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Sailing Era

Sailing Era will definitely have its fans, but for me the constant menu navigating and overly complex mechanics made my time at sea fairly underwhelming.
Sailing Era Game Cover
80%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, optimization
84% User Score Based on 408 reviews
Critic Score 65%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Steam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Sailing Era Game Cover

About

Sailing Era is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by GY Games and was released on January 11, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Sailing Era" is a realistic naval warfare simulation game set in the age of sail. Command your wooden warship through treacherous waters, manage your crew and resources, and engage in tactical combat against enemy fleets. Experience the excitement and challenge of life at sea in this immersive and historically inspired game.

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84%
Audience ScoreBased on 408 reviews
story31 positive mentions
grinding20 negative mentions

  • Sailing Era beautifully captures the essence of exploration and trading, reminiscent of classic games like Uncharted Waters.
  • The game features a vast world with diverse ports, engaging quests, and a charming art style that enhances the overall experience.
  • The developers are actively updating the game, addressing bugs and improving gameplay based on community feedback.
  • The user interface can be clunky and overwhelming, making navigation and management tedious at times.
  • Combat mechanics are simplistic and can feel unengaging, lacking the depth and excitement found in similar games.
  • The English translation has several errors and inconsistencies, which can lead to confusion during gameplay.
  • story
    168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally viewed as lacking depth and coherence, with many players finding the characters forgettable and the dialogue uninspired. While there are multiple storylines tied to different captains, the quests often feel repetitive and serve primarily as a means to progress rather than to engage players meaningfully. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the light RPG elements and the vast amount of content available, suggesting that the game can still provide an enjoyable experience for those who prioritize exploration and trading over a compelling narrative.

    • “Sailing Era is a deeply immersive maritime adventure that combines naval exploration, trading simulation, and RPG storytelling in a historically rich world inspired by the Age of Discovery.”
    • “The story is fantastic and one of the most engaging ones I've seen in games of this type, and it's never too difficult to find where to go next if you pay enough attention.”
    • “Each character has its own unique storyline, allowing you to focus your gameplay from the start while retaining the freedom to change your playstyle later.”
    • “The storyline and motivation of the characters isn’t groundbreaking, merely a vessel to justify their seafaring adventures and introduce their companions.”
    • “The story is entirely linear with no choices along the way.”
    • “It ended abruptly, in what felt like the middle of the story, at probably the most anti-climactic point it possibly could have.”
  • gameplay
    90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Sailing Era" is characterized by a mix of exploration, trading, and naval combat, though it suffers from under-explained mechanics and a lack of depth in certain areas, particularly combat and trading. While the sailing and exploration aspects are praised for their ambition and potential, many players find the mechanics overwhelming and sometimes tedious, leading to a reliance on trading over combat. Overall, the game offers a unique experience with a charming aesthetic, but it requires patience and a willingness to navigate its complexities.

    • “The mechanics can be overwhelming at first, but once you adapt, the act of sailing becomes one of the game’s most satisfying elements.”
    • “Despite some mechanical rough edges, Sailing Era stands out for its ambition and depth.”
    • “Gameplay is tight and you have plenty of opportunities to make a profit, be it bounties, exploration, or trade; this game will let you do it and doesn't force you into a singular method of play.”
    • “Limited guidance and opaque mechanics can make them frustrating rather than rewarding, especially when outcomes seem driven more by guesswork than skill.”
    • “Some quests and some game mechanics are vaguely described, and you find yourself sailing around visiting different ports over and over - not because it was enjoyably challenging to solve the puzzle, but because the clue or game mechanic was poorly translated or not explained.”
    • “The worst thing about combat is the woeful melee mechanics of hovering your ship near another until deck battle ensues; just terrible.”
  • graphics
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful art style and well-designed characters, while others criticize the simplistic 3D visuals and lack of detail compared to older titles. The game successfully combines modern graphics with engaging gameplay, creating an enjoyable experience, especially for fans of the genre. However, some players note that certain graphical elements, like hitboxes and port details, could be improved for a more immersive experience.

    • “Sailing around the Mediterranean is just as fun as it was 25 years ago, though the updated graphics make the experience that much more rich.”
    • “The graphics are just about everything I'd hope for, and it makes engaging with the world extra enjoyable.”
    • “The artwork of everything is gorgeous; I cannot stress how beautiful the art is, from characters to background, it never felt monotonous to look at.”
    • “The 3D visuals in the open world are simplified objects without any fine detail, whether it be the cities, ships, or landmasses.”
    • “Simple 3D visuals that are outdone by a 22-year-old game.”
    • “Graphics are meh.”
  • grinding
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant hours in repetitive tasks like resource gathering and ship maintenance. While some players find enjoyment in the farming and exploration elements, many express frustration with the grindy nature of unlocking content and the lack of depth in certain mechanics, particularly combat and trading. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who appreciate a slower pace, but it may deter players seeking a more streamlined gameplay experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “If you like putting in hundreds of hours of trial and error plus lots of simple but tedious math, then this is the game for you.”
    • “The only thing it does is make the game a lot more grindy as you need a lot of material, tech, and knowledge to progress yet have to find out (often by sheer luck) how to get it.”
    • “It was the combat that finally convinced me that I wanted to drop this; it's slow and tedious but at the same time it lacks any real in-depth options, just endless circling around and watching health bars get lower.”
  • music
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its diversity and how it enhances the atmosphere of different locations. However, there are reports of occasional glitches and a tendency for the music to become repetitive over time. Overall, while the soundtrack is praised for its quality and cultural relevance, some users note a lack of polish in the overall audio experience.

