The Ship: Murder Party

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The Ship is a unique multiplayer game. Set on a series of luxury, art deco cruise ships built by Mr X, this devilish game challenges you to kill or be killed. Once you'e on board you're given the name of another passenger whom you must find and secretly murder.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,836 reviews

humor96 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

Unique and fun gameplay that combines elements of stealth and social deduction.
Hilarious moments when played with friends, leading to memorable experiences.
The game has a charming art style and atmosphere reminiscent of the 1920s.

The multiplayer servers are mostly dead, making it hard to find real players.
The game can feel repetitive and lacks depth in single-player mode.
Technical issues with server connectivity and outdated mechanics can hinder the experience.

humor
96 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its hilarious and often absurd situations, particularly when played with friends. Players enjoy the dark and twisted comedic elements, such as creative kill animations and unexpected interactions, which lead to memorable and laugh-out-loud moments. Overall, the game is described as a fun and entertaining experience that thrives on its unique blend of humor and gameplay mechanics.
- “With friends, I can still highly recommend this game since it's hilarious to keep lying to all of your best buddies for a change.”
- “The game has a weird sense of humor; I can't explain what it is, but it's both fun and dark. The weird and twisted violence combined with the slow but tense pace of the game can create some of the funniest moments I've ever seen in any game.”
- “Killing has never been so funny! Hilarious situations are plentiful in multiplayer; there aren't many games where you can chase someone with a frying pan and a flare gun.”
gameplay
77 mentions
34 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its unique blend of stealth and social simulation mechanics, where players must navigate a cat-and-mouse dynamic while managing various needs akin to The Sims. While many find the gameplay to be innovative and enjoyable, especially in multiplayer settings, some criticize it for being overly complicated or repetitive, with a few mechanics feeling unnecessary or frustrating. Overall, the game offers a fun and engaging experience, particularly when played with friends, despite some issues with server availability and balance.
- “The gameplay is unlike any other, as you must blend in with the crowd and act inconspicuous while keeping an eye out for your target and potential threats.”
- “The gameplay is unique and very funny, with a well-inspired mix between a plain ol' FPS and a Sims/Second Life simulation.”
- “Highly addictive gameplay mixed with a sense of paranoia and excitement breeds exceptional scenarios that make you think... how the heck am I going to kill this guy with a paddle bat...”
- “But I must say, the gameplay is not that cool.”
- “It really, really needs a lot more improvement in terms of balance and gameplay before I give it a yes.”
- “When I first tried multiplayer, there were no servers on the internet and nothing for me to do. I made a server for half an hour and explored, but no one joined. No gameplay at all.”
graphics
48 mentions
42 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2006 release, but many players find them charming and fitting for the game's unique atmosphere. While some reviews note issues like render glitches and a lack of modern polish, others appreciate the art style and smooth performance, especially on lower-end machines. Overall, the visuals are seen as adequate for their time, contributing to the game's fun and immersive experience despite not being cutting-edge.
- “The game's graphics and sound design are top-notch, immersing you in the opulent and grand atmosphere of the ship.”
- “The art style is stylish, lighthearted, and a little slapstick, set on a variety of 1920's era cruise ships.”
- “This game is just amazing; the graphics are fantastic, and it's very funny when you kill someone and they ragdoll.”
- “Outdated graphics.”
- “The graphics are a bit dated, and every once in a while there are render glitches.”
- “Graphics are really outdated and no options menu.”
story
43 mentions
33 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around a murder party on a 1920s cruise ship, where players must kill other passengers while avoiding being hunted themselves. While some players find the narrative creative and engaging, many criticize it for being short, simplistic, and linear, often feeling like a mere backdrop to the gameplay. Overall, the single-player story is seen as a fun but shallow experience, with multiplayer being the highlight of the game.
- “The story is good.”
- “It's really creative, and the storyline is pretty brilliant.”
- “The single player is a very great story; it's not rich but it is very fun and interesting.”
- “The story campaign is simplistic, short, and linear, so it sucks.”
- “Single player devolves to little more than fetch/escort quests; doesn't help that the story, though Kafkaesque, is noticeably shallow.”
- “It's quite short and the story is pretty much meh.”
music
14 mentions
36 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the thematic early 1900s soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and annoying, suggesting it may be best to turn it off after a while. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for its fun and unique elements, but opinions vary widely on its quality and enjoyment.
