Age of Water

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Age of Water is a multiplayer action adventure game. It was developed by Three Whales Studio and was released on January 16, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Age of Water - Gold Edition Includes 3000 Corks and 250 000 Medallions. Corks will come in handy when you need to buy in-game resources from vendors and repair your ship, whereas medallions can be used to purchase decorations. Please note that there are no microtransactions in the game, and both currencies can only be earned via gameplay. Replaces four common starting boats with upgraded boats o…

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,638 reviews

story50 positive mentions

grinding113 negative mentions

Extensive ship customization and upgrade system allowing unique builds and tactical combat.
Immersive aquatic world with visually appealing water physics and atmospheric audio.
No pay-to-win elements; in-game currency earned through gameplay; PvP is optional and balanced to be low risk.

Frequently spawning, overpowered enemies with precise aim cause frustrating death loops and loss of progress.
Repetitive mission design focused on fetch quests with slow travel and limited guidance creates grindy gameplay.
Significant bugs, server instability, unbalanced mechanics, and poor UI undermine the overall experience.

story
447 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
81%
8%
The story in this game serves mostly as a backdrop to its core mechanics, featuring a flooded Earth setting with basic, often repetitive fetch and kill quests that many players find grind-heavy and lacking depth or engaging character development. While some appreciate the subtle environmental storytelling and the overarching premise, the mission design is frequently criticized for poor balance, unclear directions, and mandatory difficult group quests that hinder solo progression. Overall, the narrative offers limited intrigue and often feels overshadowed by technical issues, unpolished quest structure, and a tedious gameplay loop.
- “The plot places humanity in a scenario where water has taken over everything (thanks, climate change!). Our mission involves two tasks: staying alive in this flooded environment and discovering what remains of human society.”
- “Rather than relying on explicit dialogue or cutscenes, Age of Water encourages players to uncover the story of the ecosystem and their place within it by exploring ruins, interacting with other creatures, and observing changes in the environment.”
- “Fun game with a nice little storyline of quests and I think everyone should play this game and give it a try.”
- “The mission makes you kill 40 enemy ships while you have to literally do about 1 million damage per ship before it sinks, and haven't even been able to come close in all my attempts and now I feel soft locked.”
- “The quests to progress further in the game I literally cannot complete. You have to complete these quests in order to progress. The missions themselves have zero indication of what you're actually supposed to do, and the quest markers aren't usually near what your actual goal is.”
- “You will hit walls in questlines where difficulty ramps up substantially, prompting you to go do other quests and upgrade your ship before coming back. The only way to not have PvE drops is as a loaner, but some quests cannot and events cannot be completed or be involved in unless you choose a faction.”
gameplay
181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
58%
7%
The gameplay offers a fun and engaging core loop centered around ship building, exploration, and combat, with a good variety of mechanics and customization options. However, it is often criticized for grindy progression, poor tutorials, unclear mechanics, repetitive quests, and some balancing and technical issues. While it holds strong potential and appeals to fans of sea-based multiplayer and MMO gameplay, current flaws in pacing, UI, and player interaction detract from the overall experience.
- “The foundation of the game - its core mechanic of designing your ship with tons of gizmos (from decorations to engines to weapons to hull material) and search for different ship designs is very interesting and satisfying.”
- “The main thing I liked was the game world, the atmosphere and role-playing, quests, interaction with other players, a huge number of small mechanics that make the gameplay really exciting, create a bunch of unique gaming situations, and give an incredible gaming experience.”
- “Pros: fun gameplay loop with a slow upgrade to your ship with various items like guns, energy production, armor, dredge (find resources in the ocean using a winch) and fun events with PvP/PvE.”
- “No shared loot or meaningful co-op mechanics; you're basically playing a solo game in a shared world.”
- “If this game had private or personal servers and the ability to change settings, like difficulty and number of enemies, you could avoid most of this stuff. But as things stand, it's just a huge mess. The devs really need to consider that multiplayer does not inherently mean 'grouped'; there are many solo players, and their game balance needs to reflect that. As it stands, it's a 'potentially' good game with so much potential missed due to janky mechanics and poor balancing, and that is a genuine shame.”
- “Some game mechanics don't make sense, most game mechanics are poorly explained, and some missions are unplayable.”
grinding
