Salt

About

Salt is a single player and multiplayer open world role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Lavaboots Studios and was released on February 6, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Salt is an ocean based adventure and exploration game set in a infinite procedurally generated world. Experience pure freedom to play the way you want as you sail across a vast ocean and explore huge islands in your search for adventure. During your travels you will fight pirates, bosses and other creatures, complete quests, customize your ships, hunt wildlife, sail huge waves, loot and craft item…

+30

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76%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,731 reviews

graphics104 positive mentions

grinding60 negative mentions

Unique and immersive nautical exploration and sailing gameplay.
Relaxing atmosphere with beautiful, stylized graphics and soothing soundtrack.
Vast procedurally generated open world with quests, crafting, and treasure hunting offering many hours of play.
Map system encourages players to chart and explore islands manually, enhancing immersion.
Active developer support with regular updates and upcoming multiplayer feature.
Boats and ship customization add depth to gameplay and player progression.

Combat system is clunky, simplistic and lacks depth, making fights repetitive and sometimes frustrating.
Game is considered unfinished or incomplete by many players, with bugs and glitches affecting experience.
Gameplay can become tedious and grind-heavy, with repetitive quests and resource gathering.
Navigation is challenging due to manual mapping and compass usage, sometimes leading to player confusion.
Graphical style and low-poly character models are disliked by some; game has optimization issues causing framerate drops.
Lack of meaningful NPC interaction, towns, or dynamic sea events leads to a feeling of emptiness and repetitive island designs.
Developers reportedly abandoned or stopped major updates on the game, focusing on sequels instead.

