This is a pretty relaxing simulation game to play. No shooting, or being shot as soon as you respawn! It is pretty well much like Snowrunner, but instead of trucks, you’re doing boat simulation stuff.
The start is a bit frustrating (just like with Snowrunner, before you get any decent truck). The row boat is pretty slow (even if you hold down the SHIFT key) and up until the most recent release, the row boat was a single piece of cargo at a time, no matter how small it was. Also, the row boat cannot do some things, like it does not pick up items for harbour clean up operations – took me a while to work out this was the issue. Now (latest update beginning of July 2025) at least you can put two or three pieces of cargo into the row boat and deliver them in one go.
Apart from slow, you are also learning the ropes in the beginning, especially what is where in terms of navigation, and the fact that even though the row boat is very low, it still does not go under that jetty. But I did a few deliveries and then managed to buy my first motorised boat (right at the bottom of the range). What I did not know in the beginning was, when you go into the boat shed, there is an option by the laptop on the desk, to switch boats. That is where you can choose something else to buy.
With a motorised boat you can set the controls and then leave it, unlike the row boat where you have to keep holding the key down to keep rowing. It is also possible to set a course in the map and then activate the autopilot. The only snag is it will not set a course over shallow water, and keeps saying that the course will take you over land. So you may have to set courses in a two or more separate stages. But that is at least a lot better!
Above image, at the bottom left of the image, you can see a course I had set and was following it manually at the time. If the autopilot is active, the nav icon will show green in the speed dial at the bottom right. Right now I’m mostly just delivering cargo, as I still need a skill certificate to operate a crane, and I need to figure out the fishing part. At least the motorised boat can take quite a few more pieces of cargo at one time, so immediately the financial rewards are also a lot better than a row boat!
Some of the controls are operable in the cabin (no, I can’t drink the coffee yet). The only odd thing is the interaction button is the keyboard letter N, so it is not that you click with the mouse to interact with what you see. You steer the boat with the WASD keys, and it is quite sluggish to respond. But the views are great, and you can go onto the deck too and admire the sunsets and the swell of the ocean waves, as well as the foam, and other smaller details.
Above, you can see the swell generated by the boat as it moves. The V key will allow the camera views to be changed. As you rotate and move the view, the audible sounds also change. The above image also shows the nav icon glowing green, which means the autopilot is engaged.
Above, you can see the autopilot controls and the music radio to the right. Both are interactive (remember to use the N key when hovering over a button). The radio not only will play streaming music, but it seems it can also tune into any streaming media.
There are some really beautiful scenes near sunset, too, that one can just marvel at. Above, I’m cruising slowly through the port near sunset.
After dark, you need to turn on your cabin lights (switches can be seen top right above, near the roof of the cabin), or outside work lights, if you want to see what you’re doing.
The game is still in early alpha release, so yes, there are some bugs and odd things. It is generally quite playable, though. Although designed for Windows, it is working perfectly for me on Linux using the Proton compatibility inside Steam Games. I can only imagine how great this game would be using VR!
I see the game also has a multiplayer option, which could be fascinating. More information about the game at https://www.shipsatsea.com.