Soul Searching is a narrative survival game about sailing away from your homeland.
You manually row your boat, adjust the sails, and navigate the treacherous open seas. The map does not reveal all the islands upfront, encouraging you to organically explore and discover new locations. Each island has its own unique inhabitants, stories, and secrets to uncover through dialogue and environmental storytelling.
Surviving on the open sea requires carefully managing your food, water, and sleep levels. You must fish, forage for plants, and search wrecked ships to maintain your resources. Running out of food or water can lead to fatigue or death, requiring you to restart.
As you progress, you can acquire new components to upgrade and customize your boat. This includes adding features like oars, fishing gear, storage compartments, and even magical enchantments. Improving your boat allows you to venture further and tackle more dangerous environments.
Sailing the open waters isn't always peaceful, as you may encounter random events like thunderstorms, giant whales, or massive, fire-breathing dragons. These unexpected encounters add an element of unpredictability and challenge, forcing you to think quickly and adapt your strategies.
The game also features a local cooperative mode, allowing up to four players to work together to survive. Each player is responsible for different tasks, such as steering the ship, managing resources, or defending against threats. This adds a layer of teamwork and coordination to the gameplay.