The year is 1905-06-17, and the world as we know it has ended. Earth's temperature has risen, melting the polar ice caps and leaving the planet under water. The survivors live on boats or man-made islands called Atolls, searching for a mythical place called Dry Land. A little girl named Enola is believed to have a map to Dry Land tattooed on her back, and a band of pirates called the Smokers are after it. They also want Enola's unique mark. Enter The Mariner, a nameless drifter who has adapted to this new world, with gills and webbed feet.
You play as The Mariner, tasked with finding Dry Land for the people of the Atolls. Your journey takes you through three main gameplay types. Firstly, you sail through large areas, clearing them of Smoker pirates. In these levels, you can also save the Atollers from Smoker attacks. Secondly, you swim underwater, avoiding sea creatures and collecting items to buy useful gear at a shop. This is done while killing off Smokers on the Atolls. You start with a big knife but get additional weapons: a pistol, a speargun, and a machine gun.