graphics
358 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
57%
14%
The game's graphics receive mixed feedback, with many noting their simplistic, cartoonish, and low-poly style reminiscent of titles like Wind Waker. While not technically advanced or highly detailed, the visuals often contribute to a charming, relaxing atmosphere and run well on low-end hardware. However, some reviews criticize the graphics as outdated, clunky, or inconsistent, especially in character models and textures, though most agree that gameplay and ambiance compensate for these visual shortcomings.
- “The first thing you'll notice when playing Salt is how beautiful the islands and water are (if playing with max graphics, at least).”
- “The graphics are simple but at the same time very fitting; they can be beautiful on their own, like during a sunset, and don't distract from your quest.”
- “Graphically speaking, this isn't photo realism, but it soon takes on a beauty all of its own until you don't even notice how different it is.”
- “The graphics are pathetic and although there may be a story in there somewhere, I'm too annoyed by the game to be bothered to find out.”
- “The graphics are poor and at a distance islands can look pretty ugly.”
- “The graphics just seem sort of lazy and the AI is almost nonexistent.”
story
248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
80%
6%
The game's story is minimal and loosely structured, often consisting of simple, repetitive fetch quests with limited narrative depth, leading to mixed impressions among players. While some appreciate the open-world exploration that allows for personal storytelling and immersion, many find the main questline thin, buggy, and lacking engaging objectives or characters. Overall, the game emphasizes sandbox exploration over a strong, guided storyline, appealing more to players who enjoy crafting their own adventure than those seeking a traditional narrative experience.
- “You'll get quests from various NPCs, find pirates, treasure, build bigger boats and ships, and sail all over the place while still finding new things to do.”
- “The innkeeper's questline has depth, starting with a simple task of retrieving a stolen hat and expanding into a cultist killing nightmare involving ancient moving statues and nighttime escapades, requiring you to find your own way through the world rather than simple 'kill and fetch' tasks.”
- “I have played for more than 100 hours on the same save, and there is still a lot for me to do, even though I've finished the main story.”
- “You have a quest log but it's not very clear, nothing seems to make sense and you just go around random islands hoping for something, a storyline to follow or something.”
- “This is a huge sandbox, but there's nothing to do in it, the world is empty, just few pirates or NPCs, no towns, nothing that makes a huge world like this alive... quests are terrible too and in general there's no sense of reward in doing anything, and the game in general feels unfinished (as it actually is).”
- “You are a floating camera which exists in this world to do generic fetch quests for generic enemies equivalent to a typical MMO quest giver (or Bethesda's 'infinite quest' givers).”
gameplay
240 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
66%
11%
The gameplay of Salt centers around open-ended island exploration, looting, crafting, and sailing, offering a relaxing yet somewhat slow-paced and grindy experience. While the procedural generation, map charting, and sailing mechanics receive praise for immersion and uniqueness, combat and crafting systems are often described as clunky, simplistic, or unpolished, with bugs and repetitive loops detracting from overall enjoyment. Despite these flaws, many players find the core gameplay loop satisfying and addicting, especially for fans of exploration and casual survival games.
- “This game is an oldie but a goodie. I won't lie, the graphics and animation are pretty bad, but if you can get past that, it's got surprisingly deep gameplay and island exploration.”
- “Beautiful game, would recommend for anyone who likes to explore and loot stuff, with a lot of mechanics, craft big ships, decorate them, keep exploring mysteries and fight monsters on islands.”
- “The infinite procedural generated islands are unique. The map and journal mechanics are really remarkable, so you need to guide yourself with a compass and keep notes on an initially empty map sheet.”
- “Very obviously unfinished, feels more like a proof of concept than a final game, many very distracting gameplay bugs and very little to do in it.”
- “Gameplay is slow and boring, crafting is slow and not exciting, combat is archaic.”
- “So the gameplay consists of the following, walk, fight pirate, run away from pirate because he hits like a freight train at full speed, heal, do this over and over until you kill the pirate, loot him, search the island for supplies, build a raft from what you found, sail to new island, repeat until you realize the futility of your existence, quit the game, and write a review to distract yourself from the existential crisis that this game induced.”
music
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
47%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for being atmospheric, calming, and fitting the serene exploration and sailing themes, often enhancing the immersive experience during key moments. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful soundtrack and its ability to evoke emotions of hope, mystery, and relaxation, though some mention that music plays infrequently and wish for more frequent or varied tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and mood.
- “The moment you set sail this epic music plays and there's nothing better.”
- “Salt is a stunning accomplishment for a two-person team; a laid back, Caribbean pirate themed explore-survive-craft fest, complete with tons of quests, sailing, fishing, and a lovely soundtrack.”
- “The atmosphere, visuals, the sun reflecting perfectly off water, the way the boats sway and make sounds, the ambient sounds of different island types, and the amazing music all come together to form Salt.”
- “Poor audio and music design.”
- “[*] The audio is bizarre, with no music for long periods of time, then it kicks in randomly and stops abruptly.”
- “Honestly, my only two issues so far are that the music does not play nearly often enough and that there isn't enough to do while sailing.”
grinding
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
Grinding in the game is widely seen as tedious and slow, involving repetitive tasks like resource gathering, combat, and quest completion that can feel boring and time-consuming—especially in singleplayer. While some players find the grind relaxing or necessary to access better gear, many criticize the lack of meaningful variety or shortcuts, making progression feel like a chore rather than engaging. The vast, often empty world exacerbates the tedium, turning exploration and crafting into a grind-heavy experience that may only appeal to dedicated players who enjoy slow-paced survival mechanics.
- “Some crafting requires grinding, and when you've cleared an entire island but still lack materials, you have to travel to other islands which takes more time; this can be frustrating.”
- “It can be kinda slow, tedious, and disheartening for new players, especially when wanting to co-op and have fun with friends. Once you progress with a big enough boat, cabin, storage, and bed to skip night, the game turns from a huge grind into something fun, but the lack of cheats or console modes to skip early stages makes the start feel like a huge piece of crap.”
- “Especially on the tier 3 pirate islands, it becomes tedious to get the best items in the game, which was why I did not finish it.”
atmosphere
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
29%
5%
Users consistently praise the game’s relaxing, peaceful, and immersive atmosphere, enhanced by its soothing sailing experience, scenic hand-drawn visuals, and evocative ambient sounds and music. The Caribbean-like, exploratory setting with thoughtful sound design creates a charming and surreal vibe, though some note minor distractions or simplistic elements. Overall, the atmosphere is widely regarded as the game’s standout strength, providing a tranquil yet engaging experience.