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game features extensive grinding, especially from mid to late stages, involving repetitive resource farming, mission runs, and ship upgrades, which many players find tedious and sometimes frustrating due to high costs and slow progression. While some enjoy the grind as part of the challenge and sense of achievement, others criticize the lack of meaningful endgame content, unbalanced difficulty spikes, and resource competition that amplify the monotony. Overall, grinding is a core but divisive aspect: it sustains gameplay for hours but can feel overly arduous and detract from the fun for many.
- “Not grindy and easy to understand and get into”
- “End game is extremely grindy; you either have to spend weeks farming mats or do PvP to grind coins to buy mats.”
- “Once you reach end game gear, the most efficient option is to farm in one spot with others to gain XP and medallions, which can be used to buy resources faster than grinding them in the open world.”
- “The game is buggy and essentially a grinding simulator with no end game content to speak of, so there is no incentive to grind other than the grind itself.”
graphics
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
38%
5%
The game's graphics generally receive praise for their appealing visual style, impressive water and weather effects, and smooth optimization even on older systems. However, some users find the visuals dated, simplified, or generic, with occasional performance issues and mixed opinions on art style and character models. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to immersion and atmosphere, making the gameplay experience enjoyable despite some inconsistencies.
- “The graphics are super, like in real sea with different waves, big and small waves, and the boat or ship go exactly like in a real sea.”
- “The graphics are a great mix of beauty and almost cartoonish at times animated, the water and buildings etc look great and the sharks look really ominous (some just glide around... some don't).”
- “Art style/visuals/optimization 10/10 (this game runs on ultra on a Ryzen 3 and a Nvidia GT 1030 with 0 lag or frame drops).”
- “Just in everything - graphics, visuals, dialogues - everything feels extremely cheap, generic and simplified.”
- “First of all, the graphics look terrible.”
- “The graphics are mediocre, and the overall presentation feels underwhelming.”
stability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The game is widely criticized for being buggy and unstable, with frequent glitches, freezes, and server issues that hinder progression and overall enjoyment. While some note decent performance and immersion on certain systems, persistent bugs and unbalanced mechanics significantly detract from the experience, suggesting the game feels unfinished and in need of substantial fixes.
- “This game runs great and the water physics is top-notch.”
- “Near bug-free and fun experience for everyone.”
- “Overall, I really like the look of the game graphically and it runs great on my 12-year-old system (GTX 1080, 32GB RAM, and old i7-4790k processor outputting to a 32" monitor).”
- “Game is full of bugs. I can't complete missions, the game freezes. It is terrible all around.”
- “Still buggy as hell 16 hours in; in fact, I have more problems now after patches than I did at the start.”
- “The only non-predatory Gaijin game to ever be released and it's a buggy mess that's reset my progress twice whilst being plagued with laggy and sometimes crash-happy servers (they get reset twice a day).”
monetization
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
69%
21%
The game's monetization is primarily buy-to-play with no current or intrusive microtransactions directly affecting core gameplay, which many players appreciate as a rarity. However, there is some community concern and speculation about potential future microtransactions or pay-to-win elements, partly fueled by the developer's history. Overall, the monetization is seen as cautious but with mixed trust from players who fear it may evolve into more aggressive schemes.
- “No microtransactions that affect core gameplay.”
- “You can get anything in the game, no additional microtransactions (a miracle in this day and age).”
- “Also absolutely zero microtransactions!”
- “Monetization concerns: while the game is buy-to-play, there have been discussions about potential microtransactions, causing some players to worry about a pay-to-win scenario.”
- “Game has terrible monetization with more money allowing you to enter into this mainly single player experience at a different point and need to grind.”
- “It feels like an alpha where the only segment of the game that was required to be complete for early access release was the microtransactions.”
optimization
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
48%
28%
Optimization reviews are mixed, with many praising smooth graphics and stable performance on a range of hardware, while others report random stutters, poor performance on low settings, and server-related lag issues. Despite occasional bugs and frame drops, frequent updates help improve stability, but overall optimization remains inconsistent and could benefit from further patches.
- “Graphics are well optimized, FPS capped with a lot of players and NPCs on screen (RTX 5080).”
- “Art style, visuals, and optimization 10/10 (this game runs on ultra on a Ryzen 3 and a Nvidia GT 1030 with 0 lag or frame drops).”
- “Game is well optimized graphically and the equipping system is intuitive and unique.”
- “Poor optimization with random stutters for no reason.”
- “As of right now, I think the game is poorly optimized.”
- “The game design simply isn't good and the game is not optimized, running poorly even on 'low' detail and low resolutions.”
