The best multiplayer sailing game is Sea of Thieves: you and up to three friends crew one pirate ship. For co-op survival at sea, play Raft or Valheim. For a cozy boat to share on one couch, play Spiritfarer. Sailwind and Sail Forth are single-player. We checked every game on October 29, 2026.
At a glance
| Game | Best for | Length | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea of Thieves | Groups of friends who want to sail one ship as a real crew | Open-ended | PC, Xbox, PS5 |
| Blazing Sails | Friends who want short, loud ship battles rather than a long voyage | Match-based | PC |
| Raft | Friends who want to build a home on the water | About 36.5 hours in co-op (HowLongToBeat) | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X |
| Valheim | Big groups who want to build, explore and sail far | About 111 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox |
| Voyagers of Nera | Survival fans who want sailing to be the heart of the game | About 6 hours for the main story so far (HowLongToBeat) | PC |
| Stranded Deep | Two friends who want a hard survival game in the Pacific | About 23 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One |
| Spiritfarer | Two players on one couch who want a calm boat and a warm story | About 25.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, mobile |
| Ship of Fools | Two friends who want a cute boat game with a bit of action | About 6 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, Xbox |
| A Short Sail | Friends who want a calm sea to sail together, with no fighting on foot | Not shared yet | PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck |
Sailing alone is calm. Sailing with friends is chaos in the best way: someone forgets the anchor, someone else steers into a rock, and everyone laughs. This page is about games where more than one person is on the water at once. We split them into pirate crews, survival at sea and cozy co-op boats. At the end, we answer the question we get most: does Sailwind have multiplayer?
Lengths come from HowLongToBeat, and Steam Deck status comes from each Steam page, checked on 29 October 2026. For single-player sailing, see our best sailing games on PC and best cozy sailing games.
Our picks
- Best multiplayer sailing game: Sea of Thieves
- Best quick pirate battles: Blazing Sails
- Best co-op survival at sea: Raft
- Best big crew: Valheim (up to 10 players)
- Best cozy co-op boat: Spiritfarer
- Our own game: A Short Sail (in development, ride along in a friend’s boat online)
Crew a ship together
Sea of Thieves
Who it is for: groups of friends who want to sail one ship as a real crew.
There are no set roles. Someone trims the sails, someone steers, someone reads the map, and someone patches holes below deck. A sloop takes one or two players, a brigantine up to three, and a galleon up to four. You hunt treasure, fight skeletons and sea monsters, and meet other crews, who may be friendly or not.
The downside: other crews can attack you and take your loot, which is stressful for calm players. Safer Seas mode gives your crew a private world with no other players, but some progress is limited there. For calmer sea games, see our cozy games like Sea of Thieves.
Developer: Rare | Year: 2018 (Steam 2020) | Platforms: PC, Xbox, PS5 | Length: open-ended | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Blazing Sails
Who it is for: friends who want short, loud ship battles rather than a long voyage.
Crews steer, repair and resupply their ship while they fight other crews on land and sea. There are several modes and ship types, including a 2-player sloop for small crews. Matches are quick.
The downside: it is a player-versus-player game, so it is the opposite of cozy. Valve marks it Unsupported on Steam Deck. It needs other players online to be fun.
Developer: Get Up Games | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC | Length: match-based | Steam Deck: Unsupported | Steam page
Survive at sea together
Raft
Who it is for: friends who want to build a home on the water.
You start on a few planks with a plastic hook. You catch floating debris, grow the raft, add sails and an engine, and sail to islands to follow a story. Online co-op makes the work lighter and the jokes better.
The downside: a shark circles you, and survival needs (food, water) never stop. A Peaceful mode makes enemies passive; you pick it when you make the world. For more, see relaxing boat games.
Developer: Redbeet Interactive | Year: 2022 (full release) | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Length: about 36.5 hours in co-op (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Valheim
Who it is for: big groups who want to build, explore and sail far.
Valheim is a Viking survival game for 1 to 10 players. You build a base, then build boats and sail to new lands. Sailing a longship with your friends, with the wind behind you, is one of the best moments in co-op gaming.
The downside: it is a combat game with hard bosses. A world modifier can make enemies passive. It is also very long.
Developer: Iron Gate AB | Year: 2021 (Early Access), full release 2026 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox | Length: about 111 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Voyagers of Nera
Who it is for: survival fans who want sailing to be the heart of the game.
