In Other Waters cover art

In Other Waters

Serene interface-driven exploration of an alien ocean as an AI guide.

On Steam ↗
Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION0 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE3 /10OPTIMIZATION6 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    0/10

    Interface clicks only, no dexterity

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    0/10

    No opposition; the ocean is passive

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    3/10

    Unknown biology revealed through exploration

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    6/10

    Oxygen, sample, and route management

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

The Sims cover art

The Sims

Pure Optimization · life simulation

E
R
V
O
The Sims
Animal Crossing: New Horizons cover art

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Pure Optimization · life sim

E
R
V
O
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Fallout Shelter cover art

Fallout Shelter

Pure Optimization · base management sim

E
R
V
O
Fallout Shelter
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You cover art

Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You

Systems & Chaos · surveillance narrative sim

E
R
V
O
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You
Black & White cover art

Black & White

Pure Optimization · god game

E
R
V
O
Black & White
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition cover artcross-genre

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

Pure Optimization · point-and-click adventure

E
R
V
O
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

Game details

Released
2020
Developer
Jump Over the Age
Platforms
PC, Mac, Switch
Modes
Single player
IGDB critics
71/100
IGDB users
69/100
PuzzleSimulatorAdventureIndieScience fictionMystery