"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.
Fun and engaging naval combat with a unique battle royale twist.
Great graphics and smooth gameplay, making it easy to pick up and play.
No pay-to-win mechanics; progression is fair and achievable through gameplay.
Low player base leading to matches often filled with bots instead of real players.
Matchmaking can be unbalanced, often pairing new players with much stronger opponents.
Limited content and game modes, which may lead to repetitive gameplay over time.
gameplay
612 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The gameplay of Maelstrom is characterized by engaging naval combat mechanics that blend battle royale elements with strategic ship customization and progression. Players appreciate the fun and addictive nature of the game, highlighting its smooth controls and diverse ship options, although some express concerns about balance issues and a low player count leading to repetitive matches against bots. Overall, the game offers a unique and enjoyable experience, particularly for fans of pirate-themed action and multiplayer competition.
“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 simple yet challenging, not to mention incredibly fun.”
“Dead game, gameplay has potential but due to the awful matchmaking it's just repetitive stomping on bots.”
“As far as the gameplay, with how many upgrades there are, it makes fighting the most upgraded person in the match almost impossible when you are just starting out.”
“Lot of mechanics need tuning and there's balance issues everywhere and lot of strategies that just make you have about as least fun as possible.”
graphics
302 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
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 gameplay experience. While some players noted minor issues such as blurriness or performance drops on lower settings, the overall consensus is that the graphics are a strong point, contributing to an engaging and immersive environment. Additionally, the art style is often described as unique and appealing, making the game visually enjoyable for a variety of players.
“Amazing graphics and sound effects make this one a keeper!”
“The graphics are fantastic and I didn't experience any major performance issues.”
“The graphics are sharp and the controls are responsive.”
“Graphics are very blurry, like they've been overly scaled down.”
“The opening screen is now a mess, controls don't respond in-game, and the graphics I can't quite believe.”
“It crashed twice for me so far after running perfectly smooth, the UI does not look up to standard and the graphics seem to be rather preliminary in some places.”
story
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
6%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and variety, with many players noting the absence of a compelling narrative in PvE modes. While there are numerous quests and missions that provide gameplay variety and rewards, the overall storyline feels bland and repetitive, leading to a desire for more engaging content and a structured narrative. Players express hope for future updates that could introduce a richer story experience alongside the existing quest system.
“I would love if the game added single player / co-op missions where it would take you through hard challenges and a story.”
“But it gets better throughout the missions and there are quite some interesting and likable characters which improves the story after the beginning.”
“Climbing up on lookouts, to reveal the map, collecting stuff like chests and animus fragments, doing assassination missions and following the main quest about a mysterious observatorium.”
“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.”
“I can only do 1-3 missions before I get bored with the game.”
grinding
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
12%
85%
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 potential for growth and customization, many express frustration with the grindy nature of the free-to-play monetization system and the imbalance it creates. Overall, opinions vary, with some finding the grind manageable and enjoyable, while others deem it excessive and detrimental to the game's fun factor.
“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.”
“It's not a bad game, but it's pretty damn grindy just to even fully unlock a single ship.”
“So unbearably grindy when upgrades really just change the way your ship works; upgrades aren't really upgrades.”
“After putting in some hours now, I can say it's very grindy; the ships are horribly unbalanced, the boarding mechanic is completely busted to the point where most players just play orc ships, and dwarf ships are basically useless garbage scows.”
monetization
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
58%
28%
The monetization system in the game is a mix of free-to-play mechanics with microtransactions, which some players find grindy and unsatisfying, while others appreciate that it is not heavily pay-to-win. Many reviews highlight that while there are cosmetic purchases and a battle pass, the core gameplay remains accessible without mandatory spending. Overall, opinions are divided, with some praising the fair monetization approach and others criticizing it as a cash grab that detracts from the experience.
“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.”
optimization
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
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 network-related jankiness. Some users have experienced frustration due to poor optimization affecting gameplay, particularly in solo modes and during heavy team fights. Despite these concerns, many believe that with further patches and adjustments, the game has the potential to run smoothly and look great.
“The graphics are fantastic and I didn't experience any major performance issues.”
“Great game, amazing devs. The game runs well and is optimized.”
“Pros: very well optimized game.”
“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 (Dreadnought also comes to mind) 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 (while you have enemy player ships attached to your ship's hull at the same time, by the way), and maelstroms that tend to disrupt that one rare battle that you're actually enjoying instead of serving as an exciting and harrowing gameplay feature as intended, alongside bad frame rates from poor optimization, and you have a recipe for rage-inducing frustration that you'll find isn't worth the small amount of entertainment to be had here. Unfortunately, that is the key word that I use to describe maelstrom... frustration.”
humor
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its fast-paced, chaotic battles and the many hilarious moments that arise during gameplay, especially when playing with friends. Despite some frustrations, the overall tone is light-hearted and fun, making it an enjoyable experience that often leads to laughter. However, the low player base can detract from the experience, as solo play may not capture the same comedic essence.
“Many hilarious and epic moments.”
“Buddies and I were laughing like kids; it's been a while since a game was less stressful and more just simple fun.”
“The maps also allow for hilarious moments as ships are pulled into the maelstrom or chased down by sea monsters!”
music
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
41%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its quality and fitting atmosphere, particularly highlighting the epic and swashbuckling themes that enhance the gameplay experience. However, there are complaints about the loud introductory music that hampers initial navigation and communication, leading to frustration for some users. Overall, while many appreciate the soundtrack's potential and artistry, there are calls for improvements, especially in sound effects.
“Sound effects and music are also quite good, with some somber, but also more frantic battle music.”
“This game is in early access and the graphics are not only stunning, the music is beyond beautiful, but also features gameplay that is near butter smooth on ultra settings and very enjoyable and exciting.”
“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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stability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed, with some players reporting no crashes or major glitches, while others experience bugs, freezes, and performance issues, particularly related to graphics settings. The development team is noted for being responsive to player feedback and providing updates, which may help improve stability over time. While some users find the game playable, others deem it too buggy to recommend at this stage.
“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.”
“The game offers great gameplay with a variety of ships to choose from, and the graphics are stunning. It's refreshing to see a game that isn't plagued by bugs like many early betas, and the player population feels stable.”
“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.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
19%
12%
Overall, the game offers a solid replayability factor, with quick matches and engaging gameplay that keeps players returning, especially in multiplayer settings. However, some users feel that the lack of unlockable content and limited visual upgrades for ships may diminish long-term replay value. While the current content is enjoyable, many players express a desire for more ships, maps, and game modes to enhance the experience further.
“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.”
“Great game, well worth its price, but it lacks replayability.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
25%
8%
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 described as good but not groundbreaking, they contribute to beautiful moments, particularly with dynamic day and night cycles, creating 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 looks are there.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the emotional impact of the game is significant, with the main menu evoking a sense of nostalgia or familiarity often associated with mobile games, hinting at deeper emotional experiences that the game promises to deliver.
“And this is just touching the surface of what this game has to offer!”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate that while the character design and overall art style may appear somewhat goofy, particularly in the menu and user interface, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth. This suggests that the visual presentation may detract from the depth of character exploration.