Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 77 | 14 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 87 | 321 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 91% | 85 | 85 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jan 16, 2026) · 81 reviews sampled · 85 total reviews in window · weighted 53 up / 5.5 down · computed 9h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (13)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Sail Forth isn't the best open-world game for the Switch, but it takes the procedurally generated formula presented in No Man's Sky and gives it a much more approachable (and nautical) feel. The visuals are relaxing and effective, and almost every character has a lot of charm in the way they're presented. Sailing is surprisingly fun despite some distracting bugs, and the fleet-building mechanics have just enough depth without feeling overwhelming. A good way to unwind if you're happy to go with the wind.”
read full review ↗ - 77
“Hit the high seas in search of treasure, trouble, and generally pleasant exploration and adventure”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Charming to look at, with a simple yet rewarding gameplay loop, Sail Forth is a great indie title that will have players exploring its oceans for many hours!”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Sail Forth is not for me. But I think it is a great game for what it is trying to do. Overall, the game is cute, humorous in a child-friendly way, and filled with open-world sailing adventure. It’s Windbound without all the survival and debarking from the boat stuff that I loved about Windbound, just leaving the kind of boring sail mixed with some awkward combat. But it has loads of auto options and tons of accessibility options for players to make Sail Forth their own, and that’s something I love a lot. However, I think that someone who is a fan of this sort of sailing game would love it much more than I ever could”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sail Forth is full of naval fun, letting you traipse around the high seas, with plenty of distractions and activities to keep you busy, as well as enemies to fight and a top notch sailing system.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sail Forth gives you exactly what it promises from its title and more, truly immersing you in a swashbuckling, sea-exploring adventure you won’t soon forget. There truly is nothing quite like it on the market, easily challenging many other sailing and pirate games with its unique mechanics, fleet progression and memorable writing.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sail Forth checks all the boxes when it comes to being an immersive rich and enjoyable sailing experience.”
read full review ↗ - 91
“(Sail Forth) is a gorgeous, relaxing game that changes every time you play it, and it's got a world that's easy to get immersed in.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Now and again you will want a game that while not being 'flashy' is warm, unique and entertaining. Sail Forth is all of these and will keep you interested for hours. There's boat-loads to do with its many activities and wacky characters. The navigation is rewarding, the combat never gets old and everything looks so wholesome.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Even with a repetitive progression, Sail Forth is a good choice for anyone who enjoys exploration games. This occurs insofar as navigating the Deep Blue is an extremely relaxing task, yielding incredible moments in the face of new ambiences and unique characters. By the way, feats that are amplified in the face of the grandeur of the seas of adventure and the grace of the wind that hits the face of the brave Captain Tuto.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Sail Forth manages to be interesting for fans of slow adventures and who like to wander between one objective and another. Its colorful visual style and calm soundtrack make everything more relaxing, but that doesn't exempt it from its minor flaws either. Moreover, it is indicated for pirates who are retiring and no longer want to brave rough seas.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Sail Forth isn't without a few issues, but exploring the seas and upgrading your ship is satisfying from start to finish.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Nindie Spotlight
GameGrin
LadiesGamers.com
TechRaptor
Try Hard Guides
8Bit/Digi
Gaming Age
PlayStation Universe
Nintendo Blast
GameBlast
God is a Geek…and 1 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch 1.7.6Apr 3, 2026
- Patch 1.7.5Feb 21, 2026
- Croaker Update HotfixJan 19, 2026
- Battle for Croaker Command Update is Now Available!Jan 16, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Update 4 Open BetaDec 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.6.8Dec 1, 2025
- Patch 1.6.7Oct 8, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.6.6aMar 6, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.6.6Dec 24, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.6.5Nov 13, 2024
- Sail Forth 1.6 - Before the WindNov 7, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Update 3 Open BetaMay 6, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.5.8Feb 8, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.5.7Jan 21, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.5.6Jan 19, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.5.5Jan 16, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.5.4Jan 12, 2024
- Maelstrom + 1.5.1 is Released!Jan 11, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Open Seas Free Update + DLC AnnouncementJan 2, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Update 2 Open BetaOct 17, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- v1.3.4 + Update 2 Sneak PeakJun 14, 2023
- Patch v1.3.3May 11, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch v1.3.2Apr 4, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Major Update: The Fleet Update!Mar 17, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Update 1 BetaMar 7, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 7 (v1.2.7)Jan 30, 2023
- Patch 6 (v1.2.6)Jan 19, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 5 (v1.2.5)Jan 10, 2023
- Patch 4 (v1.2.4)Jan 2, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 3 (v.1.2.3)Dec 28, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 2 (1.2.2)Dec 26, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- First (small) Patch v1.2.1Dec 24, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Patch 4Jun 21, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Patch 3Jun 18, 2020
- Demo Patch 2Jun 18, 2020
- Demo Patch 1Jun 17, 2020