I can pinpoint the exact moment when I developed a fear of water in videogames. It was ‘Apprehension,’ better known as the ninth level of Half-Life. If you’ve played it, you already know what I’m talking about – that bit where you have to go into the shark cage and fight the Ichthyosaur. Let’s not go any further than that. I don’t want to remember it. But needless to say, as in reality, the ocean in videogames can be a treacherous, scary place. A cross between the aquatic tension of Dredge and high-stakes vehicular realism of SnowRunner and Expeditions, a new simulation game from Astragon, the publisher behind Bus Simulator, has just been revealed exclusively to PCGamesN.
This is Seafarer: The Ship Sim, a new simulation game built in Unreal Engine 5. As the captain of either a small tug, a medium freighter, or a giant cargo ship, you’re dispatched on a series of perilous marine missions. Sometimes it’s simple transport. Other times, you’re putting out giant ship fires or rescuing an entire crew that’s become stranded. You can even go hunting for treasure. But even the most everyday assignments demand attention to detail and smart micromanagement.
Heavy machinery needs to be carefully operated and every part of the ship has to be checked and maintained. You’re free to walk around the deck of your boat whenever you like and can even helm the water cannons. During the campaign mode, you can join different factions who all have their own jobs and demands. The map, meanwhile, is gigantic, and based heavily on the oceans of northern Europe. Building on the realism, there’s also dynamic weather and a day and night cycle.
As well as the story missions, Seafarer also has a drop-in quickplay mode, so you can go exploring and work on your vessel without worrying about objectives. We’re still waiting on a final release date, but Seafarer: The Ship Sim is set to be released into early access in summer 2025. You can already wishlist it right here.
In the meantime, you might want to try some of the best strategy games, or maybe get a look at the best upcoming PC games on their way to you.
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