Rogue Waters

About

Rogue Waters is a single player tactical role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Ice Code Games and was released on September 30, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

In "Rogue Waters" , set sail as Captain Cutter, a pirate seeking revenge and legendary treasure. Each run offers new encounters, requiring careful navigation and strategic ship upgrades. Assemble your crew from six unique classes, and lead them into battle as you unravel a story of loyalty, betrayal, and immortal enemies across three acts.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 481 reviews

story22 positive mentions

grinding19 negative mentions

Engaging and fun tactical combat with a unique push mechanic that adds depth to strategy.
Impressive art quality and charming visuals that enhance the pirate theme.
Addictive gameplay loop that encourages players to keep coming back for more runs.

Repetitive gameplay with limited variety in encounters and enemy types, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
Ship combat can feel heavily reliant on RNG, making it frustrating when luck doesn't favor the player.
The game lacks sufficient content and depth, with many players feeling it becomes shallow after a few hours.

story
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
82%
2%
The game's story, while engaging and enhanced by strong voice acting, is often described as basic and predictable, with many players wishing for a more substantial narrative. Players appreciate the flexibility to progress at their own pace through story and side missions, but some feel that the story lacks depth and leaves loose ends. Overall, the combination of a light pirate theme and tactical gameplay is enjoyable, though many express a desire for a more developed storyline.
- “It truly captures some pretty cool vibes with the setting and music in the background; I actually enjoy the storyline and voice lines of the characters in the game.”
- “Combine elements of Pirates of the Caribbean's story and humor (including the giant mythical sea creatures), great voice acting, a whole heaping spoonful of turn-based tactics, add in satisfying rogue-like elements, and you have one heck of a fun game!”
- “The story overlaid into the runs is nice, and I really like the voice acting and writing.”
- “But, damn, it just seems like wasted potential for this game to be essentially finished after the story is done.”
- “Other than that glaring issue, the story is very weak, and when you get over the intrinsic fun of the system mechanics, there's not much to keep you playing.”
- “It has a very basic story and it focuses primarily on its sandbox aspect.”
gameplay
137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by a compelling loop of upgrading your ship, engaging in tactical turn-based combat, and recruiting crew members, which many players find addictive and innovative. While the mechanics, including a unique push feature and environmental interactions, add depth to battles, some reviewers note that the overall experience can become repetitive and lacks significant variety between runs. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its solid tutorial, engaging combat mechanics, and potential for tactical strategy enthusiasts.
- “The gameplay loop is doing a run and coming back to the hub to upgrade your ship, recruit new crewmates, and level up your current ones.”
- “The tutorial/prologue does an incredible job illustrating the uniqueness of the mechanics and combat.”
- “The main gameplay loop is a lot of fun, and the fights themselves are top-notch grid strategy.”
- “This game is super repetitive and the gameplay loop, in my opinion, is just boring. I have Netflix on my second monitor just to keep myself entertained, and it got to the point where I had to ask myself, 'Why am I playing?'”
- “Instead of new options like new items or new mechanics, it is mostly straightforward upgrades to the player's laughably weak starting loadout.”
- “While this extends the gameplay somewhat, it becomes a bit repetitive.”
graphics
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
26%
7%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals, charming artwork, and smooth animations, effectively capturing the pirate theme. While many players appreciate the overall aesthetic and sound design, some express mixed feelings about the art style, indicating it may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience, enhancing its replayability.
- “I loved the stunning visuals—the scenes are beautifully crafted—and the sound design really pulls you in.”
- “The graphics are great, the music very pirate-y, and the whole game feels polished.”
- “The charming visuals and captivating sound design further enhance the immersion.”
- “Other than that, there's the art style: it's a matter of taste, but I don't like it.”
- “The graphics are alright and easy to comprehend, but nothing to write home about.”
- “Great voice acting, good graphics...severe lack of content though.”
grinding
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding in the game to be somewhat excessive and monotonous, with many expressing that it detracts from the enjoyment of the core gameplay. While some appreciate the simplistic turn-based strategy and acknowledge it as a solid pirate game, they note that the repetitive nature of ship combat and the need for extensive farming can make the experience tedious. Many recommend waiting for a discount before purchasing, as the grind may not be worth the investment of time.
- “You've seen the entire game in 2-3 hours, then it's just a matter of grinding out the rest.”
- “There is a great core game here, but it unfortunately gets too grindy and monotonous rather quickly.”
- “Feels stupidly grindy even at first glance, and I just cannot force myself to put in some long hours to farm and build up the passives/upgrades to be able to enjoy the game.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
81%
13%
6%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting its addictive nature and fresh ideas that keep the experience engaging. While some players express a desire for further development to enhance replay value, the consensus is that it offers a solid foundation for multiple playthroughs, particularly as a roguelike title.
- “Very addictive, loads of replayability.”
- “A very nice surprise, this is a true roguelike game with nice graphics and a lot of replayability.”
- “As an old-school XCOM fan, there are so many ideas I find really fresh, very replayable. Here's hoping for a sequel with a bigger budget, great game!”
- “A lot of things are random, which is annoying for turn-based games. However, after proper development of your team, ship, etc., the game becomes much more playable.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
31%
The music in the game is praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the immersive experience, particularly with its pirate-themed vibes and effective sound effects during key moments like naval battles. While many players appreciate the overall aesthetic and voice acting, some note that the music, while enjoyable, may not be particularly memorable. Overall, the combination of music, sound effects, and visuals contributes to a polished and engaging experience.
- “The sound effects during naval battles, the ambient music, and even the voices of crew members all added to the immersive experience.”
- “The graphics are great, the music very pirate-y, and the whole game feels polished.”
- “Great artwork, animations, music, and sound effects together with well-done voice overs.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
36%
The game's atmosphere is vividly described as adventurous and gritty, effectively capturing the essence of a pirate experience through engaging voice work and colorful characters. Players appreciate the blend of campiness and depth, enhanced by innovative mechanics and solid animations, although the music, while atmospheric, lacks memorability. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the game, making it a fun and immersive pirate adventure.
- “The gritty, pirate atmosphere really came to life, and I found the voice work to be top-notch.”
- “I loved the pacing, the depth of progression, the innovative battle mechanics, and the overall sense of atmosphere it delivered.”
- “What a pirate game experience, real atmospheric by way of the personalities within the game.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, drawing comparisons to the whimsical storytelling and comedic elements of "Pirates of the Caribbean," enhanced by great voice acting and engaging rogue-like gameplay. Players appreciate the funny narratives that emerge from their experiences, suggesting that understanding the game's theme enhances enjoyment. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's fun factor.
- “As long as you know what you're going into, I think you'll have fun with the humor and theme.”
- “Combine elements of Pirates of the Caribbean's story and humor (including the giant mythical sea creatures), great voice acting, a whole heaping spoonful of turn-based tactics, add in satisfying rogue-like elements, and you have one heck of a fun game!”
- “I have a crew and I have funny stories about them at this point.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes when all pirates are stunned by fishermen, along with numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience.
- “When all pirates are stunned by fishermen, the game also freezes.”
- “I have to say a warning: there are still a bunch of bugs and glitches in this game.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized for the Steam Deck, offering smooth performance and intuitive control bindings that enhance the overall gaming experience on the platform.
- “It runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, with great, intuitive control bindings, making it a perfect fit for the platform.”