Maelstrom

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,814 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Maelstrom Game Cover
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"Maelstrom" is a simulation game that offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, including co-op and PvP for up to 2 players. Experience thunderous naval combat in a grimm fantasy world with beautiful visuals and plenty of humor. Sink other players' ships, collect loot, and avoid sea monsters to upgrade and customize your own ship in this immersive game of strategy and skill.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,814 reviews
gameplay138 positive mentions
grinding41 negative mentions
  • Fun and engaging naval combat with a unique battle royale twist.
  • Great graphics and smooth gameplay, making it visually appealing.
  • No pay-to-win mechanics; all ships and upgrades can be earned through gameplay.
  • Low player base leading to matches often filled with bots.
  • Matchmaking can be unbalanced, pairing new players with much stronger opponents.
  • Limited content and game modes, which may lead to repetitive gameplay.
  • gameplay306 mentions

    The gameplay of this game is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, smooth controls, and fun naval combat, combining elements of battle royale with unique ship customization and strategic depth. Players appreciate the variety of ships and factions, although some express concerns about balance issues and a low player count affecting the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is described as addictive and enjoyable, with potential for further development and improvement.

    • “This game has great mechanics, is stylized well, and is just plain old fun to play.”
    • “The ship battles are intense, and the gameplay is very engaging and interesting.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and rewarding, and it looks great.”
    • “In addition, the various ships don't really succeed in adding much variety to gameplay.”
    • “Dead game, gameplay has potential but due to the awful matchmaking it's just repetitive stomping on bots.”
    • “The gameplay is there, the people are not; it's a shame but the developers seem to want to finish the game fully before pushing advertisement and publicity.”
  • graphics151 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beauty and detail, with many users highlighting the impressive visuals, smooth animations, and atmospheric design that enhance the overall gameplay experience. While some players noted minor issues such as blurriness or performance drops on lower settings, the general consensus is that the graphics are a standout feature, contributing to an engaging and immersive environment. Overall, the game's art style and graphical fidelity are considered strong points, making it visually appealing to a broad audience.

    • “Amazing graphics and sound effects make this one a keeper!”
    • “The graphics are sharp and the controls are responsive.”
    • “The graphics are fantastic and I didn't experience any major performance issues.”
    • “The opening screen is now a mess, controls don't respond in-game, and the graphics I can't quite believe.”
    • “Graphics are very blurry, like they've been overly scaled down.”
    • “Main menu gives 120+ fps, the preload area when waiting for other players gives 90+ and in matches it drops to 20 and below, exactly the same frame rates on any of the graphics settings.”
  • story62 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engaging narrative, with many players noting the absence of a cohesive storyline in PvE modes. While there are numerous quests and missions that provide gameplay variety and rewards, they often feel repetitive and disconnected from a larger narrative. Some players express a desire for a more structured story experience, particularly in single-player or co-op formats, to enhance the overall engagement and immersion.

    • “Beautiful game with great gameplay and quest line.”
    • “The game offers infinite quests that make progression easier if you want to grind multiple ships or make one top tier.”
    • “But it gets better throughout the missions and there are quite some interesting and likable characters which improves the story after the beginning.”
    • “Also, I wish there was a storyline in the PvE. That being said, I don't believe there is, but if so, I will change this comment.”
    • “The story itself feels a bit bland and is starting off pretty boring in my opinion.”
    • “If you don't like collecting stuff or repetitive missions/ship battles, then you might be bored after a while.”
  • grinding48 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the game features a significant grinding element, particularly for upgrading ships and unlocking content, which can become tedious and repetitive over time. While some players appreciate the progression system and find it manageable, others criticize it for being overly grindy, especially in a free-to-play context where monetization can exacerbate the grind. Overall, opinions vary, with some enjoying the grind as part of the gameplay experience, while others find it detracts from the fun.

    • “Game is not grindy at all, and you can even activate the battle pass with in-game currency.”
    • “Also, it's not too grindy since your rewards per game are performance-based.”
    • “There is a solid progression system, not too generous but not too grindy.”
    • “The game is grindy, and upgrading crewmates, getting captains, and upgrading ships costs a ton of gold.”
    • “I enjoyed the game for the first couple of hours but then later on as you level up your ship the game really becomes grindy.”
    • “Now it's a terrible free-to-play grind filled tedious game.”
  • monetization36 mentions

    The monetization system in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the lack of pay-to-win elements and the focus on cosmetic purchases, while others criticize the presence of predatory microtransactions and a grindy free-to-play model. Many reviews highlight that while in-game purchases exist, they are not necessary for gameplay, and the overall monetization approach is seen as fair by some, though concerns about its long-term viability persist. Overall, the game is described as having a monetization strategy that is not overly invasive, but it still leaves room for improvement in terms of player satisfaction.

    • “The game isn't heavy into requiring in-game purchases, which is really nice.”
    • “No pay to win, monetization is based on skip-the-grind and cosmetics.”
    • “There are in-game purchases, but not a single one is necessary, and all are cosmetic only.”
    • “Years later the devs come back without saying sorry, throw some fresh paint over it and try to squeeze out more money through new microtransactions.”
    • “I get this is a free-to-play title and you need to earn money, but the way the microtransactions and item management works is just very unsatisfying and not fun to use at all.”
    • “Lock your wallet up, and avoid this cash grab of a game.”
  • optimization32 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report solid performance and well-optimized graphics, there are notable issues such as frame rate drops during intense battles and poor netcoding. Some users suggest that certain graphical settings, like transparent water, can be adjusted to improve performance, but others express frustration with the game's balance and optimization, indicating that it still requires significant work. Despite these concerns, many players find the game enjoyable and believe that with further optimization, it could reach its full potential.

