Cold Waters is a submarine simulator strategy. Players take command of a submarine in a sea full of convoys, battleships and enemy planes.

Nuclear war

World War III has broken out between the Soviet Union and the US, turning the oceans into a battleground filled with nuclear subs and towering battleships. Players progress through a campaign mode, completing a series of objectives with their sub set against a backdrop of news reports and tense relations. Cold Waters is a game focused on the simulation of a submarine rather than on military action, which can either be a negative or positive depending on a player's preference. The game is slow and ponderous, often requiring huge distances covered across a featureless sea with little to do. While the accuracy is impressive, the lack of polish to the gameplay often leads to a feeling of disappointment. Cold Waters feels more like a beta than a full priced release. Crashes are common, enemy units teleport across the map and missions end for little to no reason.

Simulation over action

Cold Waters is something of a mixed bag. Fans of accurate military simulation will have lots of enjoyment learning how to control the submarine while others will quickly become bored of the slow pace and empty maps.