- “The atmosphere, visuals, the sun reflecting perfectly off water, the way the boats sway and make sounds, the ambient sounds of different island types, and the amazing music all come together to form salt.”
- “Salt has great atmosphere that's reinforced by its awesome music and stunning visuals.”
- “I also really enjoy the atmospheric immersion, walking on the islands hearing the waves on the beach and so on.”
- “The sound is pretty basic, the atmosphere is very generic, the island buildings and generation are very simplistic, graphics are pretty simplistic, advancing is slow and annoying, the map feature is cool but also really annoying at the same time, and there's all sorts of things that make this game just a very basic shell at the moment.”
- “The graphics betray the atmosphere of this game - don't be fooled.”
- “Edit: now when the stars come out, there are firefly-like things floating all over the place which make no sense and are extremely distracting; they should not be on the water and seem like a forced atmosphere feature.”
stability
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The game is notably plagued by numerous bugs, glitches, and unpolished mechanics, impacting gameplay stability and causing frustration for many players. While some users acknowledge occasional entertaining or relaxing moments, persistent issues such as buggy combat, physics, UI glitches, and loading problems detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, a few reviewers highlight ongoing improvements and the game's potential, especially in exploration and multiplayer aspects.
- “There are basically no glitches from what I have seen so far. The randomly spawned islands are great; however, the first couple I went to didn't have anything spawned.”
- “It's very smooth and runs great even on my low-end laptop.”
- “It is not polished; player characters are all the same and not customizable except with outfits. It is not bug-free and not perfect.”
- “Abandoned in development to start salt 2 before this game was ever finished, it's a buggy mess and not worth paying for.”
- “This game has been practically a heap of buggy mess since its release 5 years ago.”
- “I've spent plenty of hours enjoying the world, looting, and sailing, but those were suffocated by the hours of frustrating combat, repetitive NPCs/quests, and unavoidable, game-breaking glitches.”
optimization
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
48%
39%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users experiencing significant framerate drops, stuttering, and poor performance even on high-end systems. While some appreciate the game's style and potential, the current state feels unpolished and inefficient, often likened to Unity engine limitations. However, ongoing updates and developer efforts suggest improvements may come in the future.
- “+Runs smoothly even on low end rigs.”
- “Performance wise it is a small install/download (500MB) and ran very well for me although I had some slow-down after packing myself down with logs/numerous items and there being numerous objects on screen or loaded.”
- “With a bit of optimization, this truly has the makings to be a great little survival game.”
- “The optimization is lacking; though it looks simple, it quickly reduces your framerate even on a decent computer.”
- “My normal fps of 100+ was quickly ruined due to poor optimization and rain effects worse than a real life hurricane.”
- “I like this game... that said, it is very poorly optimized; at first I thought it was in pre-alpha.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is widely appreciated, with many players finding its jokes, memes, and quirky moments genuinely funny, especially in multiplayer. Its amusing bugs, playful pirate antics, and lighthearted tone contribute to an entertaining experience, though some comedic elements occasionally detract from immersion during combat or story segments. Overall, the humor adds a charming and enjoyable layer to the gameplay.
- “Very fun and even the jokes and memes about this game are actually funny.”
- “A very funny touch of the title is that when he dies he gives us an option that says: rage quit.”
- “Pretty nice pirate game with tons of bug features which makes the game sometimes pretty hilarious at times, especially in multiplayer.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
Replayability opinions are mixed, with some praising the game's procedural generation and exploration for offering potentially endless playtime, while others find the environments bland and the replay value minimal. The game appeals to those seeking a sandbox adventure with varied experiences, but may lack longevity for players expecting a more engaging replay factor. Overall, replayability depends largely on individual preferences for exploration and procedural content.
- “I'm a sucker for the infinite replayability of procedural generation, and I understand its limitations, but that being said, the environments still felt bland and uninspired.”
- “Pretty fun and explorative game that gives a vast amount of replayability.”
- “Even if you only play this for a few hours to space out with, well worth the sale price, but this game has the potential for a hundred hours or more of playtime with infinite replayability.”
- “Replayability 1.”
- “Replaying is barely there in my opinion.”
- “All in all, I cannot recommend this game as it has very little longevity and replayability is almost non-existent.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
83%
Monetization is a major point of contention, with many users criticizing the game as an unfinished cash grab despite lacking in-game purchases or loot crates. However, some acknowledge the developers' passion, suggesting it's more than just a profit-driven project. Overall, the sentiment leans heavily toward frustration and disappointment with the game's value and monetization approach.
- “No in-game purchases or loot crates in this game and after coming off some games that do that, this is a breath of fresh air.”
- “Others have said it best, it's an unfinished cash grab.”
- “It's apparent that you are only making unfinished products in the hopes of a quick cash grab.”
- “Uninstalling and hiding, don't waste your time or money on this cheap trash cash grab.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game delivers a heartfelt and emotionally impactful experience, with moments—such as sailing under the moonlight accompanied by a touching theme song—that resonate deeply with players. Despite some flaws, its nostalgic and warm atmosphere creates a rare emotional connection, distinguishing it from many unfinished indie titles.
- “This is an interesting, heartfelt, and independently made game that, despite its various glaring flaws, shines like a diamond in the rough among all the unfinished or 'finished' early access beta games that plagued Steam when Greenlight was starting out.”
- “I went to my boat at nighttime while the moon was out to sail some more, and suddenly this emotional theme song came on. It hit the feels hard.”
- “The game looks beautiful, and it is heartwarming to look at. If you are into these types of games, note that you will get a little nostalgic feeling.”
- “Paid full price and ended up salty after a disappointing and frustrating open-world solo experience, especially with the sea of trolls ruining the immersion.”
- “The boring story campaign drained any emotional investment I hoped for; it felt like a chore rather than an engaging narrative.”
- “Playing solo in the open world was so frustrating and lonely that it killed any emotional connection to the game.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development starts off promising but abruptly ends after about 10 hours, leaving further growth unexplored.
- “Unfortunately, any real further character development gets cut short after some 10 hours.”