Complete Sword of the Sea Walkthrough 2026 – Trophy Guide
How many chapters are in Sword of the Sea? Sword of the Sea features 8 main chapters that take you through a mystical journey across desert landscapes as you restore water to the ocean by activating Ocean Seeds.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned from my playthroughs of Giant Squid’s latest atmospheric adventure, including all chapter walkthroughs, collectible locations, and trophy hunting strategies that helped me achieve the platinum.
| Chapter Name | Key Elements | Completion Time |
|---|---|---|
| Veiled Sea | Tutorial & Ocean Seed Introduction | 20-25 minutes |
| Lost Grotto | First Major Collectible Area | 25-30 minutes |
| Forbidden Valley | Advanced Movement Mechanics | 30-35 minutes |
| Shadow Tundra | Environmental Challenges | 25-30 minutes |
| Frozen Drifts | Ice Surfing Mechanics | 20-25 minutes |
| Sacred River | Water Flow Navigation | 25-30 minutes |
| Boiling Cavern | Heat Mechanics & Timing | 20-25 minutes |
| Sky Abyss | Final Boss – Tornamun | 15-20 minutes |
Understanding Sword of the Sea’s Unique Gameplay
Before diving into each chapter, let me share what makes Sword of the Sea special. Having played all of Giant Squid’s games from Journey to ABZÛ, I can tell you this game perfectly blends their signature atmospheric storytelling with innovative hoversurfing mechanics. The momentum-based movement system feels incredibly satisfying once you master it – and trust me, you’ll need that mastery for some of the trickier collectibles and the speedrun trophy.
The game’s forgiving nature means you can’t actually fail or die, which makes it perfect for cozy gaming experiences. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s entirely easy – achieving 100% completion and the platinum trophy requires genuine skill, especially for the Untouchable trophy where you must defeat Tornamun without taking damage.
Chapter 1: Veiled Sea – Your Journey Begins
The Veiled Sea serves as your introduction to the world of Sword of the Sea. I spent about 25 minutes here on my first playthrough, though you can complete it in 20 if you’re focused. This opening chapter teaches you the fundamental hoversurfing mechanics while establishing the game’s mystical atmosphere.
In this area, you’ll learn to control your hoversword, build momentum, and perform basic tricks. The Ocean Seed here is unmissable – it’s part of the main story progression. However, there are 6 Secret Shells hidden throughout the Veiled Sea that are easy to miss. I found the trickiest one behind a rock formation near the starting area – you’ll need to build up speed and launch yourself over the dunes to reach it.
Pro tip from my experience: Don’t rush through this chapter. Take time to master the momentum system here, as it becomes crucial in later chapters. The way your character gains speed by carving down slopes feels similar to actual snowboarding or surfing physics, which Giant Squid nailed perfectly.
Chapter 2: Lost Grotto – Hidden Treasures Await
Lost Grotto really opens up the exploration aspect of the game. This chapter took me about 30 minutes to fully explore, and it contains 7 Secret Shells plus the first Hidden Frog collectible. The Ocean Seed here requires you to navigate through a series of cave systems, which introduces the game’s more confined navigation challenges.
What I love about Lost Grotto is how it rewards exploration. Unlike the open dunes of Veiled Sea, this area has multiple vertical layers and hidden pathways. I discovered that using the trick system (pressing Square/X for spins) not only looks cool but actually helps you maintain momentum in tighter spaces. This becomes essential for reaching some of the higher shell locations.
The Hidden Frog in this chapter is particularly well-concealed. You’ll find it in a small alcove accessible only by launching off a specific ramp at maximum speed. It took me three attempts to nail the trajectory, but the satisfaction when I finally grabbed it was immense. This is where the game’s similarity to other indie adventure game guides becomes apparent – exploration is always rewarded.
Chapter 3: Forbidden Valley – Mastering Advanced Techniques
Forbidden Valley marks a turning point in difficulty. This chapter introduces more complex environmental puzzles and requires precise control of your hoversword. I spent 35 minutes here on my initial run, though subsequent playthroughs for trophy cleanup took only 20 minutes once I knew the optimal routes.
