《哀悼之潮》（Mourning Tide）是以釣魚為核心玩法、卻披著濃厚心理恐怖外衣的獨立遊戲，由Liquid Squid開發、Black Lantern Collective發行。預計於2026年4月30日正式在Steam平台推出，而在此之前，已於2024年10月17日以數位版形式登上Nintendo Switch。遊戲時間約為一小時左右，屬於短篇但高度凝縮的體驗型作品，主打情緒張力、敘事氛圍與象徵意涵，而非長時間的系統堆疊。

在劇情設定上，圍繞著一名被深重愧疚吞噬的漁夫展開。他獨自航行進入被視為禁忌的海域，遠離港口、人群與文明，只剩下海浪、魚群，以及不斷湧現的回憶。這片海不只是現實中的場所，更像是他內心世界的投射。隨著一次又一次拋竿、收線，他打撈上來的不僅是魚，更是自己過去人生的殘骸——悔恨、失落、罪行與無法言說的悲傷。遊戲並未以大量對白直接說明事件全貌，而是透過象徵性的生物、模糊的畫面暗示，以及逐步揭露的敘事碎片，讓玩家自行拼湊這名漁夫究竟犯下什麼錯，又為何選擇踏入這片「哀悼之海」。故事核心圍繞著救贖的可能性，但遊戲始終保持曖昧態度，並不承諾原諒一定存在，正如傳說中所說，大海不會給予任何憐憫。

在操作與玩法上，表面看似是釣魚遊戲，實際上卻不斷顛覆玩家對釣魚的安全感。需要拋竿、等待、收線，但每一次操作都伴隨著不安與壓力。不同的魚類擁有截然不同的行為模式，有些會劇烈掙扎，有些則以詭異節奏回應，迫使玩家隨時調整節奏與反應。隨著遊戲推進，釣魚系統本身也會發生變化，變得更加緊張甚至扭曲，彷彿海洋正在試探玩家的心理極限。更重要的是，永遠無法確定自己會從深海中拉起什麼——可能是畸形怪物、象徵罪惡的異樣存在，或是某段記憶的具象化呈現。這種不確定性讓每一次收線都成為一種心理折磨，而非單純的操作挑戰。

視覺與音效是塑造恐怖感的關鍵。採用PSX風格的復古低多邊形畫面，刻意保留粗糙的邊緣、模糊的貼圖與低解析度的陰影，營造出既懷舊又不安的氛圍。這種風格並非單純復古，而是強化了夢魘般的抽離感，讓世界看起來不完全真實，彷彿隨時會崩解。音效設計則極度克制，海浪聲、繩索摩擦聲與突如其來的低沉噪音交錯出孤立感，使恐懼更多來自等待與想像，而非頻繁的驚嚇演出。整體氛圍強烈指向心理層面的壓迫，而非血腥堆疊。

在內容取向上，開發團隊也明確標示本作包含大量成人主題。故事涉及心理創傷、情感操控、暴力與血腥描寫，並觸及憂鬱、自我毀滅、身份崩解等沉重議題，甚至包含對自殺與謀殺的暗示性描寫。這些元素並非為刺激，而是服務於角色內心的崩潰過程，整體基調相當黑暗，對情緒敏感的玩家而言可能具有衝擊性。

市場評價方面，雖然尚未在Steam正式發售，但從公開預告、試玩影片與Switch 版的早期回饋來看，已在獨立恐怖遊戲圈中引起關注。玩家與評論者普遍肯定其獨特的「釣魚＋心理恐怖」概念，認為它成功將看似平靜的機制轉化為情緒壓迫的來源，也讚賞其敘事留白與象徵手法。PSX風格的美術亦受到復古恐怖愛好者青睞。不過，也有部分玩家指出遊戲流程較短、玩法重複性較高，較適合視為一次性的敘事體驗，而非長時間反覆遊玩。整體而言，市場對本作的期待集中在其氣氛完整度與情感衝擊力，而非系統深度。

總體來說，《哀悼之潮》是將內疚、悲傷與恐怖巧妙融合的實驗型作品。它不追求傳統恐怖遊戲的刺激節奏，而是透過孤獨的釣魚行為、逐漸異化的深海與破碎的回憶，讓玩家一步步沉入角色的內心深處。對於喜歡心理恐怖、象徵敘事，以及願意直面沉重情緒的玩家而言，這將是一段短暫卻令人難以忘懷的黑暗航行。

