Even the Ocean is an evocative, dreamlike experience, much like its creators' previous game, Anodyne. What separates it from Anodyne is the relative legibility of its story — the main plot is a clear, straightforward allegory for anthropogenic climate change, and its more ambiguous, inexplicable moments and qualities tend to appear with side characters or on the way to main objectives. It's a competent platformer, with interesting mechanics that usually don't wear out their welcome, though the back third of the game tilts the balance of gameplay and story a bit too heavily towards gameplay, and as a result can feel bogged and slow. In some ways, the ending feels realistic and appropriate; in others, I wish the game had taken its themes and development a little farther. Still, despite that inconsistency, it's very much worth the time.