The Ocean Seed activation in Forbidden Valley involves a multi-step process where you need to channel water through ancient mechanisms. What makes this chapter special is the introduction of boost pads – glowing areas that launch you at high speed. Learning to chain these boosts together while maintaining control is key to accessing the 8 Secret Shells scattered throughout the valley.
During my platinum trophy run, I discovered that Forbidden Valley is perfect for practicing the trick combos needed for the high score trophy. The long, sweeping valleys provide ample opportunity to chain spins, flips, and grinds. I managed to rack up over 150,000 points in this single chapter by maintaining continuous trick chains between collectible pickups.
Chapter 4: Shadow Tundra – Environmental Mastery
Shadow Tundra presents a stark contrast to the previous sun-drenched chapters. The darker atmosphere and shifting shadows create navigation challenges that reminded me of the more contemplative moments in Journey. This chapter houses 6 Secret Shells and requires about 30 minutes for thorough exploration.
The Ocean Seed here is protected by environmental hazards that require timing and pattern recognition. I found that the key to this chapter is patience – rushing through will cause you to miss subtle visual cues indicating hidden paths. The shadows aren’t just aesthetic; they actually hide collectibles and alternate routes that can shave minutes off your completion time during speedruns.
One technique I perfected here was the momentum cancel – pressing Circle/B at the peak of a jump to immediately drop and change direction. This move isn’t explicitly taught but becomes invaluable for navigating the tighter corridors of Shadow Tundra. It’s these kinds of hidden mechanics that give the game surprising depth beyond its serene surface.
Chapter 5: Frozen Drifts – Ice Physics Challenge
Frozen Drifts introduces ice surfing mechanics that completely change how you approach movement. The reduced friction means you’ll slide further but have less precise control. My first time through took nearly 30 minutes as I adjusted to the new physics, but it’s become one of my favorite chapters for trick runs.
The 7 Secret Shells here are cleverly hidden in ice formations that require specific angles to access. The second Hidden Frog collectible is also found here, tucked away in a frozen cave that you can only reach by building maximum speed on an ice slope and launching at just the right moment. It reminded me of some of the precision required in comprehensive mission guides where timing is everything.
What I discovered through multiple playthroughs is that ice surfing actually makes certain tricks easier to chain. The extended slide time gives you more opportunity to queue up your next move, which is perfect for score attack runs. I achieved my highest single combo score (over 50,000 points) on the long ice slide near the chapter’s midpoint.
Chapter 6: Sacred River – Flow State Gaming
Sacred River is where Sword of the Sea’s flow-based gameplay reaches its peak. The chapter is built around following water currents and using them to boost your speed and reach new areas. It took me about 30 minutes to complete initially, though the experience was so smooth it felt much shorter.
The Ocean Seed activation here involves redirecting water flow through ancient aqueducts, which creates a satisfying environmental puzzle. The 8 Secret Shells are positioned along the river’s path, but several require you to break away from the current at specific points. I found that reading the water’s movement patterns – watching for eddies and crosscurrents – helped identify these breakaway points.
This chapter also contains the third Hidden Frog, which is arguably the trickiest one to find. It’s located in a dry riverbed that only becomes accessible after you’ve activated certain water mechanisms. The environmental storytelling here is superb – you’re literally bringing life back to the desert as you progress.
Chapter 7: Boiling Cavern – Timing and Precision
Boiling Cavern ramps up the difficulty with heat geysers and timed platforming sections. This penultimate chapter tests everything you’ve learned about movement and momentum. Despite being one of the shorter chapters at 20-25 minutes, it’s dense with challenges and contains 6 Secret Shells plus the fourth Hidden Frog.
The Ocean Seed here requires navigating through chambers with periodic geyser eruptions. I learned to time my movements with the eruption patterns, using the brief cooldown periods to dash through dangerous areas. The game’s forgiving checkpoint system means you won’t lose progress if you mistime a section, but achieving a smooth run feels incredibly rewarding.
