When The Chinese Room first launched Still Wakes the Deep, it was hailed for its atmospheric horror and grounded storytelling. Now, with the release of the DLC Still Wakes the Deep Siren’s Rest, the team pulls us back onto the creaking rig — not to continue the story of Caz McLeary, but to dig deeper into the horror that started it all. This expansion isn’t about moving forward — it’s about seeing the nightmare from new angles.
Still Wakes the Deep Siren’s Rest smartly avoids feeling like a simple add-on. It presents a fresh, self-contained experience that enriches the lore of the base game while giving players a different lens on the disaster that unfolded. Instead of playing as Caz, we now experience the event through the eyes of a previously unseen crew member, whose perspective provides new insight into the mysterious anomaly and its creeping terror. If you’ve played the main game, you’ll find this DLC eerie in a more intimate way — familiar spaces feel more cursed, and the story hits harder when you already know where it all ends.
Clocking in at around 2 hours, Still Wakes the Deep Siren’s Rest wastes no time. From the moment you step back onto the oil rig, the tension returns with a vengeance. But rather than relying on retreading old scares, the DLC takes a psychological angle. You’re not just hiding or running anymore — you’re piecing together twisted fragments of memory, hallucination, and haunting glimpses of what went wrong. New voice logs, personal diaries, and cryptic visions offer deeper narrative texture without spoiling the mystery. It feels like peeling back the skin of the original story to see what was always pulsing underneath.
One of the most effective additions is the shift in tone — Still Wakes the Deep Siren’s Rest leans heavier into psychological dread. You’ll witness the earliest signs of contamination, paranoia among the crew, and the breakdown of communication. There’s less immediate threat in the early moments, but the unease is constant. It’s more about what you think you’re hearing or seeing in the shadows than what actually chases you.
That said, the DLC doesn’t hold back when it needs to. The creature design is even more grotesque this time around, with new variations that reflect the theme of distortion — not just of the body, but of reality itself. Audio design remains a standout, with every pipe groan, distant thump, or unidentifiable squelch adding to the claustrophobic tension.
Visually, the game reuses much of the base game’s environment — which makes sense, given the DLC is set concurrently with the original events — but there are new areas to explore, including sections of the rig that were inaccessible before. These fresh spaces aren’t just filler; they deliver some of the expansion’s best scares and emotional moments. One sequence involving a submerged escape route lit only by emergency red lighting is especially haunting, showcasing The Chinese Room’s skill in minimalistic but effective horror design.
The biggest success of Still Wakes the Deep Siren’s Rest is how it makes you feel. It’s not just more of the same — it’s deeper. The themes of regret, isolation, and helplessness are explored from a new voice, and it doesn’t feel like DLC for DLC’s sake. If anything, it adds emotional depth to the base game’s tragic tale, reminding you that Caz wasn’t alone — he was just one story among many.
Of course, it’s not without its limitations. The shorter runtime will disappoint some, especially given the slow pacing in the first act. Some returning locations, while emotionally loaded, can feel overly familiar. And if you didn’t vibe with the base game’s gameplay style — more interactive narrative than action — there’s nothing here that will change your mind.
But for returning players hungry for more insight into the rig’s fall — and for those who appreciate slow-burn horror that lingers in your thoughts — Still Wakes the Deep Siren’s Rest is a welcome return to hell.
Still Wakes the Deep Siren’s Rest Trailer
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Game code was provided by the Publisher.
I reviewed it, and then it was edited by my partner.