War on the Sea

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,890 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
War on the Sea Game Cover
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In "War on the Sea," experience real-time naval combat in the Pacific theater of WWII. Command over 50 classes of ships as either Allied Forces or Imperial Japan, and participate in historical missions based on actual naval engagements. Control aircraft, fight fires, repair ships, and utilize dynamic campaign gameplay in this strategic warfare simulation.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,890 reviews
gameplay71 positive mentions
stability64 negative mentions
  • The game features impressive graphics and detailed ship models, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The combination of strategic planning and tactical battles provides a satisfying gameplay experience.
  • The game has a strong modding community that adds significant content and improvements, enhancing replayability.
  • The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to manage units effectively.
  • The AI is often unresponsive and can behave erratically, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • The game can become repetitive, especially with constant submarine encounters and limited campaign content.
  • gameplay276 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the depth and potential of its mechanics, while also expressing frustration over clunky controls, a confusing UI, and various bugs. While the core mechanics are generally solid and can lead to engaging naval battles, the steep learning curve and some poorly explained features can detract from the overall experience. Many users recommend utilizing mods to enhance gameplay and address some of the game's shortcomings.

    • “The gameplay is both challenging and rewarding, catering to both newcomers and strategy enthusiasts.”
    • “Hunting a suspected carrier group and then suddenly having one of your scout planes bump into them, allowing for you to send in several bombing waves in is an amazing gameplay experience.”
    • “The mechanics of the game are easy to learn and the 3D models are very authentic.”
    • “Game mechanics are weird and erratic.”
    • “Even going through the tutorials, which have a bare minimum of effort put into them, this game just is not friendly to players, and as far as the actual gameplay goes, it feels like they've not only taken a step back from Cold Waters, but also just made it worse in every way.”
    • “The ui is absolutely garbage, and the gameplay can get stale fast.”
  • graphics223 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the detailed ship models and atmospheric effects that enhance the naval warfare experience. While some describe the visuals as beautiful and immersive, others note that certain elements, such as damage representation and UI design, could be improved. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good but not cutting-edge, with some players expressing a desire for further enhancements to match modern gaming standards.

    • “The game's visuals are impressive, featuring detailed ship models and atmospheric effects that enhance the naval warfare experience.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the game play is very fun.”
    • “The graphics are exceptional, and aircraft, as well as sea units, have been programmed for realistic movements.”
    • “The graphics look old and outdated.”
    • “Dated graphics, bland ship models, even worse sound quality, bugs end-to-end and frequent glitches.”
    • “Graphics are simple and even bare-bones for 2021, but solid.”
  • story122 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and content, with many players noting that the campaign consists of only a few scripted missions, primarily focused on the Guadalcanal campaign. While there are historical single missions and a mission editor for custom scenarios, the overall narrative experience feels underdeveloped and repetitive, leading to disappointment among players seeking a richer storyline. Additionally, the complexity of gameplay mechanics and AI behavior detracts from the immersion, making the campaign feel more like a series of disjointed tasks rather than a cohesive narrative.

    • “The campaign is pretty fun; a lot of my time in this game has been in the campaign where you command either the Japanese or American forces during the Guadalcanal campaign, although they do have quick missions which let you reenact historical battles (like Savo Island or Santa Cruz).”
    • “All of this comes together at the end of an engagement for an experience that feels very much like what my friend said about my message to him, like a living war story.”
    • “There are also quick missions and a mission editor, but I like the dynamic campaign mode the most.”
    • “The campaign is little more than an afterthought; there is one mission - capture and defend Guadalcanal.”
    • “I'm disappointed with this game because the campaign only contains 2 missions.”
    • “I have no idea how the devs and beta testers thought, 'yup, this is ready for prime time.' Play the campaign for a few hours, increasingly wonder why the UI is so clumsy, why handling aircraft missions is micromanagement hell, why there is no automation or implementation of things that should have been no-brainers, and finally realize, War on the Sea is far more frustrating than it is fun.”
  • stability65 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as freezing during battles and unresponsive AI. While some users acknowledge improvements over time and find the game enjoyable despite its issues, others describe it as a "buggy mess" that feels unfinished. Overall, while there are signs of progress, the game still suffers from significant stability problems that can frustrate players.

    • “It's a solid, pretty bug-free game already, which is more than I expected. With some months of post-launch support, it should be one of the best in its genre.”
    • “A buggy mess with features that seem to cater to the wrong crowd, who would never purchase this game in the first place.”
    • “The game was buggy, but overall, the game felt unfinished.”
    • “A full-priced game with a broken AI, bugs, and glitches.”
  • grinding54 mentions

    The reviews highlight that grinding in the game is overwhelmingly tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the cumbersome user interface and the need for excessive micromanagement. While some aspects of the gameplay are enjoyable, the overall experience is marred by the monotony of tasks such as managing air patrols and engaging in naval battles, leading to a sense of burnout for many users. Despite potential for improvement, the current state of grinding detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “There is no grinding, leveling up, or unlocking, which is fine by me.”
    • “The campaign is, at its very best, tedious and repetitive.”
    • “It's incredibly tedious gameplay and I'm now finding that I'm getting more frustrated with it than I am having fun, and I know it's time to put a game down when I'm not having fun.”
    • “Having to constantly manually steer your ships back and forth to avoid fire is really tedious.”
  • music28 mentions

    The music in the game has received praise for its ability to enhance immersion and set the mood during gameplay, with many players highlighting the quality and variety of the soundtrack. While some users appreciate the strategic map theme and overall sound design, others express frustration with the user interface and the need to adjust music settings frequently. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, contributing positively to the gaming experience.