For trophy hunters, Boiling Cavern is where you’ll want to practice for the speedrun achievement. The chapter’s linear design and predictable hazard patterns make it perfect for route optimization. I shaved nearly 5 minutes off my initial time by identifying shortcuts and perfecting my geyser timing.
Chapter 8: Sky Abyss – The Final Confrontation
Sky Abyss serves as the climactic finale, featuring the boss fight against Tornamun. While the chapter itself is relatively short at 15-20 minutes, mastering the boss fight for the Untouchable trophy can add hours to your playtime. This final area contains 5 Secret Shells and the last Hidden Frog, all accessible before the boss encounter.
The Tornamun fight is a significant difficulty spike compared to the rest of the game. The boss has three phases, each with distinct attack patterns that you’ll need to memorize for the no-damage trophy. In my successful Untouchable run, I spent about 2 hours practicing the fight in chapter select mode before attempting it for real.
Here’s my strategy for each phase:
– Phase 1: Stay mobile and watch for the ground pound telegraph
– Phase 2: Use the arena’s edges to avoid the sweeping attacks
– Phase 3: Patience is key – wait for clear openings rather than rushing
The final Ocean Seed activation after defeating Tornamun provides a beautiful narrative conclusion that rivals the emotional impact of Journey’s ending. Without spoiling specifics, the way water returns to the world creates a genuinely moving finale to your adventure.
Collectibles and Trophy Hunting Strategy
Achieving 100% completion in Sword of the Sea requires finding all 50 Secret Shells and 5 Hidden Frogs across the eight chapters. Based on my platinum journey, I recommend collecting everything possible during your first playthrough rather than relying entirely on chapter select later. The game’s achievement completion guide philosophy applies here – systematic collection saves time.
For the trophy list, you’ll need two playthroughs minimum:
– First playthrough: Focus on collectibles and learning the levels
– New Game+: Complete within 2 hours for the speedrun trophy and achieve 1,000,000 points
The point multiplier in New Game+ (2x all scores) makes the million-point trophy much more manageable. I achieved it by maintaining trick chains throughout entire chapters and prioritizing high-value collectibles. The key is never letting your combo meter reset – always be spinning, flipping, or grinding.
Advanced Hoversurfing Techniques
After spending over 20 hours with Sword of the Sea, I’ve discovered several advanced techniques that aren’t explicitly taught but dramatically improve your performance:
Momentum Preservation: Release all inputs briefly when cresting hills to maintain maximum speed through the air. This technique alone cut minutes off my speedrun time.
Trick Buffering: You can queue up your next trick while still performing the current one. This eliminates dead time between tricks and keeps your combo multiplier active.
Wall Riding: Many vertical surfaces can be ridden if you approach at the correct angle. This opens up numerous shortcuts and alternative routes to collectibles.
Boost Chaining: Boost pads can be linked even when they seem too far apart. The key is maintaining altitude through controlled trick rotations.
Final Thoughts and Tips
Sword of the Sea is a masterclass in atmospheric game design that builds on Giant Squid’s legacy while introducing fresh mechanics. The eight chapters provide a perfectly paced 3-4 hour adventure that expands significantly if you’re pursuing 100% completion. For those interested in similar gaming guides, this game represents the evolution of the walking simulator genre into something more dynamic and engaging.
My biggest tip for new players: don’t rush. The game rewards exploration and experimentation. Every seemingly inaccessible area has a solution, usually involving creative use of the momentum system. The journey to platinum took me about 10 hours total, but those were 10 hours of pure gaming joy.
The chapter select feature unlocked after your first completion makes cleanup easy, and the New Game+ mode adds genuine replay value with its score multiplier and increased challenge. Whether you’re here for a relaxing adventure or challenging trophy hunting, Sword of the Sea delivers an experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
Remember, the Untouchable trophy might seem daunting, but with practice and pattern recognition, it’s absolutely achievable. I failed the Tornamun fight probably 15 times before succeeding, but each attempt taught me something new about the boss’s patterns. Persistence pays off in this beautiful ocean of sand.