Following Seas

Following Seas, developed and published by Whipstaff Games, is a sailing simulation built around realism, patience, and the challenge of surviving on unpredictable waters. Rather than turning life at sea into a fast-paced adventure filled with constant action, the game focuses on immersion and responsibility. Every voyage asks players to understand their ship, adapt to changing weather conditions, and slowly build their place within a fractured world that depends heavily on maritime trade and transportation. It is a simulation-first experience designed for players who enjoy learning systems and mastering mechanics rather than rushing toward instant rewards. The setting creates a strong foundation for the experience. Civilization has fallen apart, leaving isolated settlements spread across distant islands struggling to survive. The ocean becomes both a pathway and an obstacle connecting communities that depend on supplies and trade to endure. Players step into the role of someone responsible for maintaining those fragile connections, carrying cargo across dangerous waters while dealing with environmental threats and logistical challenges. The narrative remains understated but effective, giving purpose to ordinary responsibilities and making every completed delivery feel meaningful. The strongest aspect of Following Seas is its dedication to realistic sailing systems. Navigation and ship operation demand attention and understanding rather than simplified controls. Wind direction matters. Sail positioning matters. Cargo balance matters. Maintaining stability becomes a constant concern during longer voyages, particularly when weather conditions become dangerous. Players are expected to actively participate in managing their vessel rather than relying on automated systems. The result creates a level of involvement that makes successful journeys feel genuinely earned. Sailing itself becomes a skill developed gradually over time. Early mistakes often become valuable lessons, encouraging players to understand how different conditions affect movement and control. Wind behavior influences travel efficiency, and poor preparation can quickly create complications during difficult conditions. Instead of treating ships as vehicles that simply move from one destination to another, Following Seas turns vessel management into the center of the experience. Navigation tools reinforce that commitment to realism. Rather than relying entirely on convenience systems or constant map guidance, players use maritime instruments to determine position and maintain course. Learning how to operate these tools strengthens immersion while creating a stronger connection to the process of exploration. Traveling across open water feels rewarding precisely because the game expects players to actively participate in every stage of the journey. Weather systems add another layer of complexity that keeps long voyages engaging. Calm conditions can quickly become dangerous when storms arrive or winds shift unexpectedly. Rough seas force players to think carefully about preparation and resource management. Flooding systems introduce additional tension, creating situations where ship maintenance becomes just as important as navigation itself. The ocean feels alive and unpredictable, turning environmental conditions into one of the game's most important challenges. Beyond transportation duties, Following Seas offers additional activities that help strengthen progression and reduce repetition. Fishing creates opportunities for additional income and exploration while trade systems encourage strategic thinking regarding cargo and long-term planning. Islands scattered across the world reward curiosity and reinforce the feeling that exploration matters beyond simple objective completion. These overlapping systems help create a more complete maritime experience rather than reducing gameplay entirely to delivery assignments. Ship variety also contributes meaningfully to progression. Different vessels offer unique handling characteristics and operational demands, encouraging players to adapt and continue developing maritime knowledge. Some ships prioritize simplicity and accessibility, while others demand greater mastery and planning. Learning how each vessel responds under different circumstances strengthens the sense of progression without relying heavily on artificial progression systems. Presentation supports immersion effectively. Historical sailing influences shape ship design and environmental atmosphere, helping the world feel believable despite its fictional setting. The first-person perspective strengthens connection to ship operation by allowing players to physically move through vessels and interact with important systems directly. Managing ropes, preparing for difficult weather, and handling ship responsibilities personally creates stronger immersion than detached menu-driven approaches often found in management-focused simulations. The slower pacing will naturally divide audiences. Following Seas asks players to appreciate long travel times, procedural tasks, and gradual skill development. Those looking for constant excitement or simplified gameplay may struggle with the deliberate structure. Learning systems also requires patience, particularly during early hours when understanding ship mechanics becomes essential for long-term success. However, for simulation enthusiasts, those same qualities become major strengths. Following Seas succeeds because it remains committed to authenticity instead of simplifying every challenge for convenience. Whipstaff Games clearly designed the experience around rewarding mastery and creating satisfaction through learning rather than spectacle. The result is a maritime simulation that values atmosphere, realism, and personal improvement. Following Seas does not attempt to compete with larger open-world adventures or action-focused sailing games. Instead, it builds something more specialized and focused, asking players to embrace uncertainty, preparation, and the quiet satisfaction of mastering life on difficult waters. For players who appreciate immersive simulations and detailed maritime mechanics, Following Seas offers a rewarding voyage filled with challenge, atmosphere, and meaningful progression. Its slower pace may limit broader appeal, but those willing to invest time into understanding its systems will likely discover a thoughtful and highly engaging sailing experience. Rating: 8/10

Demo was great, full release is not. Within seconds of playing, the game will micro freeze and cause you to spin around. It does this randomly the entire time you play, sometimes causing you to fall off the ship. There are also clipping issues, when I was below deck adjusting the ballasts, I randomly ended up in the ocean while my ship sailed off without me. Not sure what happened, if the game ran as smoothly as it did in the demo, I would recommend it, until that happens, it will stay negative.

I was Contacted by the Developer to investigate the crashing problem. I have to admit I was surprised, it's never happened to me before. With this in mind I've decided to recommend the game, even though it's not as yet fixed, I feel hopeful it will be within the foreseeable future. For all I like about this game, and there's a lot, NOTHING kills a game faster that repeated "crash to desktop". It happens all too frequently and reloading doesn't help, it crashes again in the exact same place. So you either load an earlier save and pray, or restart altogether. It's just so bloody tiring. If / when it's fixed, I'll revisit this.

Sorry but this is not ready even for early access.

for a game I really wanted to like but this piece of junk might be the worst I have seen and the last 20 years I end up in the water even when I'M in the middle of my boat I have the full version its worse than the demo never seen so many glitchs very sad to see SAVING GAME IS BROKEN

Сырая, недоделанная, с кучей багов. И все равно - лучшая в своем жанре. Совсем немного допилить, и будет шедевр. Если нравится управлять парусным кораблем - мастхев.

This is a beautiful sailing sim. It has a few rough edges here and there, but it's a work of passion by one person who works tirelessly to improve it. I'll gladly support this endeavour.

в целом, игра неплоха, если вам нравятся парусные симулятры. Физика парусов очень классная, лучше только в серьезных парусных симах. Правда, иногда паруса ведут себя неадекватно: превращаются в лопасти вертолета, заставляют лодку делать бочку, итд. По известным одному разрабу причинам, когда лодка развивает скорость больше 5 узлов, она, судя по моим наблюдениям, коллапсирует под собственной гравитацией, превращаясь в сверхновую и проваливаясь к центру земли, после чего крашит игру. Дождь представляет собой облачко над игроком, радиусом +-10 метров, с которого капает водичка (в настройках стоит ультра), а при тумане я не советую смотреть на небо из трюма (особенно эпелепсикам). На самом деле игра неплоха, особенно для ее возраста и маленького бюджета разрабов, а баги больше забанвые, чем раздражающие. Да и у игры есть неплохая демка и стоимость как у 2 пачек сигарет.

it is a very acurate depiction of taraditional sailing and is giving me the tall ship fix i need.

For early access this is pretty good. The sailing is fun. Just be careful about how you tie the lines to things, it can get tangled if your not careful