As you begin your adventure through the truly beautiful game that is Sword of the Sea, you want to really focus on taking in the sights, the sounds, and the symbolism this game serves up for you.
The last thing you want to be doing is hyper-fixating and getting frustrated as you search for this game’s secret collectibles, Shells.
That’s why we have taken the time to hunt them down for you, allowing you to glide through the game as intended, picking them up as you go without the need to go on a mad scavenger hunt. So, get on your board and ride.
Please be aware that the developer (Giant Squid) informed us after we had completed these collectible guides that they had plans to relocate these assets in their final update. However, we were given no warning of this via pre-release documentation. We are working under the assumption that the vast majority of shells will still be located as listed below. However, these guides may be slightly inaccurate through no fault of our own. We will endeavor to amend them if needed when a day-one patch becomes available.
When you get to the area where you meet the upgrade merchant for the first time and learn how to shred on ramps, turn to the left and examine the wall nearby. You’ll notice a gap in the wall, and in the little cave, you’ll find your first shell.
As you enter the large open area that forks into two directions with two chains to activate, make an immediate left. This will take you to an area where you will need to activate the lanterns, use jellyfish to climb to a high platform, and then plant your sword to cleanse the area.
After doing this, head down to the bottom of the waterfall, and on the right-hand side, you’ll find a cave that contains the second shell of your collection.
Provided you keep working through the areas that need cleansing on the left-hand side of the map, you’ll enter a cave where you’ll find a tapestry-like piece of wall art.
Cleanse the area, and you’ll reveal a small opening on the right-hand side of the wall. After this, follow the path using jellyfish to climb and a wallride to traverse over to a hidden area where you will find another shell.
After cleansing this area, you’ll be able to platform up to the area where you’ll be able to ride Orca Whales. Once you do this, you’ll want to look upward towards the two huge Orca statues atop this tower. On the left statue, when looking from behind, atop its head, you’ll find your next shell.
Before you drop down for the Orca tower, look out beyond the boundary of the map, and you’ll see a series of small descending platforms. Gain some speed and time your jump well to land on these platforms, and on the lowest one, you’ll find a shell.
After this, head right back up the Orca tower again, and this time look downwards on the right-hand side of the tower. You should see a protruding, raised ledge. You’ll want to jump down from your vantage point and land there, and then you can enter the cave nearby to find yet another shell.
Now that you’ve finished the left-hand side, you’ll want to head to the other chain’s puzzle area near the Trick Attack area. First, fully cleanse the area to reveal the seaweed and other assets that make platforming easier.
Then, start heading back on the chain. About halfway back, on the right, in the middle of a barren desert area, you’ll see a glowing shell just begging to be picked up.
After this, head back to the chain and along the first chain link, jump off, and head left. This will lead you to a water-filled area with a broken bridge seemingly leading to nowhere.
But if you look down, you’ll see a series of lower platforms. If you follow them down to the lowest one, you’ll find the desert frog, but don’t stop there. Look down again and you’ll see a statue below. Jump towards it, and nearby, you’ll find another shell.
On the way back from the last shell collected to the chain, head along the series of broken bridges to your right, using the seaweed to help you up to the cliff edge.
Up here, you will find yet another bridge leading out into nothingness. But if you look down and to the left, you will see a path below, with a small cave at the end of that path housing another shell.
Not far away from this shell, tucked away in a corner just left of the trick attack entrance, if you follow the wall, you’ll find a secret pathway. Follow this and use the wallride to traverse to a secret area, and on the other side, you’ll find a shell.
