Braving the open seas in any game can be incredibly fun and inspiring, even more so if the voyage happens to be on a personalized vessel. Whether on a tiny sailboat, or a massive sailing ship, going on fantastic adventures feels great on a boat that has been decorated, or even made entirely from scratch by the player.

Many games on the market involve sailing, but customizing or building a ship is a whole new ordeal. While not every title out there allows players to control every single detail, even a personalized color is often enough to make a ship feel like home.

9 Sailwind

Steam Reviews: Very Positive (1,133)

Sailwind presents a thrilling sailing simulation with survival elements and fairly realistic physics. Featuring six distinct boats, each with unique attributes, the game unfolds across three diverse regions. Players can customize their vessels by adding furniture, decorations, and a personalized touch with various colors.

Players can engage in fishing, cooking, and trading to spice up their maritime journeys. The game offers a straightforward yet captivating digital exploration of life on the open seas, making it a great choice for those who wish to pick their boat and test their skills on the water.

8 Sea of Thieves

Metascore: 69

Sea of Thieves has effectively captured the most fun aspects of pirate adventures, spiced up with a great mix of mythical creatures and magical wonders. Players can go on long voyages in search of treasure, deliver cargo, or fully embrace the pillaging lifestyle, and look to attack other player ships on the sea.

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When it comes to customization, players can choose from 3 available ship sizes, and proceed to customize them with many cosmetic parts. From different wheels to cannons to sails, players can earn different rewards and proudly show them off via the visuals on their ship.

7 Stranded Deep

Steam Review: Mostly Positive (38,656)

Stranded Deep stands out as a great survival game, offering players the compelling experience of adapting to an exciting Pacific Island setting. The game’s stunning visuals and immersive environment contribute to a truly intense struggle for survival.

Stranded Deep allows players to create a large variety of rafts and vessels, using whatever materials and items they might have on hand. From primitive wood to boat motors, players have a lot of room for how they want their particular raft to look and function. A well-built vessel can withstand the worst that the game has to offer.

6 Spiritfarer

Metascore: 84

Spiritfarer is a deep and touching game about transporting departed souls to their destination in the afterlife. While the premise might sound quite dark, everything about the game is nothing but endearing. From warm and lovely visuals to interesting characters and conversations.

The game allows players to customize their ship however they like, using various housing rooms and crafting stations to accommodate as many souls as they need. The voyage is long and emotionally charged, but it is made so much better by the player’s personalized vessel.

5 Don't Starve

Metascore: 79

This popular indie survival title has received quite a lot of updates and expansions over the years, adding hours and hours of content, rom new enemies, bosses, and biomes, to entirely new systems and game modes. Don't Starve'sShipwrecked DLC added several different Boats, allowing players to craft and explore the new and unwelcoming seas.

Players currently have 9 different vessels that they can build, ranging from basic rafts to a full boat with a sail. The voyage, much like the rest of the game, is no small task, and players should do their best to stock up on items and supplies before venturing forth.

4 Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag

Metascore: 88

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is still one of the best pirate games ever made, and holds a special place in many players’ hearts. The complex characters, captivating storyline, and incredible scenery are only enhanced by the great sailing mechanics and naval encounters.

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Throughout the game, players can spend their resources to upgrade Jackdaw, the game’s main sailing ship. From upgraded storage to better cannons to improved hull armor, players can improve and customize their vessel to aid them during their toughest times at sea.

3 Valheim

Steam Reviews: Overwhelmingly Positive (367,397)

Valheim quickly rose among its survival peers, with its unique setting and engaging combat system. The game allows players to raise up entire villages, along with proper defenses and weapons to defend them. There are many ways to travel the game’s world, and one of the options that players have is to make a boat for themselves.

Players have a few options when it comes to making a vessel, going from a basic raft to a full longship, each with its own stats, pros, and cons. Given how large the game world tends to be, exploring it on a fast ship is almost a necessity.

2 Raft

Steam Reviews: Very Positive (249,371)

Raft's entire premise is based on the idea of surviving on a raft. Players start with almost nothing, floating aimlessly in an open sea on a precarious piece of wood. But as they continue on their journey, they will find all the materials they need to greatly expand their raft, and greatly increase their quality of life.

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There is a lot of freedom when it comes to building and customization. Players can take their raft in any direction they choose. From a long sailboat to an entire floating city, players can put as much or as little thought into their ship as they prefer.

1 From The Depths

Steam Reviews: Very Positive (8,861)

From the Depths is one of the most extensive ship-building games on the market, with an incredibly deep and detailed building and physics system. Players can create various machines and vessels entirely from scratch. From the propulsion to materials to weapons, down to the last-minute detail.

From traditional sailboats to massive aircraft carriers, players are truly limited only by their imagination and patience. As their love and work are put into the creation of a ship, players can try and battle other players, as well as take on many different single-player campaign missions, testing their baby against the harsh reality of naval combat.

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