atmosphere
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
22%
13%
The game offers a rich maritime atmosphere characterized by stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and a contemplative, adventurous mood that sets it apart from typical survival titles. While the soundtrack and ambient sounds effectively enhance immersion, they can feel repetitive over time. Overall, the game's thoughtful world-building and atmospheric details create a deeply engaging and serene experience, especially appreciated by players who enjoy exploration and subtle storytelling.
- “Its thoughtful design, atmospheric visuals, and nuanced mechanics create a meditative yet engaging experience that sets it apart from typical survival or exploration games.”
- “The sound design complements the visuals perfectly, with ambient underwater sounds, gentle currents, and subtle creature noises creating a serene yet immersive atmosphere.”
- “The 'maritime survival' atmosphere creates an interesting vibe, which sparks a good curiosity.”
- “It's a bit repetitive at times, but the atmosphere and originality make up for it.”
- “Despite all problems with servers and some bugs, I really liked this one because of its setting and atmosphere.”
- “Took the plunge on purchasing the gold edition of Age of Water and found it to be a very enjoyable EA game, graphically stunning having that water world & Mad Max style atmosphere.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is widely praised for its hilarious dialogue, quirky voice acting, and funny moments in both combat and interactions, contributing to a lighthearted, entertaining experience. While the story is considered simple and not to be taken seriously, the comedic elements and amusing gameplay keep players engaged despite some bugs and balance issues. Overall, humor is a standout aspect that adds charm and fun to the game.
- “Crafting, looting, questing, some kid-friendly 'eye candy,' and hilarious dialogue that will just make you shake your head.”
- “Mind you, the voice acting is a bit crude, but I don't mind it that much, cause it results in some really funny, like, 'wait, what?' moments.”
- “This is the game for anyone disappointed with Skull and Bones; it does not pretend to be anything other than fantastic fun and hilarious PvP. Get a boat, get your crew, get some fun.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
27%
13%
The music and soundtrack are generally praised for their high-quality audio and atmospheric contribution, effectively enhancing the game's adventurous and tranquil settings. However, some users note a lack of musical diversity and dynamic intensity in action scenes, with volume balance issues occasionally affecting dialogue clarity. Overall, the soundtrack positively supports immersion, though it can become repetitive over extended play.
- “The soundtrack creates an atmospheric experience which effectively establishes the mood of an adventurous sailor.”
- “The soundtrack further enhances this tranquility, blending seamlessly with the environmental sounds to evoke a sense of wonder and calm.”
- “Great music and soundtrack will help you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the post-apocalypse.”
- “And, let's be honest, the soundtrack could be more 'lively'.”
- “The music and sfx are at the exact same volume level as the dialogue, so you can barely hear what anyone is saying.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Replayability is mixed, with some users appreciating the system's encouragement of experimentation through distinct evolutionary paths, while others find the missions repetitive and lacking engaging content after initial progression. Overall, replay value varies depending on how much players enjoy exploration versus mission variety.
- “This system encourages experimentation and replayability, as each evolutionary path offers a distinct way to interact with the environment.”
- “Much replayability to enjoy.”
- “Very poor replay value.”
- “But what after you're all teched up and researched, where is the replayability?”
- “The missions that are playable are largely just 'hey can you deliver this letter or message to this person at this place?'”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game adds an emotional layer that enhances the meaningfulness of the journey beyond just survival, though the voice acting sometimes feels forced and lacks genuine emotion. Despite some narrative quirks and clashes, overcoming challenges can lead to a fulfilling and emotionally resonant experience.
- “It adds an emotional layer to the gameplay, making your journey feel meaningful beyond mere survival.”
- “Resolving these problems will bring about a successful and blessed experience for you, allowing you to fully enjoy the emotional journey that the game promises.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development in the game is generally good, with a decent storyline appreciated by some players, though it is not a primary focus. However, some players find the character design and story depth lacking or not matching their expectations.
- “Awesome game played it in beta, has a decent storyline and good character development. Wish scrap iron was a bit easier to get because you need so much of it, but other than that I have enjoyed this game very much. Great job overall.”
- “Don't expect much from the quests in terms of story depth and character development, as that doesn't seem to really be the focus of the game.”
- “Stupid character design; I was expecting a serious tone ala Waterworld with a little quirkiness.”