Still Wakes the Deep – Siren’s Rest | PC DLC Review

In a year already packed with stellar titles, Still Wakes the Deep emerged as one of my top five games of 2024. It was chilling, gorgeously presented, and emotionally potent. Still Wakes the Deep is a rare narrative horror experience that stuck with me long after the credits rolled. So when the surprise DLC surfaced, I couldn’t wait to dive back in. Literally.

From the very first moments, this new chapter makes its mark. We’re underwater now, tasked with exploring the wreckage of the Beira D to find anything that could be returned to the families of those lost. Deep, dark, and silent. And of course, our main character skips a critical safety checklist. A small but telling detail; just enough to let you know that trouble’s coming fast.

A Haunting Descent

This time, we step into the weighted boots of Mhairi (pronounced “Mary” but with a Scottish accent), a professional diver with a heavy history and personal reasons for being aboard the Beira D. She’s not alone. Rob is physically present in “the Bell” which is their miniature underwater home base. Rob serves as the narrative companion, while Hans, the manager above water, provides urgency. But like most horror stories, this journey is deeply personal. Mhairi isn’t just identifying bodies or collecting mementos, the objective of the first chapter, she’s also chasing closure for the losses in her own past.

Her exposure to the entity still lingering in the sunken ship begins to wear her down, causing hallucinations and disorientation. Each trip “off umbilical” severs her from her communications and oxygen tether, turning even the smallest objective into a tense race for survival. Her final goal: escape the Beira D before she joins the others who never made it out.

Dark Water, Tight Spaces

The core gameplay retains the tightly scripted, narrative-driven structure of the original. In the Siren’s Call DLC, there aren’t many action beats. Only a few moments require fast movement or creature evasion, but tension never truly lets up. The act of simply navigating the wreck, flashlight in hand, often had me clenching my teeth. Just wait for the section where the flashlight, or Torch in the Scottish way, malfunctions and you have to use flares instead. The level design forces you through suffocatingly narrow corridors and shadow-choked corners. This is especially potent when you’re in a diving suit, deep underwater, completely alone.

Objective markers help guide the way, though I did get turned around at one point due to a visual bug. The umbilical disappeared, causing me to forget where I came from. The obvious way forward was hidden by my own ineptitude. Once I found the way, I kicked myself for focusing on distractions rather than the clear path ahead. That aside, the game does a solid job of keeping the pressure on. Although, a few moments later, Mhairi attaches the invisible umbilical back to her suit. 

Atmospheric Excellence

The visuals remain stunning. Underwater murk, flickering lights, and shifting shadows all contribute to the unsettling ambiance. A second visual bug arrived near the end where a photograph is supposed to be held in her hands, but it hovered awkwardly two feet higher. But these are minor distractions in an otherwise polished and visually gripping experience. The physics of swimming versus walking felt seamless and impressively crafted, creating some welcome variance in controls.

And then there’s the sound. Oh, the sound. From the echo of voices inside a diving helmet to the gurgle of currents and the hiss of escaping air, the audio design is award-worthy. Voice acting is stellar across the board, led by Lois Chimimba as Mhairi. Her accent grounds the story in its North Sea setting. And the music? Absolutely beautiful. Subtle, haunting, and emotionally resonant. I cannot recommend the soundtrack enough. It’s available on Steam and well worth the purchase.

Final Verdict: Still Wakes the Deep – Siren’s Rest

While this DLC doesn’t offer much in the way of new gameplay mechanics, it provides exactly what I wanted: a reason to return to one of 2024’s best settings. The tension is real, the story is personal, and the execution (minus a couple of bugs) is impressively tight. Mhairi’s journey complements the original narrative beautifully, offering emotional closure in a claustrophobic, pressure-filled world where every breath could be your last.

If you enjoyed Still Wakes the Deep, this 2–3 hour expansion is a must-play. It pairs perfectly with a weekend indoors, especially if you’re hiding from the oppressive summer heat.

To hear me talk more about Still Wakes the Deep – Siren’s Rest, be sure to listen to the June 25th, 2025 episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast.

This review is based on a PC copy of Still Wakes the Deep – Siren’s Rest provided by Honest PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.