Occasionally, a game is announced and you immediately think, “why?”. However, when you get a chance to play it, your opinion instantly changes. Accordingly, this is exactly what happened when I was given a copy of Ship Graveyard Simulator. Who in their right mind wants to spend hours salvaging scrap from a ship? The answer, well, me!
Developed by Incubator Games and published by Ultimate Games SA, this is a simulation title. Yet, unlike its peers, it lacks that ultra-realistic touch and has an arcade edge to its approach. However, this doesn’t undermine its potential. Instead, it ensures the gameplay is straightforward, fun, and weirdly addictive. Subsequently, this is one title that’ll get under your skin, even though it shouldn’t.
Ship Graveyard Simulator relies on its gameplay.
Unlike other games, Ship Graveyard Simulator has next to no storyline. As such, its success is measured by its enjoyable gameplay and simple mechanics. Fortunately, its rudimentary style and easy-to-understand elements ensure that you are hooked from the off. Furthermore, like other niche sim games, it has a basic look and a simple soundtrack. However, its addictive action more than makes up for this.
You control a worker who is determined to make their fortune. Living in a desolate beach town, you’ll make money any way you can. Luckily, your home has access to hundreds of scrapped ships that need stripping down. On top of this, you can take delivery of broken vessels in order to remove valuable assets and make a killing. This is the repetitive gameplay cycle that should be boring. Yet, oddly, it isn’t. Instead, you become obsessed with taking every resource and becoming rich. Consequently, the hours melt away.
Destruction, building, and recruitment.
So, we know the action revolves around salvage and trading. However, that’s not the full picture. You must also consider a range of tools, recruitment of workers, and building key structures. Each of these elements costs money and requires resources. Accordingly, every ship that you raid gives you the ability to get rich or improve your base and equipment. On top of this, there is a thorough levelling system that makes each tool and your character more efficient. Subsequently, this simple game has a lot more depth than first anticipated.
Your tools are used to destroy structures, cut pipes, melt joints, mop up spills, and much more. Alongside this, you will need to work safely by isolating gas supplies. Furthermore, you have limited room for resources, so choose wisely to maximise each excursion.
Improving your base is a must if you are to get the best out of this game. Accordingly, Ship Graveyard Simulator demands a balance between selling goods and upgrading your structures. To do this, you must use your furnace to combine different resources. Therefore, you’ll need to find different ingredients to create alloys, hardened steel, and so forth. This element of the game will be intriguing as it added a challenging layer to the action. Without it, the gameplay would have plateaued early on.
Ship Graveyard Simulator isn’t the prettiest of games.
Visually, Ship Graveyard Simulator is pretty rough. There are numerous bugs, the climbing animation is poor, and there are screen tears galore. What’s more, the lighting isn’t fantastic, and the ocean is effectively a blue blanket. However, none of these issues mattered. Why? Because the developers got the important elements right. I loved the look of the tools, the sheer size and scope of each vessel, and the sprawling beach. Moreover, fans of this genre care not for looks. Instead, it’s all about the gameplay, and for me, that is spot on.
Though the audio is basic, I enjoyed it nonetheless. A blend of folksy and upbeat songs plays on a continuous loop. This jovial style is effective in preventing boredom. On top of this, I adored the sound of the tools. The realistic clunk of metal on metal and the piercing sound of your buzz saw were amazing. Furthermore, the environmental sounds were nice, especially the crashing of waves and the gentle breeze.
Excellent controls.
I fully expected this to be horrible to play. Most simulation titles are ported from PC, and consequently, the controls normally suffer. However, thankfully, Ship Graveyard Simulator is different. Its excellent UI, responsive inputs, and superb tutorial make it fun and easy to play.
This genre is renowned for replay value and longevity. Yet, in theory, the repetitive gameplay loop should be dull and insipid. In reality, it is addictive, fun, and hard to put down. Thanks to its levelling system, building mechanics, and a fleet of ships, you’ll play this for hours.
Ship Graveyard Simulator caught me off guard.
Never judging a book by its cover is apt. Had I gone with my gut reaction, I’d have never played Ship Graveyard Simulator. On paper, it looks to be dull, boring, and a niche experience. However, except for its graphics, it is an excellent game. As such, I recommend that you buy it here! One man’s trash is another man’s gold. Salvage scrap, build your empire, and make your fortune.
