By Sea of Stars is among my preferred nostalgic RPGs of recent years, taking nearly all the positive aspects of classic JRPGs from the past and delivering a sleek, contemporary remix. And now, shortly after Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 accomplished a similar feat, Sea of Stars has just launched a substantial, praised expansion that is entirely free for all current owners.
We have been aware of Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker for a considerable time, but the significant expansion is now active across PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. If you already possess the game or have a subscription to Xbox Game Pass, you also receive access to Throes of the Watchmaker at no additional cost.
What’s most remarkable about the DLC is likely the audience’s response to it, however. Sea of Stars was already a tremendous success upon its release in 2023, but the Throes of the Watchmaker DLC has achieved a flawless 100% Steam rating based on over 100 user reviews and counting.
“How – HOW was this free?” one user review states. “It’s truly phenomenal content, entertaining from beginning to end (presumably, I have yet to complete it, but my goodness I adore this.)” Others share the same astonished sentiment: it’s an expansion that contributes an astonishing amount to the game at no entry fee.
For those unacquainted, Throes of the Watchmaker presents an entirely new locale set within a miniature clockwork universe to the game. It somewhat parallels how Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty or The Outer Wilds’ Echoes of the Eye operates in that you can access it at nearly any moment from the existing map.
“Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker is a fantastic addition to an already high-quality turn-based RPG,” GamesRadar’s James Daley noted in his initial impressions. “Taking familiar characters and sending them through the looking glass into a distorted realm with a new party member, while revitalizing the game’s combat, provides all the motivation needed for fa