Battleships: Command of the Sea

Yes, it's a good game of battleships but DO NOT buy this if you expect the online multi player to work because it doesn't!!

Multiplayer, the main draw of the game, is not working since 2023. And there is no local multiplayer either, just the online servers which are down.

Recommended to fans of the classic game as well as casual turn-based games as long as you know it is (strangely) just single player and doesn't really take risks or add anything much to it. The presentation is good and the price is right for the content. If you like this style I would recommend games like Metal Marines, Artillery, and Worms before this one. +Visuals, art style +Campaign +Special attacks +Classic +Good amount of content/battles +Variety of abilities/commanders -Barebones options -Only 2 nations/sides - US, Japan -No rebinding -Awkward middle mouse rotate -Tedious searching for subs -Slow/repetitive pacing -Bugs - lockups, firing failure, hits convert to misses -Does placement matter vs. AI? -No voice/story for campaign, just battles -Multiplayer unavailable -Always same number/type of ships -Only 1/plain map, no variety or special tiles

Battleships: Command of the Sea, developed by Ancient Games and published by CreativeForge Games, is a turn-based naval strategy title that expands upon the familiar structure of classic grid-based battleship games. Drawing inspiration from World War II naval warfare—particularly the Pacific Theater—it frames its engagements around hidden fleet deployment, calculated strikes, and the gradual unraveling of an opponent’s position. While rooted in a simple concept, the game attempts to introduce additional tactical layers through commander abilities, faction differences, and multiplayer competition. The core gameplay remains centered on the iconic grid battlefield. Before combat begins, players strategically position their ships within their own concealed map, aiming to outwit the enemy through placement and anticipation. Once battle commences, turns alternate between players as they call out coordinates in an effort to locate and destroy opposing vessels. This familiar formula creates immediate accessibility, especially for players already familiar with traditional naval board games. However, the digital format allows for enhancements beyond mere coordinate guessing. One of the mos…

I guess I'm done with this game...I can't continue a campaign without the game crashing and closing. It was fun while it lasted. If they fix this issue, I'll change my review to a thumbs up.

I was looking for a game that is similar to the original battleship game. This unfortunately is not like the original game and they do not provide any explanations as to what the details are that are different from the original battleship board/plastic case type game. The graphics are very cool though when a ship does sink or a bomb drops. It is just that some things that happen while playing make no sense.