    • “Different regions of the world have different architecture, music, feel, goods, etc! Also different cultural buildings, discoveries, you name it!”
    • “The music (at least for the character that I'm currently playing) is awesome.”
    • “The music is different based on the location you are visiting, the greetings in the shop differ based on the locale; it is a great experience that I'm glad I discovered.”
    • “Music glitches randomly.”
    • “There are some minor complaints, like generally clunky UI and odd control configuration choices, very weird sound/music bugs, and a lack of polish in certain gameplay experiences.”
    • “The music is different based on the location you are visiting, but there are still some sound/music bugs that detract from the experience.”
  • replayability
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple playable characters, each with unique storylines and playstyles, as well as various character interactions that enhance the experience. While some players note a limit to replay value, the diverse character choices and engaging gameplay mechanics contribute to a highly replayable experience overall.

    • “Great replay value; each protagonist focuses on a different aspect of the game.”
    • “There are 4 storylines, each having a very different playstyle, which leaves some room for replayability.”
    • “The character choices offer tons of replayability as well, I'm sure.”
    • “Overall, I really like it, but I can tell it only has so much replay value.”
    • “But there are 4 storylines, each having a very different playstyle, which leaves some room for replayability.”
    • “There are 3 more playable main characters you can play (excluding the main character from DLC).”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is noted for its impressive designs, particularly with characters like Cassone, who stands out visually but is criticized for being the only named female character that players cannot romance or recruit. While the gameplay and storytelling are praised, the limitations on character interactions detract from the overall development experience.

    • “The character designs are really cool.”
    • “Great gameplay, amazing stories, fun naval battles, and gorgeous character designs.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users find the game to be well-optimized, though some note that it requires performance updates, particularly regarding ship optimization.

    • “Very optimized.”
    • “It does need some performance updates.”
    • “Apologies for the info-dumping, but it really is hard to know some of this stuff without trying beforehand, especially anything related to ship optimization.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that the game runs well on the Steam Deck, with good performance and visuals. However, there are occasional music glitches that detract from the overall stability experience.

    • “So far, it looks great and runs smoothly on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Runs great on the Steam Deck, by the way.”
    • “The music glitches randomly.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it unplayable.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and frame drops during gameplay.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players enjoy "Uncharted Waters Online" but express strong dissatisfaction with its monetization practices, indicating that these aspects detract from the overall gaming experience.

    • “I love Uncharted Waters Online, but I absolutely hated the monetization.”
    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating how much you have to spend to enjoy the game fully; the monetization is out of control.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is praised for its leisure and indie qualities, making it a good choice for players seeking a relaxed experience, especially given the rarity of this genre.

    • “The game creates a captivating indie atmosphere that is perfect for leisure, making it a rare gem in its genre.”
    • “The ambiance is immersive and enchanting, drawing players into its unique world.”
    • “The atmospheric design is stunning, with every detail contributing to a sense of wonder and exploration.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply engaging, as meaningful interactions enhance the overall experience, transforming it from a simple series of tasks into a heartfelt journey. Many users report that they were able to complete the game while focusing less on mechanics and more on the emotional connections formed throughout.

    • “These interactions help anchor the game emotionally, making your journey feel more than just a string of cargo hauls and map markers.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a decent story complemented by humorous moments, particularly through its engaging gameplay that allows for exploration, trading, and character interactions. Players appreciate the freedom to navigate the game world, which enhances the comedic elements.

    • “It's got a decent story with some interesting plots and some humorous moments.”
    • “The way you can play the game, the freedom to explore, trade, fight, and meet characters—it's really funny.”
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70h Median play time
608h Average play time
20-88h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Sailing Era is a role playing game with fantasy theme.

Sailing Era is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 608 hours playing Sailing Era.

Sailing Era was released on January 11, 2023.

Sailing Era was developed by GY Games.

Sailing Era has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Sailing Era is a single player game.

Similar games include Horizon's Gate, Airship: Kingdoms Adrift, Windward Horizon, Starcom: Unknown Space, Starpoint Gemini 2 and others.