Every player in Maelstrom commands their own customized warship with a handpicked captain, crew and equipment offering a range of special advantages. From fast Orc raiders focused on ramming and boarding to mighty Human battleships decked out with cannons and armor for a long ranged brawl, there are extensive choices to be made even before a ship hits the water.

With wind in the sails (or stoked boilers if piloting a Dwarven steamship) it's a battle to the depths, where the last ship sailing claims victory and a wealth of upgrades. Mind the cannon’s firing angles, keep the ships strongest armor towards the enemy, and avoid (or utilize) the numerous dangers of the sea; especially the enormous leviathans lurking the waters.

Players begin each battle on the outskirts of a large map filled with fog banks to hide in, swift currents, deadly maelstroms and monsters. By sinking NPC ships or other warships, players collect treasure and powerups (called boons) which grant significant combat bonuses for the rest of  the battle. When a ship is sunk, its loot bobs to the surface, to be snagged by whoever can swoop in fastest! 

As more players sink, the monster infested ‘Dead Waters’ encroach on the outer areas of the map, reducing the play area and forcing a climactic showdown. Entering Dead Waters is not an instant death sentence, but no captain can avoid the wrath of the beasts which lurk there for long. Only one ship will be left afloat. All players receive rewards based on the gold collected during battle, bounties claimed by sinking others, and how long they survived

Gunpowder Games' fast-paced fantasy naval combat game Maelstrom is available on Steam Early Access for $19.99 with a 10% discount for those who purchase during launch week.  

Gunpowder Games Lead Developer Blaine Smith said: “We’re stoked to finally turn the game loose and see how players react to the monsters and chaos of 16 warships trying to outwit each other, trading broadsides and blasting the bits off each other in battle!” 

The Maelstrom Maelstrom kickstarter succeeded with backers giving their time and money generously as they joined beta playtests to put Maelstrom through its paces. The development team collected enough useful data and feedback to fill a treasure galleon, with a lot of fun had by all! 

In addition to the features and content already planned on the development roadmap, the Maelstrom team will be continuing where the Kickstarter left off. Early Access stretch goals will be linked to the number of copies sold. The first goal is set for 10,000 players, with a single player campaign slated to unlock at 125,000 players.  

Players can expect a host of new in-game systems and content to come online while the game is in Early Access:

• Visual upgrades to all playable ships
• Duo team play
• Leaderboards
• Daily bounties and quests
• Additional maps (and monsters!)
• Professional voice acting for all captains, mates, and narration.
• Additional languages supported.

New ships and upgrade options are purchased with gold, while mates and captains will be attracted by the infamy of those who perform well in battle. Before each battle, players choose one of nine ships, each of which has different strengths, weaknesses, and a unique passive ability. They can then customize it with up to three crew mates offering stat boosts, a captain providing a signature special ability, and a number of feature choices which can change everything from how the cannons work to providing a speed or maneuverability advantage. 

Key Features

• Tactical naval combat: Positional damage, ammo types, and special captain abilities.
• Fast-paced action: Use cannons, ramming and boarding to sink enemies and avoid becoming fish food for sea monsters!
• Build legendary warships: A deep level of progression and customization. numerous captains, mates and upgrades create unique combat styles.
• What’s yours is mine: Power up your ships with rewards earned by collecting loot from sunken foes.
• Solo and multiplayer: AI captains are ruthless opponents that offer no quarter.