Windrose, a pirate-themed open-world survival game from Kraken Express, has launched in early access on Steam to high player numbers and very positive reviews. The game, formerly known as Crosswind, peaked at 97,981 concurrent players. Players praise its blend of crafting, exploration, and naval combat inspired by Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
Windrose places players in an alternate 18th-century Caribbean as a shipwrecked castaway. They must forage for resources like wood, rocks, and grass to craft tools, build camps, and survive threats such as aggressive boars. After completing initial quests, players construct ships, recruit crews that sing sea shanties led by Sean Dagher, and engage in sailing, boarding actions, and combat against pirates, animals, and supernatural foes like zombies. The game supports solo play or co-op with up to four players, featuring base building and multiplayer ship battles. Naval mechanics mirror those in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, with cannon fire, ramming, and crew boarding options, while on-foot combat is described as soulslike with blocking, parrying, and firearms like blunderbusses. Kraken Express originally planned Windrose as a free-to-play MMO but shifted to a premium title for 1-4 players following alpha feedback. Steam reviews highlight its efficient survival elements, with one stating, 'It's refreshing to play a survival game that actually respects your time,' and another calling it 'perfect game - beautiful, wonderful, and somehow even fragrant.' Comparisons liken it to Valheim combined with Black Flag's piracy. Some players note underdeveloped combat as a drawback, though overall reception remains very positive.
