If you’re a fan of the thrilling nautical challenges of ‘Ship of Fools’, you’re in for a treat! Our carefully curated list of 9 games, akin to the cooperative and unpredictable style of ‘Ship of Fools’, transports you to a variety of daring landscapes — from icy Arctic terrains in ‘Dread Hunger’ to the fantastical kingdom of Fahrul in ‘For the King’.
Assemble your crew for the underwater escapades in ‘We Need to Go Deeper’ or plan meticulous prison escapes in ‘The Escapists 2’, let these games immerse you in worlds filled with roguelike adventures, challenging survival situations, and humorous quests. Each game description will include its release date, genre, available platforms, and the similarities it shares in gameplay mechanics with ‘Ship of Fools’, ensuring you find your perfect gaming match.
Understanding The Ship: Murder Party
The Ship is an innovative multiplayer game that marries several genres into an entertaining and unique amalgamation of fun.
Introduction to the gameplay mechanics of The Ship
In this game, you’re the guest of Mr. X, who traps his attendees on his 1920s-era art deco ship, where murder is the method of play. You, the player, must navigate through this ship, avoiding being murdered by your hunter while simultaneously tracking and executing your prey.
Combination of various game genres
The Ship skillfully combines elements of action, adventure, stealth, and even simulation to create an immersive gaming experience. You’ll need strategy and reflexes alike as you do tasks and avoid becoming someone’s victim. It’s like a game of tag, hide & seek, and Clue all rolled into one.
Popularity and reception
The Ship has been well-received since its release, with its unique twist on multiplayer gaming lauded by many. It has built an impressive fanbase, cementing its place as a cult classic in the gaming world.
Unique features that set the game apart
The Ship stands out for its focus on psychological play, as players must conceal their true intentions to outsmart others. It’s not just about the best aim or the fastest speed; it’s as much about smarts and strategy. This starkly contrasts many other multiplayer games available today, making The Ship a breath of fresh air in the crowded gaming market.
1. We Need to Go Deeper
Developed by Deli Interactive and released in 2017, We Need to Go Deeper is a submariner’s worst nightmare coming to life in a game.
Year of release and developer
This water-based adventure game set in the perilous abyss of the Atlantic Ocean was introduced to the gaming community in 2017 by Deli Interactive.
Genre and main gameplay mechanics
It’s a cooperative submarine rogue-like game where you and your team dive into the mysterious depths of the Atlantic. The idea is to go deeper and deeper, facing off against haunting sea creatures in a quest for untold treasures.
Available platforms
We Need to Go Deeper is currently available to play on the PC platform.
Similarities and differences with The Ship
Both games share a similar maritime setting, placing players in unforgiving and volatile environments. However, whilst murder is the aim of the game in The Ship, We Need to Go Deeper is about survival and teamwork against the dangers of the deep sea.
2. For The King
For The King is what you get when you cross fantasy role-playing with visually delightful, low-poly graphics. The IronOak Games creation was released in 2017.
Year of release and developer
IronOak Games introduced this charming, challenging game to the world in 2017.
Genre and main gameplay mechanics
For The King is an engaging mix of strategy, JRPG combat, and rogue-like features. It takes you on a perilous journey through the progressively difficult kingdom of Fahrul, with each playthrough being completely unique.
Available platforms
You can play For The King on all major platforms – PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Similarities and differences with The Ship
While The Ship revolves around a murderous party, For The King is all about cooperating with your fellow players to save a kingdom in distress. The similarity lies in the rogue-like play elements and the need for strategy and planning in both games.
3. Sea of Thieves
This action-adventure game, developed by Rare and released in 2018, lets you live out your wildest pirate fantasies.
Year of release and developer
Sea of Thieves dropped anchor in the gaming market in 2018, the product of the respected British developer Rare.
Genre and main gameplay mechanics
Sea of Thieves is a first-person multiplayer game where you and your crew navigate the treacherous open seas and face off against other pirates. You complete quests, hoard treasures, and try to become the ultimate pirate legend.
Available platforms
Sea of Thieves is available on Xbox One and PC.
Similarities and differences with The Ship
Sea of Thieves and The Ship both transport players to a maritime world. However, the former revolves around the life of a pirate engaged in high-seas robbery, whilst in The Ship, players masquerade around a luxury vessel, attempting murder in secret.
4. Kingdom: Two Crowns
This game deftly combines side-scrolling with kingdom-building and was developed by Noio and Coatsink, finally being released in 2018.
