Chris InglisKing of Seas is an isometric pirate action roleplaying game developed by 3DClouds and published by Team17 Digital. It was released on May 25, 2021, and is an epic pirate adventure in a procedurally generated world dotted with ship fights, lost islands, treasures, and more. The game features simple controls and a chill vibe akin to Windward, along with some lighter trading elements compared to Port Royale.
There are five game difficulties to choose from, each with progressively harder game conditions. I chose the second difficulty, titled Gunner, where if I die, I do not lose my inventory. This choice proved beneficial as I died frequently while learning the combat mechanics, utilising wind and speed to my advantage, and discovering that initiating combat near a city would lead to annihilation by city defences. Combat is best kept to the high seas but beware of storms and the Kraken.
You can play as either Marylou, the daughter of the King of Seas, or her younger brother, Luky. The game begins with a voyage to deliver gunpowder to a nearby port before your coming-of-age celebrations. Upon returning, you find that your father, the King, has been murdered, and you have been framed for his death. Fleeing in your small sloop, you are no match for the armada and are blown up. You wash ashore and are taken in by pirates who teach you the ways of piracy, with the hope of one day restoring your name.
The game’s controls now include mouse camera controls, which significantly enhances the gameplay experience from the early launch months. With the mouse, navigating menus and controlling the camera feels much more intuitive. This addition makes managing your ship and aiming cannons much smoother. Pressing W raises each of the three sails, and S lowers them. Navigating ports, traders, markets, and taverns is more user-friendly with the mouse.
Early quests are simple fetch and deliver missions, with each quest marked by a big red X on the map. Initially, the map is shrouded in fog, revealing only a few landmarks. You need to find cartographer stations to purchase maps of the surrounding areas. Alternatively, you can explore, discovering new islands and cities to trade goods or visit taverns for side quests.
While sailing, you must avoid obstacles and rival pirates. Along the way, you will encounter flotsam, lost sailors, and shipwrecks that offer XP, items, and crew members. Red barrels floating in the water are explosive and should be avoided. The UI indicators in the bottom left corner show the status of your sails (blue), hull (red), and crew members (yellow). Combat involves strategic use of wind and sail manipulation, making for an engaging and dynamic experience.
Initially, I died frequently while learning the combat mechanics. However, as I gained levels and acquired better items, I learned to use wind and speed effectively. By level 20, I could choose my battles and had upgraded my ship to a Flute, which offered greater cargo capacity for trade missions. Gold was never an issue, as loot was plentiful and easily traded for upgrades and repairs. The main story is compelling, and I often took breaks to enjoy side quests and explore. These side activities provided a good balance, allowing me to discover cartographer stations and enjoy the game at a relaxed pace. Even short gaming sessions felt rewarding, and I was always eager to continue my adventures.
Overall, King of Seas is a fantastic isometric pirate action game with a compelling story and plenty of loot to plunder. The addition of mouse camera controls has greatly improved the gameplay. Although I died often, the difficulty felt fair and engaging. If you’ve played games like Windward or Port Royale, King of Seas will be very familiar. New players will find it easy to dive into the pirate life and enjoy the journey.
This review utilised a Steam key provided by Renaissance PR and King of Seas is available now on Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
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Yonan
Chris Inglis