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Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker
Released On: May 20, 2025
86
8.2
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 14 Critic Reviews
86
93% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
7% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 14 Critic Reviews
86
93% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
7% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker DLC is so well done and needs to be played. Besides the fact that it’s free, I didn’t want it to end!
Free, great DLC for an incredible game is a no-brainer recommendation from me.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 29 User Ratings
8.2
83% Positive
24 Ratings
24 Ratings
3% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
14% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 29 User Ratings
8.2
83% Positive
24 Ratings
24 Ratings
3% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
14% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
I played Sea of Stars at the time of its release, and I found no negative aspects worth noting. It is a work that possesses a unique essence, capable of establishing a profound emotional connection that is difficult to put into words. The additional content introduced later is exceptional and serves as an outstanding complement to the original experience. However, my sole observation is that the release of the downloadable content occurred a considerable time after the initial launch, which may cause certain elements of the narrative to fade from the player’s memory.
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PC
Sea of Stars Throes of the Watchmaker delivers a follow-up adventure to its core game that is worthy of the legacy it inherits.
You can’t argue against the value of free DLC that expands on an already classic RPG. With more inventive, enjoyable combat and a compelling additional story, Throes of the Watchmaker is tougher, perhaps a tad short, but just as entertaining as the main campaign.
With Sea of Stars, Sabotage set out to create a spiritual successor to 16-bit JRPGs of yore, succeeding in some ways but failing in others. With this DLC, you will find the exact same strengths and weaknesses as in the main game. Throes of the Watchmaker is a very good piece of DLC for a very good game! Though the combat system and visual presentation are triumphs, the story and characters might leave you feeling underwhelmed. It would be interesting to see how Sabotage could improve on this solid RPG foundation, but I suspect they plan to move on to other pastures. Much like how they declined to make a sequel to The Messenger, my money says that their third game will also be a completely different genre and likely outside of our coverage. Given the baffling number of Super Punch-Out!! references present (yeah, the game is still meta), maybe they will be diving into a new take on that classic SNES title! But as this studio consistently delivers mechanically engaging, visual treats to the eyes, I am willing to explore whatever direction they take next!
Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker tries to improve on the base game’s weak protagonists with a stronger character focus, but unfortunately, it does so with brute force and ultimately falls short. At the very least, its combat remains highly engaging, and even if there are far too many puzzles now, the game’s aesthetics still carry it hard.
Throes of the Watchmaker looks to improve on the issues that some had with Sea of Stars, but fails to move the needle one way or the other. Those who enjoyed their time with the base game will probably have a great time with this free DLC, while those who didn't gel with the original release won't find much to win them over.
Summary This DLC sends Solstice Warriors Valere and Zale on a side-adventure into the miniature, clockwork world of Horloge, where a cursed carnival threatens its innocent denizens. To survive, they’ll need to play by unfamiliar rules and confront not only the mischievous Puppeteer and her minions, but also their own darker traits.
Platforms:
- Nintendo Switch
- PC
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
Initial Release Date: May 20, 2025
Developer:
Publisher:
Sabotage Studio
Genres: