All in all it’s hard to recommend Ship Simulator 2008 to anyone without an interest in ships. Indeed, there are redeeming qualities; the addition of weather and waves in particular makes for a genuinely unsettling experience, and were I of less stern constitution it might have been hard to take [he just about threw up – Ed].

The impression Ship Simulator gives is that of an early Flight Simulator; the potential is there for this to become a great game, one which will attract players with no prior interest in shipping. Whether or not this happens is dependent on additions made by future installations. Like so many early flight sims, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the experience is somehow incomplete.

The various new additions make for a far more entertaining play experience, but it still often feels like a chore to watch a ship make its ponderous way from port to port. For now Ship Simulator remains a game for those with a hearty interest in shipping; for gamers looking for something to while away the summer months, it’ll be a hard sail indeed.