- “Very fun and cool soundtrack!”
- “The game has a very special early 1900's theme to it, with fitting music playing in the background and visuals to go along with it.”
- “All in all fun game, a lot of cool unique elements, and it also helps that it takes place in a pseudo 1920's because the music, uniforms, and weapons all make the game seriously different from anything made on Source.”
- “A fourth flaw was the soundtrack, which I turned off after 13 seconds.”
- “I recommend disabling the music after a while.”
- “Music was thematic but slightly annoying.”
stability
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some players still find enjoyment in the game despite its issues, the lack of updates and a dwindling community further exacerbate the stability concerns. Overall, the game is described as fun but plagued by technical problems that detract from the experience.
- “Warning: this game and its sequel are dead, buggy as hell, and no longer being updated.”
- “It's a simple premise, try to kill each other without getting caught, and it blew it in the form of castrating the original game to force people to buy a 'remastered' version and then having the remaster be a horrifically buggy game that was quadruple the price.”
- “It's way too buggy; the hallways can only fit one person in one direction.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive graphics and sound design, effectively capturing the opulence of the ship and the eerie tension of the late 1800s and 1920s. Players experience a gripping sense of paranoia as the environment shifts with increasing danger, enhanced by thematic maps and realistic weaponry. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's tension and excitement, making it a memorable experience.
- “The game's graphics and sound design are top-notch, immersing you in the opulent and grand atmosphere of the ship.”
- “The 1920's atmosphere is mesmerizing, and while the game is slow-paced, it can be very rewarding.”
- “Each map has a different theme while sticking to a creepy, paranoia-fueling atmosphere.”
- “As the amount of people out for your blood increases, the atmosphere and your sanity darkens.”
- “The 1920's atmosphere is mesmerizing and while the game is slow-paced, it can be very rewarding.”
replayability
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it features a variety of maps and modes that can enhance the experience, some players find it limited due to a lack of active servers and diminishing excitement after initial playthroughs. Those who enjoy multiplayer with friends may find more value, but solo play against AI may not sustain long-term interest.
- “One of the best aspects of the game is its replayability, with different maps and modes that offer a variety of challenges and playstyles.”
- “There are lots of maps, so it has a good amount of replayability.”
- “Replayability is rarely an issue.”
- “Innovative gameplay provides many thrills in the first couple of games, while unfortunately, replayability is somewhat limited.”
- “I haven't logged many hours into this game, so I can't comment on the replayability.”
grinding
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and overly complicated, detracting from the enjoyment of the gameplay, especially in a party setting. While some acknowledge that it can serve as a learning tool in single-player mode, the repetitive nature and frustrating mechanics can lead to a lack of engagement.
- “I do think the gameplay is overly complicated for the sake of adding more strategy, but it just becomes too tedious for a party game.”
- “It can get tedious if you constantly get arrested because of nonsense that the game makes up.”
- “It's not amazing; it's rather tedious, actually.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, users are eager to see how the upcoming HD remake will enhance both performance and graphics optimization. While some players have experienced smooth gameplay by adjusting settings like vsync and framerate limits, there is anticipation for broader improvements in the remake.
- “The HD remake should be coming soon, and I can't wait to see if they have optimized performance as well as graphics.”
- “I have not had any problems running the game at all; rather, it runs smoothly after turning off VSync and limiting the framerate.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report experiencing strong emotional reactions, with moments of realization and loss leading to tears and deep feelings of connection to the game's narrative and characters. The intensity of these experiences highlights the game's ability to evoke empathy and personal reflection.
- “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “I found my friend having a nice bath, and when I shot him with a blunderbuss, I cried that night.”
character development
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-300 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Character development is characterized by a cartoony design that blends elements reminiscent of Team Fortress 2 and Telltale games, suggesting a playful yet engaging visual style.
- “The character design is quite cartoony, reminiscent of a blend between Team Fortress 2 and Telltale characters.”
- “The character design is quite cartoony, resembling a mix between Team Fortress 2 and Telltale characters.”
- “The characters lack depth and feel more like stereotypes than fully developed individuals.”
- “I found the character progression to be shallow, with little impact on the overall story.”