    • “The music for this game, particularly the strategic map theme, is so damn good; it makes you feel like you are in command, making all the decisions and prepared to accept the rewards, risks, and consequences that come with it.”
    • “The soundtrack is movie quality and really sets the mood during engagements.”
    • “I opened the game and was greeted by such lovely music; I would pay millions to have that first-time experience of opening the game and being blasted with this heavenly music at full volume.”
    • “Absolutely atrocious UI, soundtrack, tedious and unexciting naval action gameplay combined with terrible graphics and warship models that rarely match their real-life prototypes is what this game basically is, which is a shame because Killerfish's previous titles, namely Atlantic Fleet and Cold Waters, have lured me into sinking hundreds of hours into them.”
    • “Sound changes don't appear to be saving, so if you like turning down the music and using your own, you'll have to reset this every time you open the game, which you will be re-opening quite a bit because the game likes to freeze before battles.”
    • “- The music is alright, though I would love to hear more variety and subtle transitions from action to normal music, and vice versa.”
  • replayability17 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is highly regarded, with many players praising the extensive modding community that significantly enhances the experience. While some users noted issues with AI and initial game quality, the campaign and various scenarios, including a mission editor, contribute to a strong sense of replayability. Many reviews suggest that ongoing developer support and potential future content will further improve the game's longevity.

    • “The game can be modded, which adds a ton of replayability.”
    • “"War on the Sea" offers various scenarios and a mission editor for replayability.”
    • “The campaign is well designed and appears to have great replayability.”
    • “Zero replay value as well.”
    • “The AI in this game truly sucks and I don't see the developers doing anything to make it more playable.”
    • “My biggest concern about this game was replay value, but that turned out not to be an issue at all.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users noting significant improvements in performance and game flow compared to earlier versions, while others criticize the user interface and AI behavior as poorly optimized. Issues such as inconsistent input methods, AI navigation problems, and a lack of responsiveness in ship performance detract from the overall experience. However, many players express hope for future updates to address these concerns and enhance gameplay further.

    • “Good game flow and solid performance.”
    • “Awesome performance and each plane/ship/shell are modeled and does its own thing!”
    • “Just keep in mind it is very slow and takes a lot of time to win, but well-optimized!”
    • “It is not very optimized for few clicks for frequent tasks, and defies conventions (even to itself, for instance, the maps in the strategic and tactical modes use different input methods).”
    • “Love the other Killerfish games but this one is by far the worst. Terrible UI, enemy AI is severely lacking (I've seen ships ramming each other, fleets sailing straight into islands and getting stuck trying to turn around on the beach, or just running away even when evenly matched. The classic issue of sailing in a circle while one or two of their own ships collide with as many friendly ships as possible). Friendly AI isn't much smarter and keeps forgetting orders, and ship stats don't seem to match battle performance (e.g., ship speed, although that may have something to do with sea state and wind). The manual needs updating to current features.”
    • “You have points you spend at the outset and you can barely afford to create one carrier task force if you want it realistically configured (i.e., around a dozen escorts, because you need to provide for submarines and the transports you need to launch invasions of enemy territory). In theory, you could build a large battle in the editor, but you are warned off going beyond 20 ships because of potential performance issues.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its impressive visuals, detailed ship models, and immersive sound design that effectively capture the essence of WWII naval warfare. While many players appreciate the dense and engaging atmosphere, some express frustration with the interface and gameplay mechanics, which they feel detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, enhancing the enjoyment of combat scenarios and contributing to a rewarding gaming experience.

    • “The game's visuals are impressive, featuring detailed ship models and atmospheric effects that enhance the naval warfare experience.”
    • “The sound design complements the visuals, creating an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “I have been playing about 15 hours thus far and was rewarded with a great in-game atmosphere, be it coordinated dive-bombing attacks on convoys or the tense atmosphere of submarine warfare.”
    • “The graphics aren't the best by far, but the atmosphere is so dense and pretty to look at, and the soundtrack is a delight.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is derived from its quirky AI behaviors, such as ships circling aimlessly and colliding with each other or land, which can be amusing at first but may become repetitive and frustrating over time. Players find humor in unexpected moments, like missed torpedo shots that go unnoticed by enemy ships, adding a lighthearted, arcade-like charm to the experience. However, some feel that the humor could benefit from further refinement in the game's mechanics.

    • “Sometimes it is quite funny.”
    • “Although I'm not sure they should because the AI-controlled ships like to collide with each other, and will even ignore land (with funny but arcade-like results).”
    • “It's funny to sometimes miss with one of your torpedoes right over the bow of a ship, and the ship doesn't even notice.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a cinematic gameplay experience that immerses players in intense battles, evoking a sense of involvement and excitement. While opinions vary, many players find the game to be heartfelt and recommend it for its comprehensive and wholesome approach, particularly for fans of naval combat who appreciate the depth of choice it offers.

    • “Not the best, but certainly not the worst; you get some truly cinematic gameplay that made me feel like I was in the thick of the battle!”
    • “Comprehensive and wholesome.”
    • “For those who like naval combat, and who don't mind learning complex (but not baffling) procedures that permit a lot of individual choice, I feel obligated to give this game a heartfelt recommendation based upon what I have seen so far.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

48hMedian play time
87hAverage play time
30-200hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 26 analyzed playthroughs

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