Turn based tactical game about war at sea between British Royal Navy and Imperial German Navy during World War I. Command powerful dreadnoughts, fast destroyers and stealthy submarines, conduct artillery battles, torpedo attacks and fight for the survivability of damaged ships.
Developers provide players the ability to command a variety of World War I ships, including powerful dreadnoughts, fast destroyers, and stealthy submarines, in turn-based tactical combat between the British Royal Navy and Imperial German Navy. An advanced damage model, historical ship prototypes, and environmental factors like visibility and weather heavily influence the flow of battle.
On each turn, players can manually manage their ships' crews to repair damage, fight fires, and keep vessels operational. Movement involves setting speed and rudder angle, requiring careful positioning and maneuvering to gain advantageous firing solutions. Gunnery is a core focus, as players must account for range, shell flight time, and wind conditions when aiming main, secondary, and tertiary batteries. An intricate damage model simulates the various ship components and systems, with hits potentially causing catastrophic failures that players must work to control through damage control.
Reviewers consistently applaud the attention to historical detail, from the authentic ship models to the simulation of real-world gunnery and damage control procedures. Many appreciate the depth and complexity, particularly the intricacy of the damage model, ballistics calculations, and environmental factors that add strategic nuance. Despite this complexity, reviewers find the user interface and controls intuitive and approachable for both newcomers and naval warfare enthusiasts.
The current Early Access version faces criticism for its relatively limited selection of ship classes and scenarios, with players eager to see the developer expand the roster and scope of campaign and multiplayer content. Some reviewers also note performance issues, particularly on older or less powerful hardware, indicating a need for continued optimization work.