Rogue Waters Review for Playstation 5

It’s hard to be surprised by a roguelike these days. The genre has exploded, merging with everything from deck-builders to Metroidvanias, often to great success. So, when I booted up “Rogue Waters,” a pirate-themed tactical roguelike, I had my doubts. Was this just another game thrown into the endless sea of procedurally generated challenges, or did it have something special? Turns out, it’s got just enough originality and heart to keep its head above water. Originally released on PC last year in September, “Rogue Waters” is now making its way to consoles. Developed by Ice Code Games and published by Tripwire Presents, this turn-based strategy rogue-lite puts you in the boots of Captain Cutter, a pirate on a path of revenge. As you command your ship and crew through treacherous waters, you’ll face deadly encounters, recruit allies, and unleash mythical sea creatures to turn the tide of battle.

Right from the start, the game lays out its loop. Each run is a journey through procedurally generated encounters, forcing you to strategize with limited resources. At your hub that’s called the Pirate Cave, you prepare for each expedition by selecting ship upgrades and assembling your crew. Six unique classes are available, each with distinct abilities that shape how you approach combat. Your crew isn’t just cannon fodder; they grow over time, unlocking skills and becoming stronger, provided they survive long enough. The game splits its encounters between naval combat and hand-to-hand skirmishes. Ship battles play out like tactical puzzles, with players choosing when and where to fire their cannons. Enemy vessels have specific weak points, and aiming your shots well can dismantle their defenses before the inevitable boarding phase. Once ships clash, the game shifts into a turn-based battlefield where positioning and skill usage determine the outcome. I loved this aspect where you can use the environment to push enemies into spikes or swing across the deck for a stylish attack, it kept things dynamic. The addition of sea creatures like the Kraken, Mermaid, and Giant Snail adds a fun, mythological flair that makes this feel less ground and more of a “Pirates of the Caribbean” style romp.

While the combat is satisfying, “Rogue Waters” doesn’t have the deepest mechanics in any of its individual systems. Ship battles, while engaging, lack variety in tactics, and the game’s overall structure can feel repetitive after a while. The rogue-lite progression—where runs reset but unlock permanent upgrades—works well for keeping things fresh, but the early game can feel sluggish. The story, while serviceable, leans more toward fun and goofy than deeply immersive. Which is totally fine, if you’re into that style. It’s just if you’re expecting a sweeping pirate epic, you won’t find that here. There are also some rough edges. The lack of animated dialogue scenes makes conversations feel a bit static, just appearing on screen with the visual novel approach. Something that became a bit more noticeable over time was the absence of a catch-up XP mechanic, meaning that inactive crew members will lag behind, making rotation a bit of a chore. This has become a growing quality-of-life thing in many similar games lately that I couldn’t help but notice its omission.

That said, “Rogue Waters” isn’t trying to be a grand, all-encompassing pirate simulator. It’s a quick, engaging rogue-lite that offers just enough tactical depth to keep you coming back for another run. The customization options allow you to tweak your difficulty, helping both newcomers and veterans of the genre find just the right challenge that suits them. If you’re looking for an endlessly deep navel RPG, this won’t be your treasure chest. But if you want something fast, fun, and brimming with pirate charm, “Rogue Waters” is a solid choice. It’s not the ultimate pirate game of my dreams, but it’s a worthy addition to the ever-growing roguelike seas. I always tip my hat to developers who have a fun concept and take a wild shot at something fresh and mix up the normal landscape.

8/10

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