World Of Sea Battle Game Review
Russian gamers do have their favorite genres and games after all - Fallout, Heroes of Might and Magic, Corsairs... Some love them so much that they start creating their own games in the same style and spirit while still in school. This is exactly what happened with World Of Sea Battle. In 2012, it was started by Rostov 9th-grader Sergey Kochmar, who was inspired among other things by "Corsairs" and World of Warships. He wrote the engine and a working 2D prototype himself, but then decided to make the game 3D, first involving school friends, and in 2015, 9 more people from the indie developer community joined Sergey. And now, many years later, this school fan project has turned into a rather unique pirate MMO with a large community, thousands of concurrent players, and ambitious plans. Let's tell you more about it.
About gameplay basics and realism
Even in early interviews, Sergey Kochmar, answering the question about the purpose of creating World Of Sea Battle, voiced not only standard theses about the desire to "introduce the history of shipbuilding, show all the charm of maritime affairs and the beauty of ships," but also said important and mature things from a game design perspective. Namely, about the desire to create a project that combines session-based gameplay and open world, as well as creates "living," dynamic battles. Supposedly, this approach allows combining many combat and non-combat modes: arena, trials and PvE modes, economy, trade, politics.
In 2015, this sounded somewhat naive. But here's what's surprising - this is exactly how World Of Sea Battle turned out in the end. Here we can not only complete trade and combat missions, attack other ships and ports, hunt for bounties and world bosses in the form of powerful frigates, but also engage in crafting, trade, build mines, outposts and farms, even arrange our own island or just... go fishing. On the island, we also erect various useful buildings, including workshops for crafting, docks, a lighthouse, a warehouse, taverns that give out quests, and others.
In 2015, this sounded somewhat naive. But here's what's surprising - this is exactly how World Of Sea Battle turned out in the end. Here we can not only complete trade and combat missions, attack other ships and ports, hunt for bounties and world bosses in the form of powerful frigates, but also engage in crafting, trade, build mines, outposts and farms, even arrange our own island or just... go fishing. On the island, we also erect various useful buildings, including workshops for crafting, docks, a lighthouse, a warehouse, taverns that give out quests, and others.
Trade is implemented quite seriously and realistically - prices for goods vary in different ports and coastal cities, and they need to be dynamically tracked, playing on this difference. There is a market and an exchange where you can trade with other players - so the economy and trade here are quite lively.
The navigation process itself is also implemented with attention to detail and realism. It's clear that this is not a hardcore simulator of the medieval sailing fleet, but a dynamic modern MMO, but still there are many nuances to pay attention to. For example, the ship's crew not only needs to be paid a salary but also fed on time - and food can spoil in the hold. Although in cold regions, some products no longer spoil. It is possible to make quick transitions between ports, but they are limited, and very often you have to sail on a ship for quite a long time - while you need to pay attention to the wind direction, quickly remove sails when the ship makes a dangerous tilt. In rivers and canals, there are currents that increase speed even against the wind. Periodically, the weather deteriorates, a storm begins. It is possible to inspect ships and surroundings with a spyglass, but in bad weather, visibility, of course, deteriorates. Together with excellent graphics and beautiful sunset views, all this creates that very maritime romance that many come to such games for.
The navigation process itself is also implemented with attention to detail and realism. It's clear that this is not a hardcore simulator of the medieval sailing fleet, but a dynamic modern MMO, but still there are many nuances to pay attention to. For example, the ship's crew not only needs to be paid a salary but also fed on time - and food can spoil in the hold. Although in cold regions, some products no longer spoil. It is possible to make quick transitions between ports, but they are limited, and very often you have to sail on a ship for quite a long time - while you need to pay attention to the wind direction, quickly remove sails when the ship makes a dangerous tilt. In rivers and canals, there are currents that increase speed even against the wind. Periodically, the weather deteriorates, a storm begins. It is possible to inspect ships and surroundings with a spyglass, but in bad weather, visibility, of course, deteriorates. Together with excellent graphics and beautiful sunset views, all this creates that very maritime romance that many come to such games for.
About setting and factions
And all this happens in an alternate version of the 17th-century piracy era, on a huge archipelago that, as a result of some cataclysm, was cut off from the rest of the world by an endless sea. Former European colonies founded independent states. There are three key (so-called military factions) - these are Espanol, founded by descendants of French, Spanish, and Dutch colonists, Antilia, created by former British and German subjects, as well as Kai and Severia (here it essentially symbolizes the alliance of Russia and China). In addition, there is a trade faction and pirates.