    • “The graphics are fantastic and I didn't experience any major performance issues.”
    • “Great game, amazing devs. The game runs well and is optimized.”
    • “Latentcy is not an issue for the most part and the game is well optimized.”
    • “Good game but lacks optimization and player base.”
    • “Its yet another multiplayer free-to-play game designed in the style of the 'world of' games with pleasant cartoonish aesthetics and fun arcade ship combat that is ultimately marred by poor optimization and unbalanced gameplay mechanics that will only lead to frustration and rage quitting for many who aren't prepared for it.”
    • “Throw in annoying water currents that tend to hang you up on rocks, and maelstroms that disrupt battles instead of serving as exciting gameplay features, alongside bad frame rates from poor optimization, and you have a recipe for rage-inducing frustration that isn't worth the small amount of entertainment to be had here.”
  • humor24 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its funny gameplay, hilarious moments, and the joy of playing with friends. Many reviews mention the game's ability to create laugh-out-loud situations, particularly during chaotic battles and unexpected events, making it a source of lighthearted fun despite some concerns about player population. Overall, the game is described as a delightful and entertaining experience that fosters camaraderie and laughter among players.

    • “Many hilarious and epic moments.”
    • “What a splendid, lovely, hilarious game.”
    • “Buddies and I were laughing like kids; it's been a while since a game was less stressful and more just simple fun.”
  • music21 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its quality and fitting atmosphere, describing it as "great" and "beyond beautiful," while others criticize the loudness of the intro music that hampers gameplay experience. Sound effects are generally well-received, though some players wish for more impact in specific areas, like cannon shots. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for enhancing the game's unique aesthetic, with potential for further improvement as the game develops.

    • “Sound effects and music are also quite good, with some somber, but also more frantic battle music.”
    • “The music by itself is worth it.”
    • “An excellent fantasy-oriented swashbuckling soundtrack with all of the high energy orchestral drama and melody needed to get you into proper seafarer character.”
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  • stability16 mentions

    Overall, the stability of the game has received mixed reviews. While some players report a stable experience with no crashes or major glitches, others have encountered bugs, freezes, and performance issues, particularly related to graphics settings. Despite these inconsistencies, many users appreciate the developers' responsiveness to feedback and ongoing updates, suggesting that the game has potential for improvement.

    • “Great gameplay with reasonable balance despite what others say. I've won with a large variety of ships. The graphics are insanely good, and the game is not bug-ridden like some early betas. The population is also reasonable.”
    • “Still buggy; crashes at the end of matches, lagging during matches.”
    • “Real bad fps and will crash/lock up all the time; too buggy to recommend at the moment.”
    • “The game itself seems very buggy with armor, hull, and damage being very inconsistent.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Overall, players find the game to have strong replayability due to its fast-paced matches and enjoyable multiplayer experience, despite some concerns about limited content and ship customization. The ability to quickly access all ships and the low power gap between new and veteran players contribute to a fun and engaging environment, though many users express a desire for more playable factions and game modes to enhance longevity.

    • “It's fun and replayable and has a World of Tanks feeling to upgrading, which I like.”
    • “I discovered it by accident and right now it's probably the only thing I play... quick matches and fast-paced games allow for good replayability; it's ridiculously funny to play with friends and your skill counts a lot for being able to stay alive and get rid of your enemies!”
    • “Great game, well worth its price, loads of replayability!”
    • “Can't say anything about late game or replay value.”
    • “Content needs more of it; I'd focus on more playable ships and maps/game modes.”
    • “Looks like there will be more playable factions in the future.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its impressive visuals and immersive world-building, enhanced by excellent map design and engaging sea shanties sung by the crew. While the graphics are not groundbreaking, they effectively contribute to creating beautiful moments, particularly with dynamic day and night cycles, resulting in a captivating overall experience.

    • “Atmospheric design: the game features impressive visuals and atmospheric world-building, creating an immersive experience.”
    • “The atmosphere and the map layouts are excellent.”
    • “The graphic is pretty good, nothing groundbreaking, but very atmospheric and it can create some beautiful moments, especially with the day and night cycles.”
    • “The atmosphere is there, the sound and visuals are present, but it feels hollow.”
    • “Map design, atmosphere, ship, and build variety are lacking depth and engagement.”
    • “While the atmosphere has potential, it ultimately fails to immerse the player.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users feel that the game's main menu evokes a mobile game aesthetic, hinting at a deeper emotional experience that the game promises to deliver.

    • “And this is just touching the surface of what this game has to offer!”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development has received mixed feedback, with some users finding the art style, particularly in the menu and character design, to be somewhat goofy, which may detract from the overall immersion and depth of the characters.

    • “Some of the art looks a little goofy, mainly in the menu, UI, and character design.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
    • “I found the characters to be one-dimensional and their arcs predictable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

16hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
9-31hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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