Survive under the skull and crossbones: New pirate-themed survival game free to try on Steam
In Crosswind, players explore a rugged world of scattered islands – both on land and at sea. The game combines classic survival mechanics with a gritty pirate atmosphere and a combat system inspired by Soulslike titles. The current alpha features three distinct biomes, each with unique enemies and resources, along with early NPC factions and three controllable ships. In addition to melee and gunpowder combat, players can engage in naval battles and try out early boarding mechanics. Some story content is already included, with a full campaign planned for the final release – featuring supernatural elements and historical characters. According to the developers, the alpha offers around 30 hours of gameplay.
One of Crosswind’s standout features is its combat system. Unlike popular survival games like Valheim or Sons of the Forest, which rely on more basic combat mechanics, Crosswind takes a precise, Soulslike-inspired approach. Both weapons and enemies follow clear movement patterns, and success depends on timing, smart dodging and carefully placed attacks. This melee system is complemented by gunpowder weapons such as pistols and muskets. These pack a serious punch but reload slowly – making them powerful tools that require strategy and precision.
Crosswind also delivers a challenge at sea. Players manually steer their ships, fire onboard cannons and must outmaneuver enemies through smart positioning. Precision hits directly impact a ship’s performance – a damaged rudder limits steering, lost sails reduce speed and a strike to the powder magazine can trigger a devastating explosion. Once an enemy vessel is heavily damaged, players can initiate a boarding maneuver to finish the job – though this feature is still relatively basic in the current alpha.
The community responds with optimism
Early reactions in the official Crosswind thread on r/pcgaming have been largely positive. Players especially praise the blend of classic survival mechanics with the rich pirate atmosphere. Comments like “The Skull and Bones we wanted” suggest that Crosswind might fill a long-standing gap in the genre – since, apart from the lighthearted Sea of Thieves, fresh takes on pirate-themed games have been scarce. The combat system is also receiving good feedback, though some players note it still has room for improvement. A few concerns remain around specific mechanics: some question whether crafting is truly necessary or if base building fits the pirate theme. There are also open questions about how expansive the multiplayer experience will be.
Alpha test available through July
The first alpha phase is expected to run for at least four weeks, though the developers at Crosswind Crew may extend it based on player feedback. Interested players can sign up for the playtest directly through the game's official Steam page. Access is granted manually, but those not accepted right away will remain in the pool for future testing rounds. On the official Discord server, players can actively contribute to development – bug reports are strongly encouraged and, according to the team, will help accelerate fixes. There’s no official word yet on pricing or a release date.
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