Well, here’s a pretty pleasant surprise: an indie game set during the Golden Age of Sail that fully calls itself an MMO without tap-dancing around the subject like it’s a pile of dog leavings. We’re referring to World of Sea Battle, an early access open-world MMO from publisher and developer Thera Interactive that promises lots of open water and fighting for PvP and PvE fans. So, y’know, a world of sea battle.
“World of Sea Battle is an action-packed, open-world MMO set in the Golden Age of Sail. With dozens of historical sailing ships, pirates, PvP & PvE, player-driven economy, and territorial guild wars, this historical naval experience will put you at the helm as you sail, fight, upgrade, and trade alongside other players in search of glory on the high seas!”
Players can take command of over 50 customizable and upgradable ships from simple schooners to hulking man o’ war warships, setting sail for PvP battles or PvE fights and raid encounters. Players can also raid merchant ships for their loot, run a trade empire by creating production routes, or push past the edge of the map into the Endless Sea to find riches and rewards. Players can also own their own island, team up with one another, and form guilds together.
So far, World of Sea Battle has been in early access for just under a year, with plans to add more ships from different nations, faction-specific features, more narrative elements, and more cooperative and exploration gameplay features. Early access is projected to take a year and a half, though that will adjust with player feedback and finances. Incidentally, this game is free-to-play, though some user reviews on Steam claim the game has greedy pay-to-win monetization, along with accusations of in-game favoritism by the devs, so perhaps bear that in mind if you’re going to check it out.
