Age of Water

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 533 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • grinding
Age of Water Game Cover
Starting at $21.11Buy now
Get on Steam

"Age of Water - Gold Edition" offers enhanced starting resources with 3000 Corks and 250,000 Medallions for purchasing in-game goods and decorations. The edition also includes upgraded boats and crew members. You'll start with a Pirate Boat, and have access to Alter Ego, Kitty Sark, and Jack Wiley, each with different early-level skills. Note that all currency and upgrades are earned through gameplay, with no microtransactions.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 533 reviews
story16 positive mentions
grinding48 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique blend of ship combat and exploration in a post-apocalyptic water world, reminiscent of Waterworld.
  • The ship customization and crafting systems are engaging, allowing players to build and modify their vessels extensively.
  • The community is generally friendly, and the game has potential for fun multiplayer experiences.
  • The game suffers from severe server issues, including lag and disconnections, making it frustrating to play.
  • Many players report unbalanced gameplay, with enemies being overly difficult and respawning too quickly, leading to a frustrating grind.
  • The lack of clear tutorials and guidance on game mechanics can leave new players feeling lost and overwhelmed.
  • story135 mentions

    The game's story is criticized for being shallow and repetitive, primarily consisting of fetch and kill quests that lack depth and character development. Many players express frustration with quest design, including bugs and mandatory group quests that hinder progress, leading to a grind-heavy experience. While some appreciate the potential and unique setting, the overall narrative and quest structure need significant refinement to enhance player engagement.

    • “If you enjoy the sea, PvP, crafting, and a story, this game is for you.”
    • “As you follow the storyline quests, you meet new characters, face other factions, get quests aplenty, and start building an HQ in the starter town.”
    • “The missions in the game are a chain of tasks, and those include shootouts with pirates, collecting items, puzzles, and traveling from point to point.”
    • “The dialog with mission characters is boring and seems repetitive.”
    • “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.”
    • “It's a miserable grind with a quest line that just stops due to mandatory side quests that I have no idea how to unlock; this game has a good core with the ship building, but the quest/technology/grind aspects are trash.”
  • gameplay77 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics, such as ship crafting and combat, but suffers from poorly explained systems and a lack of depth in quests, leading to repetitive experiences. While many players appreciate the unique water-based gameplay and customization options, issues like unbalanced mechanics, bugs, and a messy user interface detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these flaws, the game shows potential for improvement and offers a fun core loop, especially for those who enjoy naval combat and exploration.

    • “The gameplay loop is fun - you go around in boats with machine guns and cannons.”
    • “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.”
    • “It is a great game that will give you many hours of exciting gameplay!”
    • “There is nothing more to the gameplay journey than doing kill and fetch quests over and over in increasingly bigger boats.”
    • “The UI is messy, mechanics are poorly explained (if at all), and elementary systems are bugged.”
    • “The gameplay loop is super boring.”
  • grinding48 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players, with many noting it can be excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the early stages. While some find the grind enjoyable and a part of the game's charm, others express frustration over slow progression, resource scarcity, and the repetitive nature of farming. Overall, the consensus suggests that while grinding is integral to the experience, it could benefit from adjustments to improve pacing and reduce tedium.

    • “After 90 hours, I am bored grinding. I only have 4 ships and can hardly do any research because I cannot beat the boss ship with anything I build with the ships I have.”
    • “Welp, after 50 hours of grinding, all my rare resources disappeared... leaves me with no will to go on.”
    • “The main issue here is you don't have good endgame content; farming and grinding gets boring quickly when you need like 30k XP and get only 10-50 XP for sinking 1 ship.”
  • graphics38 mentions

    Overall, the graphics in the game are generally well-received, with many users praising the beautiful visuals, character designs, and atmospheric elements like water and lighting effects. While some reviews note that the graphics are not groundbreaking, they are considered good enough to enhance the gameplay experience. The art style is described as a mix of realism and cartoonish elements, contributing to a visually appealing and enjoyable environment.

    • “Beautiful graphics and well-made characters.”
    • “The graphics are a great mix of beauty and almost cartoonish at times; the water and buildings look great, and the sharks look really ominous.”
    • “Took the plunge on purchasing the gold edition of Age of Water and found it to be a very enjoyable early access game, graphically stunning with a water world and Mad Max style atmosphere.”
    • “Cons: NPC spawn camping you, progression locked behind disabling NPC ships (which includes destroying every single weapon and the helm, but not killing the crew, or sinking the ship while using super janky controls, and a churning sea that seems to only affect your accuracy but not the NPCs), NPC ships with blown helms outrunning you and training you through multiple enemy spawns, lack of any meaningful story, dialog that was written by a 3rd grader, and lackluster graphics.”
    • “Character models on the level of graphics in Fortnite.”
    • “+ graphics aren't peak, but certainly comfy.”
  • stability17 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and unbalanced gameplay that significantly detract from the experience. While some players appreciate the graphics and immersive environment, many express frustration over game-breaking issues and a lack of polish, leading to a consensus that the game feels unfinished and not worth its price. Overall, the stability issues overshadow the potential enjoyment of the game, making it difficult for players to recommend it.

