Rogue Waters Review for PlayStation 5

Tripwire Presents and Ice Code Games are setting sail with Rogue Waters, an M-rated turn-based tactical roguelite RPG that adds a supernatural twist to the pirate saga. Want to know more? Let’s dive into what makes Rogue Waters an adventure worth your time!

Start your swashbuckling journey by stepping into the boots of Captain Cutter. He’s a pirate who finds himself caught in a fierce battle for power and vengeance. The story kicks off as you reach the mystical Temple of the Goddess with Captain Blackbone. Just as Blackbone instructs you to seize the long-sought treasure, things take a bizarre turn. A mysterious voice echoes in your head as you encounter a strange crystal, losing an eye to its powerful blue energy. Unsurprisingly, Captain Blackbone is less than pleased, demanding a knife to remove the embedded stone. However, you make a daring escape, thrust into a quest to form a crew and take down the treacherous Blackbone. After being absent for fourteen years, don’t be surprised when you find the world has changed dramatically since you last walked its shores.

Rogue Waters presents four difficulty levels to tailor your adventure—Story, Normal, Hard, and Heroic I. Opt for Story mode if you’re in it more for the narrative and less for the combat thrill, as the foes are less aggressive here. Normal provides the standard balanced experience, offering a 10% bonus to XP, Blueprints, and Glass. Up the ante with Hard, where enemies are more tenacious and offer a 20% bonus. Or challenge yourself with Heroic I for a significant 30% bonus, and the opportunity to unlock even harder challenges along the way.

Skirmishes are an integral part of your journey in Rogue Waters. You’ll engage in battles as your crew faces off against those who dare to stand in your way. Each skirmish unfolds over a series of turns, with you and the enemy taking turns to trounce each other. It’s all about vanquishing your foes. Your units each have movement capabilities and at least one unique attack. Standard attacks might not pack the strongest punch, but they deliver consistent damage and can knock foes into other objects or units for extra damage.

Before each skirmish, deploy up to four units and strategically choose their positions, confirming your plan with a simple press-and-hold gesture. As battles unfold, guide your units using the analog sticks for both movement and camera control. Each unit’s movement range reflects its status, which can change with buffs or debuffs in play.

Encounter unique scenarios onboard the ship by using abilities like Prepare, which heals, removes bleeding, and enhances defense temporarily. Master the environment—ropes let units travel great distances but disappear after use. Victory can come from defeating all enemies or filling the fear gauge, causing adversaries to flee upon it maxing out.

After the heat of battle, return to the Region Map to choose new destinations. Picture it like connecting the dots—each point being a potential enemy, a friendly port, an event, or a raid opportunity. Engage enemy ships in thrilling sea battles, spending Command Points (CP) wisely to attack with cannons or outmaneuver opponents. Larger ships mean more CP, promising both greater challenges and richer rewards.

Use Pirate’s Cove as a base to upgrade your ship and crew. Invest in the shipyard for better equipment, or in quarters to train crewmates and recruit fresh talent. Glass, a rare resource, becomes vital as you upgrade your ship, the Cove, and your newfound sea monster allies. Earn achievements under a Trophy List featuring a Platinum reward, demanding dedication to complete all acts and max out crew and ship attributes.

Rogue Waters delivers a strategic, seafaring adventure with a vengeance-driven plot, available now on PlayStation 5 for $29.99. So gear up and recruit some sea monsters for the adventure of a lifetime! Seize the chance to make Captain Blackbone regret ever crossing you—because pirate life awaits!

Disclaimer: This review for Rogue Waters comes courtesy of a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Tripwire Presents.