Year of release and developer
Kingdom: Two Crowns, a minimalistic strategy game with heart, was introduced to the world in 2018 by Noio and Coatsink.
Genre and main gameplay mechanics
In this game, you are a monarch riding your trusty steed to explore a procedurally generated world. You must build your kingdom and protect it from the menacing Greed.
Available platforms
Kingdom: Two Crowns is available on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, iOS, Android, and PC.
Similarities and differences with The Ship
While the environment is vastly different in Kingdom: Two Crowns, the strategic planning, careful allotment of resources, and the sense of looming threat draw some parallels with The Ship. The key difference lies in their respective worlds – a realm full of medieval fantasy and a luxury cruise liner.
5. Moving Out
Team17 developed this hilarious and fun couch co-op alongside SMG Studio and DEVM Games.
Year of release and developer
Moving Out was released in 2020, resulting from a collaboration between SMG Studio, Devm Games, and Team17.
Genre and main gameplay mechanics
It’s an action simulation game wherein you play a certified Furniture Arrangement and relocation Technician (F.A.R.T). The aim is to relocate furniture and boxes in the zaniest way possible.
Available platforms
You can play Moving Out on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Similarities and differences with The Ship
While Moving Out is more light-hearted and slapstick than The Ship, both games thrive on chaotic multiplayer action that will leave you laughing, shouting, and clamoring for “just one more game”.
6. Rogue Heroes: Ruins Of Tasos
A game that combines classic adventuring with procedurally-generated dungeons, Rogue Heroes: Ruins Of Tasos was developed by Heliocentric, and it hit the market in 2021.
Year of release and developer
Rogue Heroes: Ruins Of Tasos is one of the latest games to join the league, having been released in 2021 by Heliocentric Studios.
Genre and main gameplay mechanics
In this game, you create your hero, assemble a team, and take on the rogue-like challenges of various dungeons, battling monsters and securing treasures.
Available platforms
This game is available to play on Nintendo Switch and PC.
Similarities and differences with The Ship
Both The Ship and Rogue Heroes include strategy elements and rogue-like gameplay in their mechanics. However, while The Ship is a game of wit and deception, Rogue Heroes is more straightforward, focusing on combat and exploration.
7. The Escapists 2
The Escapists 2 is a strategy game developed by Team17 and Mouldy Toof Studio, released in 2017.
Year of release and developer
Team17 and Mouldy Toof Studio launched this prison break strategy game in the gaming world in 2017.
Genre and main gameplay mechanics
You live the life of a prisoner who dreams of nothing but escaping. To do this, you must blend in with your daily routines while secretly gathering resources and crafting your escape plan.
Available platforms
You can (try to) escape in The Escapists 2 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Similarities and differences with The Ship
Just like The Ship, The Escapist 2 puts a huge emphasis on stealth and deception. Whether it’s evading guards or other inmates, you must think on your feet and plan meticulously.
8. Barotrauma
Set in the icy waters of Jupiter’s moon Europa, Barotrauma is a multi-genre game developed by FakeFish and Undertow Games.
Year of release and developer
Barotrauma was released by FakeFish and Undertow Games in 2019.
Genre and main gameplay mechanics
Barotrauma takes you to an underwater seabase in the moon of Jupiter, where you need to use strategy, combat, and survival skills to survive. You can play with a group of friends, facing dangers together or making it everyone for themselves.
Available platforms
Barotrauma is available on PC.
Similarities and differences with The Ship
Both games take a nautical theme and spin it in unexpected ways. While The Ship is a luxurious but deadly environment, Barotrauma focuses on bleak survival in an unsparing underwater realm.
9. Dread Hunger
Fear and survival meet in the extreme conditions of the Arctic in Dread Hunger, a game from Digital Confectioners released in 2021.
Year of release and developer
Developed by Digital Confectioners, Dread Hunger was released only in 2021 but has already gathered attention.
Genre and main gameplay mechanics
Dread Hunger is a survival strategy game. You and your crew are stranded in the Arctic wilderness with dwindling resources. The tension rises as some crew members are revealed to be traitors, tasked with leading the crew astray and ensuring their demise.
Available platforms
Dread Hunger is currently available on the PC platform.
Similarities and differences with The Ship
In both games, you’ll find an environment that requires strategy and wits to survive, and deception is a key part of gameplay. However, Dread Hunger ups the ante with the added pressure of survival and the frigid environment.