Mourning Tide is an indie horror game built around a fishing-centric core, wrapped in a heavy psychological horror atmosphere. Developed by Liquid Squid and published by Black Lantern Collective, the game is scheduled for release on Steam on April 30, 2026. Prior to this, it launched digitally on Nintendo Switch on October 17, 2024. With a playtime of roughly one hour, it is designed as a short but highly concentrated experience, focusing on emotional intensity, narrative atmosphere, and symbolic meaning rather than long-form system complexity.

In terms of story, Mourning Tide centers on a fisherman consumed by overwhelming guilt. He sails alone into forbidden waters, far removed from ports, people, and civilization, leaving only the sea, the fish, and his ever-rising memories. This ocean is not merely a physical location, but a projection of his inner world. With every cast of the line and every haul from the depths, he dredges up not only fish, but fragments of his past life—regret, loss, sin, and inexpressible sorrow. The game avoids heavy-handed exposition; instead, it conveys its narrative through symbolic creatures, blurred visual hints, and fragmented storytelling, inviting players to piece together what the fisherman has done and why he chose to enter this “mourning sea.” Redemption lies at the heart of the story, yet the game remains deliberately ambiguous, never promising forgiveness—just as the legend suggests, the sea offers none.

From a gameplay and control perspective, Mourning Tide appears at first glance to be a fishing game, but it constantly subverts any sense of calm traditionally associated with the activity. Players cast their line, wait, and reel in, yet every action is laced with tension and unease. Different fish exhibit distinct behaviors: some struggle violently, others move in unsettling rhythms, forcing players to adjust their timing and reactions on the fly. As the game progresses, the fishing system itself begins to evolve, becoming increasingly tense and distorted, as though the sea is testing the player’s psychological limits. Crucially, players can never be certain what they will pull from the depths—it may be a grotesque creature, a manifestation of guilt, or a symbolic echo of memory. This uncertainty turns each catch into a psychological ordeal rather than a simple mechanical challenge.

Visuals and sound design are central to the game’s horror. Mourning Tide adopts a PSX-inspired retro aesthetic, intentionally preserving rough edges, blurred textures, and low-resolution shadows to create a nostalgic yet deeply unsettling atmosphere. This style is not mere homage, but a deliberate choice that enhances the dreamlike, unstable quality of the world, making it feel as though it could collapse at any moment. The audio design is equally restrained and effective. The sound of waves, creaking ropes, and sudden low-frequency disturbances work together to create isolation and dread, with fear arising more from anticipation and imagination than from frequent jump scares.

In terms of content, the developers clearly warn that the game contains mature themes. The narrative addresses psychological trauma, emotional abuse, violence, and gore, while also touching on depression, self-destructive behavior, and the loss of identity. References to suicide and murder appear in disturbing contexts. These elements are not included for shock value, but to serve the portrayal of a man’s internal collapse, resulting in a relentlessly dark and emotionally heavy tone that may be distressing for sensitive players.

Regarding market reception, although the Steam version has yet to be released, Mourning Tide has already drawn attention within the indie horror community based on trailers, previews, and early impressions from its Switch release. Players and critics alike have praised its unique blend of fishing mechanics and psychological horror, noting how it transforms a normally tranquil activity into a source of anxiety and dread. The use of narrative ambiguity and symbolic storytelling has also been well received, particularly among fans of atmospheric horror, while the PSX-style visuals appeal strongly to retro horror enthusiasts. Some players, however, have pointed out the game’s short length and limited replayability, viewing it more as a one-time narrative experience than a long-term gameplay investment. Overall, expectations focus less on mechanical depth and more on atmosphere, cohesion, and emotional impact.

In conclusion, Mourning Tide is an experimental horror title that weaves guilt, grief, and terror into a tightly focused experience. Rather than chasing fast-paced scares, it uses solitude, distorted fishing mechanics, and fragmented memories to pull players deep into the protagonist’s psyche. For those who appreciate psychological horror, symbolic storytelling, and are willing to confront heavy emotional themes, this is a brief but haunting voyage into darkness that is likely to linger long after the journey ends.