Maybe the crew of the ship perished in tragic ways, leaving behind fragments of narrative eluding to why and how they died. Environment becomes increasingly perilous as the player progresses through different spaces.
Narrative would focus on the story of the ships crew and what caused them to run aground, player would be navigating through the environment piecing together events.
On a journey to overcome their thalassophobia, the player decides to board a cruise ship. This vessel features unique underwater rooms equipped with portholes, allowing guests to experience the underwater world from within the ship.
One night, an unnatural event occurs, causing the player to lose consciousness. Upon awakening, they find the ship abandoned and sinking. Dead crew members and guests lie scattered throughout the vessel, while others have fled to save themselves. The player must escape the ship while uncovering the crew and passengers' stories and discovering what transpired.
To overcome their fear of deep water, the player must dive into the sunken parts of the ship, collecting items that help piece together the story.
The "MS Nightfall" has been cruising its route for 10 years. Occasionally, the ship experiences engine problems due to its age, but curiously, these issues seem to resolve themselves as soon as a mechanic investigates. Along their route, particularly at Oakland Shore, seemingly unearthly events occur, much to the passengers' and crew's delight. There are reports of giant shadows in the water, but as these sightings remain unproven, they've been dismissed as natural phenomena, causing little concern.
Oakland Shore is a small, abandoned fishing village by the sea. For many years, the village thrived on fishing and selling their catch to neighboring villages. About 20 years ago, fish stocks began to decline drastically until one day, not a single fish was caught. Fearing for their livelihoods, people started to leave. Those who stayed persisted until one foggy morning when a lone fishing boat ventured out and never returned. Days later, the wreckage washed up on the beach. Fearing for their lives, the remaining villagers fled, leaving Oakland Shore completely abandoned about 15 years ago.
In subsequent years, explorers investigated the village and shore, finding no signs of monsters or threats—but also no fish. While they all reported witnessing some kind of unexplained phenomenon, the area seemed safe enough to become a popular tourist attraction.
Captain Mercer Vendarus, a middle-aged man, has been with the MS Nightfall since its maiden voyage. Each year, he skillfully navigates the ship through various weather conditions, entertaining passengers and showcasing the world.
A calm and experienced sailor, Vendarus has witnessed numerous peculiar occurrences over the past decade, including the strange sightings reported by passengers and crew at Oakland Shore—a location the MS Nightfall passes on the third day of its journey. Despite the frequency of these reports, none have been substantiated. Following company orders and schedules, he continues to navigate past the shore in the late afternoon.
About three years into his travels, Mercer thought he glimpsed a human silhouette in the water. Upon attempting a rescue maneuver, the shape turned out to be a piece of driftwood from an old ship.
From that point on, he began to notice increasingly unusual occurrences. However, as these incidents were neither witnessed by others nor posed any apparent threat to him, the crew, or the ship, he chose to keep quiet. Instead, he meticulously documented all sightings in a notebook for future reference.
The MS Nightfall's crew is a diverse group of individuals, including chefs, artists, maids, cleaners, mechanics, and more. Many have lived on the ship for several years. While the crew rotates every six months, most members have served multiple seasons, accumulating a wealth of stories.
When passing Oakland Shore, the crew eagerly shares tales of their experiences and observations from previous voyages. Over the years, they've even created betting pools and bingo sheets to predict what peculiar sights they might encounter on their next pass.