it a real shot! YOU can keep donating to/commissioning @mayuzane.bsky.social on kofi to request MORE stuff! twitch.tv/kerbumble
neutral · AI labelView post →It is a magical game with magical story, the verse actually binds you and you become part of Naija's life forever. I really wish someone picks up the game from creators and we get to see the next part of the game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not a very well-known game but one of my favourite metroidvanias. Good exploration and immersive aquatic atmosphere.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →one of my favorite games, beautiful and inspiring music, enjoyable story telling, imaginative environments, fun secrets for the observant eye, and the cooking system that helped inspire my love for soups. Aquaria is a great game and all the more so for its current price of only ten bucks, if I were to give one gripe its that for a small handful of us the spirit form is a lil...uncomfortable in its nature, that said we are I imagine a minority and most folks aren't likely to be bothered about…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Aquaria is a metroidvania that seeks to play around with the concept and tries to introduce a ton of ideas and concepts that would've been interesting, but ultimately fails to do anything worthwhile with them; stumbling through and clumsily reaching an end point with too many questions raised and unanswered. If it sounds like Aquaria has left me unfulfilled it's probably because it has. The idea of a metroidvania taking place in an underwater kingdom is pretty great, and the game delivers on…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Joyful game made by a murdered man.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Aquaria is a classic indie game for me. I remember playing it while ago and I had a lot of fun. Discovering the depths of the waters of Aquaria is just a beautiful experience. The artistic details are great. The atmosphere, the music and the characters are interesting. It is really a beautiful water world to discover. Make Naija swim to the adventure and discover the truth of Aquaria. The controls are decent and the multiple forms that Naija can take over the story is a nice aspect. The world…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →please play this game its amazing
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This was one of the first games I remember spending time with my dad playing. It was fun, simple, and had a feeling to it I had never experienced with games before. I remember wanting to find every recipe, and to explore the whole map. It was my first experience with a metroidvania, and it's one that many years later I think back to fondly. It has its quirks, but to me it's a work of art that has shaped the way I look at games. The first encounter with the surface, the Veil, is a very evocative…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The first game I ever played on Steam when I was like 7. At that time I actually thought it was the only game on Steam...
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →We have here an amazing game. Aquaria is almost 20 years old and until now is a great and beautiful game. If you like metroidvania, that one is a must play! There are so many different areas, secrets and sea life! The sound track... Ah the sound track! I could listen it all day! A had play this game when it was release and in 2019 again. The game just sounds better!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Incredible game the likes of which you'll probably never see again in your lifetime. Shame the author is no longer alive. I had the utmost faith that the sequel, and any other games they were planning, would have been priceless.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Cave Story really isn't a metroidvania. The path splits at points, but there's very little choice where to explore. It's just a platformer action shooter. My favorite metroidvania has to be Aquaria. Vibes of the game are on point. The story is great for a game in that genre, and the traversal and combat are unique and tons of fun. Soundtrack is phenomenal. Check out Gato Roboto if you want a metroidvania similar to Cave Story!
positive · AI labelView post →One of the most lovely Metroidvanias of the early indie generation. Outshone by modern games like Hollow Knight but still a pearl locked in the deep past that helped every successor come to glow marvelously. A game I wish had been better received and noticed, it's one I greatly cherished my time with and the final song (Fear the Dark) is still amongst the most haunting and meaningful melodies I've ever encountered.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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