    • “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 i4790K processor outputting to a 32" monitor).”
    • “This game is like a hollow shell of a good game; it looks great, feels great, but once you get into the story and upgrade system, you realize it's a buggy piece of online requirement garbage where you fight for scraps to try and get big enough to compete for resources.”
    • “Still buggy as hell 16 hours in; in fact, I have more problems now after patches than I did at the start.”
    • “Completely ruined by game-breaking bugs and glitches, insanely unbalanced gameplay, and unexplained game mechanics.”
  • monetization13 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players expressing concerns about potential pay-to-win mechanics and a cash grab mentality, despite the absence of current microtransactions. While some appreciate the absence of immediate pay-to-win elements, others fear that future updates may introduce microtransactions that could disrupt gameplay balance. Overall, the game's monetization strategy is viewed as problematic, with players feeling that it leans towards a grind-heavy experience that favors those willing to spend more money.

    • “Gaijin, I know there's a perception of pay-to-win mechanics and questionable monetization history in some of the other games you've produced, but you're doing great so far - keep it up.”
    • “The medallions are earned in-game; they have a shop that could be thought to be microtransactions, but there was no way to buy the currency.”
    • “And yes, there will most likely be microtransactions and stuff, but it's Gaijin, so that's expected.”
    • “Game is an unbalanced piece of trash cash grab. Can't even progress with most quests because they're either bugged or I get killed constantly by overpowered enemy ships that spawn non-stop, not even letting me recover. The drops are hardly worthwhile considering repairs are always draining the resources I desperately need to build my base, which is essential to advance in pretty much anything.”
    • “You have to attack convoys protected by much higher-level players, so most attackers just quit. You'll end up attacking with two other lower-level players against five or more high-level protectors just to get a few thousand 'medallions.' The game has two currencies, in-game 'corks' and 'medallions,' which may become microtransactions in the future, turning this game into a total pay-to-win grindfest.”
    • “Game has terrible monetization, with more money allowing you to enter this mainly single-player experience at a different point and needing to grind.”
  • optimization13 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it features deep boat customization and stable performance with few bugs in early access, players report significant issues with server performance, including lag and stuttering. Despite these challenges, many find the gameplay addictive and enjoyable, though the optimization remains a concern for some users.

    • “Lots of depth in boat customization vs handling/performance.”
    • “You get to craft, loot, and plunder, and when you find two items, you may want to pay attention to the stats because 9/10 times the items are different in weight, health, shot dispersion, fire rate, engine power, and other various elements that make up your ship's performance.”
    • “Also on the plus side, very few bugs and stable performance for early access.”
    • “Stuttering and not playable.”
    • “Crippling server lag/performance.”
    • “Everything was fine, but the optimization of the game is currently lame.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning graphics and lifelike oceanic environments, creating an immersive maritime adventure filled with vibrant animations and a comedic undertone. Players appreciate the rich world-building, engaging role-playing elements, and the dynamic interactions that enhance the overall experience, despite some technical issues. The combination of a captivating setting, great music, and unique gameplay mechanics contributes to a memorable and enjoyable atmosphere.

    • “The ocean and atmosphere are gorgeous and quite lifelike.”
    • “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.”
    • “Great music and soundtrack will help you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the post-apocalypse.”
    • “Despite all the problems with servers and some bugs, I really liked this game because of its setting and atmosphere.”
    • “I took the plunge on purchasing the gold edition of Age of Water and found it to be a very enjoyable EA game, graphically stunning with a water world and Mad Max style atmosphere.”
    • “Great music and soundtrack help immerse you in the atmosphere of the post-apocalypse.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, featuring funny moments and amusing interactions, especially when played with friends. Players enjoy the comedic aspects of combat and character builds, although some bugs and balance issues detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the humor keeps players engaged and eager to continue playing.

    • “An exciting and fun game in the open ocean with a beautiful world, the game has a lot of action and funny moments. Playing with friends, the game quickly masters and you get more fun!”
    • “The guns have a great 'feel' to them; machine guns hammer away, cannons boom and actually affect the physics and travel of your ship. Shotguns are savage up close, and the grenade launchers are hilarious.”
    • “There are some super funny builds you will see near the towns, and then some pretty awesome combat builds as well.”
  • music6 mentions

    The music in the game is consistently praised for enhancing the immersive atmosphere, particularly in its post-apocalyptic and marine-themed settings. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, complementing the visuals and gameplay elements, although some note that the game's overall optimization could be improved.

    • “Great music and soundtrack will help you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the post-apocalypse.”
    • “The game has a unique setting of marine themes with excellent visuals and music.”
    • “Nice graphics, interesting grind, ship upgrade system taken partially from Crossout, nice soundtrack.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while the game attempts to deliver an emotional journey, the voice acting often feels forced and lacks genuine emotion. Players experience a mix of poignant moments, such as farewells, juxtaposed with intense and violent scenarios, which may detract from the overall emotional impact. Ultimately, resolving in-game challenges is seen as key to unlocking a more fulfilling emotional experience.

    • “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 development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally lacking, with players noting that quests do not offer significant story depth or character growth. Additionally, the character design has been criticized for not aligning with the expected serious tone, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “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.”
    • “The character design is disappointing; I was expecting a serious tone similar to Waterworld with a touch of quirkiness.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game's replayability is limited, as many missions revolve around repetitive tasks like delivering messages, which may not provide enough variety to encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “The variety of missions keeps the gameplay fresh, making you want to replay them to experience different outcomes.”
    • “Each playthrough offers unique challenges and choices, ensuring that no two experiences are the same.”
    • “The game encourages exploration and experimentation, which adds to its high replayability factor.”
    • “The missions that are playable are largely just 'Hey, can you deliver this letter or message to this person at this place?'”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
    • “The lack of variety in missions makes replaying the game feel tedious and uninteresting.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Age of Water

Play time

35hMedian play time
41hAverage play time
10-93hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News