The best sailing games on PC depend on what you want from the sea. To relax, play Sail Forth or Tchia (or see our cozy sailing games). For real sailing, try Sailwind, eSail Sailing Simulator or Sailaway III. For pirates, pick Sea of Thieves with friends or Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag alone. Below are 13 games, grouped by type, with honest notes on each.
At a glance
| Game | Best for | Length | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Short Sail | A short, cozy sail with the island post, fishing and friends | Short | PC, Mac, Web, Steam Deck |
| Sail Forth | Players who want sailing to be fun first | About 16 hours | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS, Xbox |
| Tchia | Explorers who want sailing as part of a bigger island world | About 7.5 hours | PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X |
| Dredge | Players who like a calm routine with a creepy edge | About 9.5 hours | PC, Mac, Switch, PS, Xbox, mobile |
| Sailwind | Players who want real sailing in an open world | Open-ended | PC |
| eSail Sailing Simulator | People who want to learn how to sail a yacht | Open-ended | PC, Mac |
| Sailaway III | Players who dream of crossing real oceans | Open-ended | PC, Mac |
| Sea of Thieves | Groups of friends who want to crew a ship together | Open-ended | PC, Xbox, PS5 |
| Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag | Solo players who want a pirate story with great ship battles | About 24 hours | PC and most consoles of its era, plus Switch |
| Skull and Bones | Players who want ship combat and do not mind a grind | Open-ended | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X |
| Raft | Friends who want a survival game on the open sea | Varies | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X |
| Windbound | Survival fans who want to build and sail their own boat | About 14 hours | PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One |
| Naval Action | Dedicated players who want hardcore Age of Sail battles online | Varies | PC |
| Ultimate Admiral: Age of Sail | Strategy fans who want to command fleets, not one ship | Varies | PC |
Quick picks
- Best overall for most players: Sail Forth
- Best realistic sim: eSail Sailing Simulator
- Best with friends: Sea of Thieves
- Best single-player pirate game: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
- Best naval strategy: Ultimate Admiral: Age of Sail
- Our own game: A Short Sail (in development)
Relaxing and adventure sailing
Sail Forth
Who it is for: players who want sailing to be fun first.
You command a fleet across a big, colorful ocean of island regions. The wind system respects real sailing, with tacking and trim, but stays easy to learn. There is cannon combat against pirates, and some players find the story thin.
Developer: Festive Vector | Year: 2022 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS, Xbox | Length: about 16 hours | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
Tchia
Who it is for: explorers who want sailing as part of a bigger island world.
You sail, glide and climb across an archipelago inspired by New Caledonia, and you can jump into animals and objects. Sailing between islands is a highlight. Sailing is only one part of the game, and there is some light combat.
Developer: Awaceb | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S | Length: about 7.5 hours | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
Dredge
Who it is for: players who like a calm routine with a creepy edge.
You run a small fishing boat, sell your catch and upgrade your gear. Days are calm. Nights bring horror, sea monsters and a dark story. It is a motorboat, not a sailboat, but few games make the sea feel this alive.
Developer: Black Salt Games | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch, PS, Xbox, mobile | Length: about 9.5 hours | Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive | Steam page
Sailing simulators
Sailwind
Who it is for: players who want real sailing in an open world.
Sailwind has realistic sailing physics, cargo delivery jobs, boat upgrades, fishing and cooking. It can be a calm day sail or a long ocean trip. It takes patience to learn, and it is still in Early Access.
Developer: Raw Lion Workshop | Year: 2021 (Early Access) | Platforms: PC | Length: open-ended | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
eSail Sailing Simulator
Who it is for: people who want to learn how to sail a yacht.
eSail is an authentic yacht sim with many tutorials. It has sailing, mooring and anchoring modes, charting, challenges and online races. It is more of a training tool than an adventure, so do not expect a story.
Developer: eSail Ltd. | Year: 2019 | Platforms: PC, Mac | Length: open-ended | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
Sailaway III
Who it is for: players who dream of crossing real oceans.
Sailaway III models the world’s oceans at real size, with real weather and sail trim. A trip around the world takes months of real time. It is a niche, slow game, and its Steam reviews are less positive than eSail’s.
