Seafarer

Seafarer is set in the age of sailships. You play as a young captain commanding a merchant ship, exploring the oceans, visiting harbour towns and managing your crew and vessel.

Trade and exploration

In port, you can trade goods, carry out assignments and gather information from the local populace. The ocean is home to strange and exotic creatures, some friendly and some hostile. Study their behaviour and learn to interact with them to your benefit.

Sailing your ship

Wind, weather, tides and currents all affect your voyage. Your ship sails fastest with the wind behind it, and cannot sail into the wind. Set or reef the sails to suit the wind strength, and use the steering wheel to set the rudder. Watch for reefs and shallows as you guide your ship and crew through the waters. Magical items let you change the wind’s direction and strength, reverse the tides or alter the water level.

Combat and upgrades

You can defend yourself against pirates and fight when provoked. In combat, you must maneuver, manage the wind and tides, and operate the cannons under time pressure as you try to come alongside an enemy ship and fire a broadside. You can also use the environment and your abilities to outwit pursuers: changing the water level can send opponents onto reefs or shallows, while a well-timed anchor drop brings your ship to an immediate halt and may let pursuers glide past, giving you a chance to fire a broadside.

As you progress, you can equip your ship with better weapons, sails and shielding. If you have the funds, you can upgrade to a larger ship with a bigger cargo hold, allowing you to transport more goods and increase your trade.