I think this goes through a fairly standard plot, it doesn't really do anything that hasn't been seen before, but I find (one of) the characters compelling enough and the art direction compelling enough to make up for that.  I think it suffers from length? Or use of time? Admittedly the lack of real interaction with Achre keeps him from really being compelling at all, to the point that in the one decision of the game, he's completely irrelevant. He's there as our legally mandated Novembuck, but he doesn't serve much purpose beyond exposition, and showing that our captain and our crew genuinely care about each other. Which is the same problem with the ice. It's spooky, it's creepy, it's alive... but it's not really anything. It's a plot device to cause problems, but with the initial exposition we're given about it, it kinda comes to nothing, beyond a vague implication it's got some sort of fate/universe altering properties. The plot beats are b horror movie, it serves the purpose, and it leaves a lot on the table. 

THAT SAID, impeccable use of lighting and sprites and sounds to create a very good atmosphere. I have a personal soft spot for "claustrophobic scientific military space" whether that's The Thing, or Alien, or Underwater (that one 2020 movie with Kristen Stewart), or Proxima Protocol, and it's nailed right on the head. Especially in the lighting of the sprites, very clever.

The other characters are also really enjoyable! Muir is admittedly kind of a himbo, and I don't mean this out of dislike, but I'm glad he sacrifices himself. Like, my first thought was "oh well the guaranteed 'at least someone lives' scenario was to just leave him behind" so his self sacrifice was nice to see. I think the captain works well as a good balance. He's probably dressed like the rest, but when his whole crew is kinda shirking any sort of dress code and self care routine, I can't help but imagine him as still relatively well dressed and clean cut, even 500 fathoms deep where he's the highest in command. He plays as a nice couterpoint to the more lazze faire and casual crew, and as a source of actual strength and authority when the crisis happens. Plus in the good ending he transfers himself to the same place as radovan so he can fuck him without it being against the rules, which, based.

RADOVAN. I know he's a cat, but his species is a bit hard to discern, and I think it would be easy to mistake him for the GOAT. Okay not actually like a goat I just wanted to use that joke. But it is a little not quite cat like. STILL his personality just bleeds into all of his interactions, both with the good captain, and with the rest of the crew. I think he carries the vn as hard as he carries the escape attempt. You have my authorial solidarity for also putting in a slavic character who is just Doing Their Best. 

Overall  I really liked this, and I look forward to your next work!