Maelstrom
Released Sep 2019
Command the seas in Maelstrom! Engage in fast-paced naval battles with powerful warships and colossal sea monsters. Customize your fleet and dominate the Abyssal Ocean. Are you ruthless enough to survive?
83% positive · 2,582 reviews
Not yet
Released, ongoing live service game
High confidence
Live Service
Not yet
Released, ongoing live service game
High confidence
Live Service
Where to get it
Free on Steam
Evaluation
Maelstrom is a free-to-play naval combat game that has been in continuous operation since its launch on September 20, 2019. The game is structured as an ongoing live service: it runs seasonal battle passes (Free and Premium tiers), a cosmetic store, and rotating seasonal events tied to real-world holidays.
A significant development milestone occurred in October 2024: the original developer, Gunpowder Games, officially handed off all active development and live operations to a new team. On October 2, 2024, Gunpowder Games CEO Blaine Smith posted that the studio's active involvement with Maelstrom had concluded, and the game's future was being entrusted to Forthright Entertainment and their development partner, the Tideturners team. The following day, Forthright officially announced their takeover and introduced the Tideturners — a team with credits on titles like Halo, Fortnite, and Rocket League — and confirmed plans for new content and a new season pass.
Since that transition, development has been active and well-documented. The team shipped a major Winter Update on December 20, 2024, which added a new tropical map, a new PvE enemy type (Goblin Bombers), and holiday-themed cosmetics. On February 25, 2025, a developer update announced several upcoming features: a brand new map (Serpent's Rest), a Dockyard fleet display feature, a redesigned custom lobby supporting 15-player matches, two new battle passes (Treasures and Lunar New Year themes), a new cosmetic store, and a rework of the Phoenix Empire faction ships. The game also maintains weekly community game nights and bi-weekly developer vs. community events.
As of today (June 24, 2026), the most recent developer communication was on February 25, 2025. The announced features from that post — including the Serpent's Rest map, the Dockyard, new battle passes, and the custom lobby — had not yet shipped as of that announcement. Given the game's live service structure with seasonal content cycles, battle passes, and a pattern of ongoing announcements, there is no indication that development has concluded.
Evidence
Developer update announces upcoming features: new Serpent's Rest map, Dockyard fleet display, 15-player custom lobbies with spectator mode, two new battle passes (Treasures and Lunar New Year themes), a new cosmetic store, and Phoenix Empire ship reworks.
Winter Update shipped: new tropical map, Goblin Bomber PvE enemies added to PvP, holiday-themed cosmetics, and a teaser for more upcoming content.
Content
3 of 3 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Forthright Entertainment
Achievements
28
Platform
Windows
Controller
partial support
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · Co-op · PvP
About this game
Grim fantasy combined with thunderous naval combat in a vibrant, monster-saturated world! Captain an Orc, Dwarf or Human warship and sail the turbulent Abyssal Ocean with online multiplayer, in free-for-all & team based matches.
- Be ruthless! Sink other players ships, take their loot and collect their bounty!
- Be greedy! Maps are littered with floating treasure chests and ships loaded with gold.
- Be cunning! As the match progresses hungry sea monsters become more aggressive and encroach the safe waters ships can sail in. Ships sailing in 'Dead Waters' for too long end up as monster chow!
- Be unsinkable! At the end of a match ships can be upgraded and customized with captains, cannons, armor, mates and more!
BOMBASTIC BROADSIDES!
Cannons are the heart of combat in Maelstrom. Cannonballs are physics controlled, with a significant firing arc and hang time, meaning prediction and good aim are necessary to deal damage effectively. On the receiving end, players with good reactions and anticipation coupled with a nimble ship can dodge incoming fire.WARSHIPS WIN WITH WITS
Enemy ships can be rammed, grappled and boarded!Maneuver a ship through the swelling sea and prepare for ramming! The faster the ship is moving the more devastating the collision will be on impact.
Boarding locks both ships in place while crews fight it out. If one crew manages to kill all of the opposing crew, it can spell disaster & sink a ship quickly, sending it to the depths!
ARMOR, AMMO AND POSITIONAL DAMAGE
Each ship has armor on all four sides. The armor sections serve as additional defense toward damage to that side and must be destroyed before the ship's hull can be damaged. Maneuvering to keep your armor between you and your enemy is vital to staying afloat - and seeking the enemy's damaged sides will make you much more lethal in combat!Every cannon has access to three kinds of ammunition and can swap during combat to suit the situation. Ammo is unlimited.
- Iron shot blasts chunks out of ship armor and hull.
- Chain shot is used to shred enemy sails and cripple a ship’s speed.
- Grapeshot slaughters enemy crew and makes ships easier to board.
LURKING THE DEEP
Like the ocean they reside in, sea monsters are titanic forces of nature. They stalk unwary captains and can devour a ship whole. Like this Murkwater Thrasher.
Each ship in Maelstrom is a character with a colorful history and unique weaponry as well as strengths and weaknesses such as speed, firepower, crew, and toughness. There are many unique ships available for players to unlock and explore.
ASHBORNE, HUMAN FRIGATE
Ashborne has incredibly punishing broadsides and wields spell-infused incendiary ammo, unique to her, which ignites enemy ships!
FREE-TO-PLAY DEFINITION FOR MAELSTROM:
As Free-to-Play definitions vary with games we want to define it clearly so players know what they can expect:- All gameplay and progress can be unlocked by playing the game for free. No additional purchases are needed to enjoy the game to its fullest extent.
- There are no ways to purchase a competitive advantage in game.
- Players must play the game to progress & become more powerful. There are no ways to purchase a top tier ship with a powerful crew, it must be earned by playing the game. Players can however, accelerate progression with boosts.
- Gold is in-game currency and earned by playing the game.
- Gunpowder is premium currency & the only item sold for cash in-game. It is used to buy all of the premium items in the store such as the battle pass, cosmetics, boosters & bundles.
- Gunpowder can also be earned for free via the Battle Pass, completing quests & checking the store.
- Battle Passes unlock cosmetics, gold or gunpowder & there is a premium track that unlocks additional rewards for gunpowder.
- Future content will be added through seasonal Battle Passes, events or content drops.
- There are no loot boxes. All Items are directly purchasable in the store.
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 24, 2026
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