As a fond lover of all things piratey, when I initially heard about Festive Vector’s own sailing game, Sail Forth, I knew that it was something that I had to try for myself. Being an avid Sea of Thieves fan, I wanted to see how well Festive Vector was able to craft its distinct title and see what new ideas it had to offer players.
Having played it for a while now, I can definitely say that Sail Forth is one of the most unique pirating games available, yet still offers many things that players may love from other games in this sub-genre of pirate titles. This is for sure a game that you’re going to want to download, especially if you have a Nintendo Switch.
Sail Forth Review Biggest Takeaways
- Sail Forth is a simple yet relaxing pirating title.
- The randomly generated world creates a sense of mysterious adventure.
- Though it can be challenging, it’s never too difficult to enjoy.
- The sailing mechanics are simple yet still make you feel like a pirate.
- For its low price, Sail Forth offers nearly endless hours’ worth of fun.
Final Score: 9/10
An Adventure Awaits You
When you first hop into sail Forth, you instantly recognize certain elements of gameplay that feel right at home. Your sail needs to move in the direction of the wind to go faster, you locate new islands for fortune and glory, as well as fend off fierce pirating foes on the high seas.
The thing that’s unique about Sail Forth is just how charming it makes all of these elements, making them feel wholly unique. At the bottom of your screen, you’re shown a gauge for the wind, making it all the easier to actually catch stride and make haste towards land, instead of having to eyeball it.
The other way this title does things differently from other pirate games is in the fact that just about everything happens from the comfort of your seafaring vessel. Fighting off enemies is limited to the canons or guns on your ship, and most enemies or friendly folks will engage with you from land, as you idle on the water in front of them.
Players are also encouraged to make their ship and crew entirely their own with various cosmetic and functional customization options. Players can change the colors of their ship as well as its symbol, and even fully customize the build of their ship. You can make it bigger, bring on more crew members, add better weapons, and become the pirate captain you truly want to be.
There are also a lot of things to do in Sail Forth, like fishing, taking photos, and of course, ship battles. The ship battles, especially further into the game, can be extremely fun. The enemies are difficult enough, though don’t make the game feel like it’s too formidable. The balance is perfected.
That leads me to the fact that gameplay is just really easy. But in the best way! The controls, mechanics, and combat all just make sense in the grand scheme of things, aren’t difficult to learn, and feel extremely comfortable once you get the hang of using them. You won’t be fumbling with clunky controls as it all just works brilliantly.
Related: What is the Darkness on the Map in Ship of Fools?
A New World to Set Out On
One of the coolest features of Sail Forth is that it’s a procedurally generated world. That means that the islands and folks you come across, save for a few campaign specifics, are going to be completely unique to that playthrough. This gives the game real replay value as you never know what you’re going to get.
Sail Forth, though it seems light on its surface, and in most cases, it is, still gives a genuine pirate simulation experience. This feels like all of the very best sailing and pirating mechanics put together in a concise, charming little game that makes it difficult not to smile while playing.
I’d also have to say that I really love Sail Forth’s art direction as it truly drives home this silly, relaxing feeling. There are bright colors and nothing seems as if it’s being too fancy or detailed. It’s very easy on the eyes in that regard. Though that’s not to say that this game isn’t a looker, as there are some beautiful visual moments, especially when engaging in combat.
The Perfect Game to Pick Up For Quick Excitement
One thing that I specifically like about playing Sail Forth on the Nintendo Switch, is that you get a different experience than on other hardware. What I mean is, that for me at least, this game fills that perfect pocket of being something that you can pick up and play for 15 minutes here or there and then put away.
Having the efficiency of playing on the Switch means you can pop the game out while on the bus or while eating lunch, and then put it away for later. For games like Sea of Thieves and the lot, you don’t have the ability to play on the Switch whenever you want, giving this title a leg up in that aspect.
Sail Forth is Well Worth its Modest Pricetag
Having played my fair share of Sail Forth, I can honestly say that it’s been quite a fun ride, one that I’m still enjoying now. It’s an adorable and innovative little indie darling that really checks all of the boxes, in my opinion. There’s just so much to do and it really becomes a cozy pirate game because none of it seems invasive.
For its insanely low price of $20, you really cannot go wrong with Sail Forth. If you want something relaxing yet still exciting, this is a safe bet with your money. And I’d even more highly recommend this to folks that own a Nintendo Switch, as it’s a great title to play whenever you’d like to.
Sail Forth is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. If you liked this review, then feel free to check out some of our other helpful Sail Forth content, such as “How to Go Fishing in Sail Forth”. And don’t forget to like Gamer Journalist on Facebook to be kept up to date with the latest news, guides, and reviews!
Published: Jan 12, 2023 12:25 am