You survive on a magical ocean, sail to distant islands, build villages and surf the waves. A server holds up to 10 players. You can host, run your own free server or rent one.
The downside: it is in Early Access, so expect changes and rough edges. The sea has monsters and spirits to fight.
Developer: Treehouse Games | Year: 2025 (Early Access) | Platforms: PC | Length: about 6 hours for the main story so far (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Stranded Deep
Who it is for: two friends who want a hard survival game in the Pacific.
You survive a plane crash on a small island. You gather, craft and build a raft to reach other islands. It has online co-op and split-screen co-op.
The downside: it is tough and can feel lonely, with sharks and harsh survival. The sailing is a raft with a sail, not a real ship.
Developer: Beam Team Games | Year: 2022 (full release) | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 23 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Cozy co-op boats
Spiritfarer
Who it is for: two players on one couch who want a calm boat and a warm story.
You run a ferry for spirits. You build rooms on deck, grow food, fish, cook and care for your passengers. Player two plays Daffodil the cat, who can help with most jobs. You need one copy and two controllers.
The downside: it is about saying goodbye, so it can be sad. It is local co-op only, and it is long.
Developer: Thunder Lotus | Year: 2020 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, mobile | Length: about 25.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Ship of Fools
Who it is for: two friends who want a cute boat game with a bit of action.
Two Fools share one small ship. You run between the cannons and the oars, patch the deck and fight sea monsters through a stormy archipelago. Each run unlocks new trinkets. It works online, on one screen, or alone.
The downside: it is a combat roguelite, so it is busy and you will lose runs. It is cozy in looks more than in pace.
Developer: Fika Productions | Year: 2022 | Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox | Length: about 6 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
A Short Sail
Who it is for: friends who want a calm sea to sail together, with no fighting on foot.
A Short Sail is a cozy sailing game where you are a little tabby cat with a sailboat. You deliver mail, fish and make friends across the islands.
You can play it alone, or online with friends. Host a lobby, or join one by its code or from a list of public lobbies. You can chat, ride along in a friend’s boat and play flag tag, and you pick your own animal. There is no fighting on foot. The gentle sea battles against storms and living waves are single-player only, so online play stays relaxed.
It comes out in Q1 2027 on Steam and itch.io. You can play the free demo in your browser now.
Developer: Yos Riady | Platforms: PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck | Length: not shared yet | Free demo at play.ashortsail.com | Play the demo
Does Sailwind have multiplayer?
No. Sailwind is a single-player sailing sim. Its Steam page lists no multiplayer, and the developer, Raw Lion Workshop, has not added an official co-op mode. A fan-made mod adds LAN co-op, with internet play through VPN tools. It is not official, so it can break when the game updates. Sailwind is still in Early Access, and Steam Deck shows Playable. If you want to sail it well alone, see our best sailing games on PC.
Sail Forth is also single-player. You command a whole fleet, but friends cannot join you. If you love it, see games like Sail Forth.
Watch out
- Other crews: Sea of Thieves and Blazing Sails put you against other players. Choose Safer Seas, or pick a co-op game, if your group wants calm.
- Survival chores: Raft, Valheim, Voyagers of Nera and Stranded Deep all ask you to eat, drink and fight. They are co-op, not cozy.
- Copies: online co-op needs a copy for each player. Spiritfarer’s couch co-op needs only one.
Our own game
We make A Short Sail.
Related guides
- Cozy games like Sea of Thieves
- Cozy multiplayer games
- Best sailing games on PC
- Open world sailing games
- Relaxing boat games
Questions
What is the best multiplayer sailing game?
Sea of Thieves. Each friend works part of the ship: sails, wheel, map, cannons and repairs. A galleon takes a crew of up to four.
Does Sailwind have multiplayer?
No. Sailwind is single-player, and its Steam page lists no multiplayer. A fan-made mod adds LAN co-op, but it is not official, so use it at your own risk.
Is Sail Forth multiplayer?
No. Sail Forth is a single-player game. You command a fleet of boats, but your friends cannot join.
What are good co-op boat games that are not about pirates?
Raft has you grow a floating home with friends, and Spiritfarer has local co-op on a ferry for spirits. Valheim lets a Viking crew sail longships together.
Can I play Sea of Thieves without other players attacking me?
Yes. Safer Seas is a private world with only your crew and no other players. Some progress is limited there, so check the current rules in the game.