And all of them (except traders) are at war with each other, so players after reaching the 10th rank are free to choose one of the sides and join. But even if you don't do this, many of our actions (for example, completing quests and sinking ships) one way or another affect reputation in factions - and this in turn affects who becomes a friend and who an enemy, and also gives bonuses in the cities of this faction.
And all of them (except traders) are at war with each other, so players after reaching the 10th rank are free to choose one of the sides and join. But even if you don't do this, many of our actions (for example, completing quests and sinking ships) one way or another affect reputation in factions - and this in turn affects who becomes a friend and who an enemy, and also gives bonuses in the cities of this faction.
Accordingly, during each season, factions compete with each other for influence and territories. And then another group sails from the Endless Sea, which you can't join in any way - the Empire. It was founded by the natives whom the colonists drove out of the archipelago. The Empire plays the role of universal villains who sail in and smash everyone, which allows resetting all the achievements of the factions and starting a new season. By the way, players can also sail beyond the map and sail the Endless Sea - it's very dangerous there, the strongest pirates and bosses are encountered, but the rewards are corresponding.
About PvP and PvE
As you already understood, World Of Sea Battle has wars for territories, which means a lot is built on battles between players. Here you can basically attack everyone and always, but for this, you need not to be a member of any faction and hang a black flag on the ship - in this case, PvP mode is always active, and you get 20% more experience and loot. You can, on the contrary, choose a peaceful flag, which guarantees complete protection from attacks by other players, but you yourself also cannot attack and receive bonuses. False peaceful flags protect from PvP only in the port waters or personal island and give a 10% bonus to experience and loot.
With a faction flag, you will always be PvP active and receive the same bonuses as black flag owners, but in addition, you are entitled to bonuses from the trade union for mission rewards. Finally, on the coolest 1st-rank ships, you can use the "no flag" mode: the nickname and guild tag will be hidden, so you can practically with impunity set up ambushes on other players and avoid pursuit, but in any port, the guard towers will automatically start firing at you after just 40 seconds of being there.
All this concerns free, one might even say chaotic battles in the open world, but besides this, there are also "organized" PvP modes in the arena. Here you have duels (regular and as part of tournaments), and mass or team battles in which players try to sink each other in team and squadron compositions, and two variants of the "Capture" mode, including "Fort Battle" and "Hunt" - there, teams of players compete to see who can collect more loot when attacking a trade caravan.
All this concerns free, one might even say chaotic battles in the open world, but besides this, there are also "organized" PvP modes in the arena. Here you have duels (regular and as part of tournaments), and mass or team battles in which players try to sink each other in team and squadron compositions, and two variants of the "Capture" mode, including "Fort Battle" and "Hunt" - there, teams of players compete to see who can collect more loot when attacking a trade caravan.
Well, and, naturally, players who are part of one of the three key military factions regularly mess with each other every season, attack enemy squadrons, cities, and ports, trying to increase the number of war points - they are counted for owning cities and territories. There are also guilds that can create alliances and unions - as in all such MMOs, membership in such associations gives its bonuses (guilds, for example, can collect taxes from allied cities), but also imposes certain obligations. There are several interesting nuances - in particular, our actions under faction flags can increase tension in certain ports and cities, and this hits the economy of the guilds that own them. And for this, it is not necessary to organize attacks - tension itself grows with a shortage of certain goods in this port or city, and then a coup happens there, and the guild loses control over this place. So there are also trade wars here.
As for PvE modes, that is, missions against NPCs and computer bots, in World Of Sea Battle there are many such raids - they are opened for especially valuable scrolls. These can be raids against pirates, missions to escort and protect a new governor, searches for missing expeditions, accompanied by dangerous adventures and battles, attempts to prevent imperial captains from passing their traditional trials and, conversely, situations when we ourselves pass exams in battle to become a member of some "Order of the New Ark."
As for PvE modes, that is, missions against NPCs and computer bots, in World Of Sea Battle there are many such raids - they are opened for especially valuable scrolls. These can be raids against pirates, missions to escort and protect a new governor, searches for missing expeditions, accompanied by dangerous adventures and battles, attempts to prevent imperial captains from passing their traditional trials and, conversely, situations when we ourselves pass exams in battle to become a member of some "Order of the New Ark."