Developer: Orbcreation BV | Year: 2024 | Platforms: PC, Mac | Length: open-ended | Steam: Mostly Positive | Steam page
Pirate adventure
Sea of Thieves
Who it is for: groups of friends who want to crew a ship together.
Each player handles part of the ship: sails, wheel, map, cannons and repairs. You hunt treasure and meet other crews, who may help you or sink you. Meeting strangers can be stressful. There is a Safer Seas mode for calmer solo play.
Developer: Rare | Year: 2018 (Steam 2020) | Platforms: PC, Xbox, PS5 | Length: open-ended | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Who it is for: solo players who want a pirate story with great ship battles.
You play pirate captain Edward Kenway in the Caribbean. Its sailing and ship combat are still widely praised. It is an older open-world game, so some missions feel dated. A remake, Black Flag Resynced, came to Steam in July 2026, and its Steam reviews are Mixed so far.
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal | Year: 2013 | Platforms: PC and most consoles of its era, plus Switch | Length: about 24 hours | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
Skull and Bones
Who it is for: players who want ship combat and do not mind a grind.
Most of the action happens at sea, from your ship: you fight, trade and plunder around East Africa and Southeast Asia in the late 1600s. It came out after many delays. Critic reviews were mixed, and Steam reviews are Mixed too. Wait for a sale before you try it.
Developer: Ubisoft Singapore | Year: 2024 | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Length: open-ended | Steam: Mixed | Steam page
Survival sailing
Raft
Who it is for: friends who want a survival game on the open sea.
You start on a tiny raft with sharks circling. You hook floating debris, grow the raft into a base, and add sails and navigation to reach story islands. It is great in co-op. It is survival first and sailing second.
Developer: Redbeet Interactive | Year: 2022 (full release) | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Steam: Very Positive | Steam page
Windbound
Who it is for: survival fans who want to build and sail their own boat.
You are shipwrecked, craft a boat and sail between islands. The boat building is the best part. Steam reviews are Mixed, and some players dislike the survival systems.
Developer: 5 Lives Studios | Year: 2020 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 14 hours | Steam: Mixed | Steam page
Naval strategy
Naval Action
Who it is for: dedicated players who want hardcore Age of Sail battles online.
Naval Action is an MMO with detailed sailing warships and big fleet battles. It is deep and demanding. Steam reviews are Mixed, and recent ones are mostly negative, so check the current state first.
Developer: Bermuda Computer Club | Year: 2019 | Platforms: PC | Steam: Mixed | Steam page
Ultimate Admiral: Age of Sail
Who it is for: strategy fans who want to command fleets, not one ship.
A tactical wargame set in the American Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. You place your ships with the wind in mind and manage their crews. It is hard, and it suits patient players.
Developer: Game-Labs | Year: 2021 | Platforms: PC | Steam: Mostly Positive | Steam page
FAQ
What is the most realistic sailing game on PC? eSail Sailing Simulator and Sailaway III are the most realistic. eSail focuses on learning to sail a yacht. Sailaway III has real-world-size oceans and real weather.
What is the best pirate sailing game? For solo play, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. For playing with friends, Sea of Thieves. Both have Very Positive reviews on Steam.
Is Skull and Bones worth it? It is divisive. Reviews from critics and on Steam are mixed. Wait for a sale, or watch some recent play first.
Is there a sailing game I can play with friends? Sea of Thieves is built for crews of friends. Raft is a co-op survival game on a raft you can fit with sails.
Our own game
We make A Short Sail, so we kept it out of the ranked list. It is our pick at the top of this page, clearly marked as our own game.
Questions
What is the most realistic sailing game on PC?
eSail Sailing Simulator and Sailaway III are the most realistic. eSail focuses on learning to sail a yacht. Sailaway III has real-world-size oceans and real weather.
What is the best pirate sailing game?
For solo play, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. For playing with friends, Sea of Thieves. Both have Very Positive reviews on Steam.
Is Skull and Bones worth it?
It is divisive. Reviews from critics and on Steam are mixed. Wait for a sale, or watch some recent play first.
Is there a sailing game I can play with friends?
Sea of Thieves is built for crews of friends. Raft is a co-op survival game on a raft you can fit with sails.