About ships and progression
To participate in almost all modes, there are requirements for ship ranks, from the 7th to the first. The ships themselves, which, as you understand, are the heart of this game, have many characteristics (including durability, cargo capacity, speed, and others) and are divided into several classes. Fast ones are suitable for faster movement around the world map, combat ones are the best armed and primarily intended for PVE or PVP content, heavy ones carry the most weapons, protection, and crew on board, but they are less fast and maneuverable, siege ones are used to attack ports and forts with the help of mortars installed on board and can sail against the wind.
Transport ones are used mainly for trade, transporting goods and cargo. Finally, there are unique premium and imperial ships - they are the most valuable. For example, many players dream of getting the imperial "Octopus," which is considered a ghost ship - it is not displayed on the mini-map, its detection distance is significantly reduced, and the sail rig allows it to go at maximum speed at a steep angle to the wind. Almost all ships except premium ones can be built by the players themselves - if there is enough in-game currency, resources for crafting, and blueprint fragments. Some require high-rank shipyards, and if built in ports of another faction, it will be more expensive.
Transport ones are used mainly for trade, transporting goods and cargo. Finally, there are unique premium and imperial ships - they are the most valuable. For example, many players dream of getting the imperial "Octopus," which is considered a ghost ship - it is not displayed on the mini-map, its detection distance is significantly reduced, and the sail rig allows it to go at maximum speed at a steep angle to the wind. Almost all ships except premium ones can be built by the players themselves - if there is enough in-game currency, resources for crafting, and blueprint fragments. Some require high-rank shipyards, and if built in ports of another faction, it will be more expensive.
But it's not enough to build a ship - you also need to install guns (and they are also divided into different types and classes, including cannons, culverins, and carronades), upgrades that can increase gun damage or add speed and maneuverability, as well as recruit a crew. The latter is again divided into classes - we can take sailors, soldiers, musketeers, mercenaries on board, and all of them have their pros/cons and are better suited for certain purposes (for example, for boarding or for navigation). Also, unique crew members are periodically encountered, who give certain bonuses to the entire team or ship.
The actual process of sailing and fighting on ships in World Of Sea Battle is implemented approximately as it was done in "Corsairs" and then in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - we control the ship using the WASD layout, raise sails, turn sides for shots, while we need to wait for the guns to reload and aim manually, trying to shoot ahead. You need to choose ammunition wisely, which is also intended for different purposes - some hit the crew, and they are better used for boarding, others damage the stern, the third - the sails. Plus, you can also throw powder barrels and mines to escape pursuit and launch fire ships, such local torpedoes.
The actual process of sailing and fighting on ships in World Of Sea Battle is implemented approximately as it was done in "Corsairs" and then in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - we control the ship using the WASD layout, raise sails, turn sides for shots, while we need to wait for the guns to reload and aim manually, trying to shoot ahead. You need to choose ammunition wisely, which is also intended for different purposes - some hit the crew, and they are better used for boarding, others damage the stern, the third - the sails. Plus, you can also throw powder barrels and mines to escape pursuit and launch fire ships, such local torpedoes.
In general, battles are implemented quite competently and with a claim to some realism. By the way, when sinking, we lose as much as 40% of the cargo, but if we captured another ship, we can not dismantle it for resources, but add it to our squadron - then we will give it orders, for example, ask it to attack our target. Although often the most effective way to help is to use various consumables that can not only repair the ship but also, for example, temporarily improve ammunition.
But ship progression is more like what we see in Worlds of Tanks, Worlds of Warship, and the like - we progress through branches of certain classes, playing on other ships of this class. And the more branches are studied to the end, the more bonus experience goes to the remaining branches. Well, and to increase our overall effectiveness, we develop our character, learning skills in three branches - craft, battles, and world exploration.
But ship progression is more like what we see in Worlds of Tanks, Worlds of Warship, and the like - we progress through branches of certain classes, playing on other ships of this class. And the more branches are studied to the end, the more bonus experience goes to the remaining branches. Well, and to increase our overall effectiveness, we develop our character, learning skills in three branches - craft, battles, and world exploration.
Conclusion
As you can see, World Of Sea Battle even in the open beta stage appears to be a large, diverse, and surprisingly complex game with an emphasis on realism and maritime romance, as well as a lot of modes, activities, and ways to earn. Of course, there are microtransactions and donations, but nothing prevents you from plowing the local seas and oceans for hours completely free of charge and, albeit more slowly, but surely saving up resources for the ship of your dreams. If you don't believe it, you can try it yourself.
Zarium. June 2025
Zarium. June 2025