On the whole, though, Windrose succeeds more than it falters, and it’s a surprisingly well-performing game despite being early access. I honestly can’t wait to see how this one progresses, especially as new regions and content are added in the coming months as the team works towards its full launch in the future. It’s definitely scratching that pirate fantasy itch I thought had definitively died when Atlas took a part of my soul to the briny depths with it seven years ago, and I don’t see myself stopping the sea shanties of my crew anytime soon. [Early Access Score = 80]

Skull and Bones left pirate game fans with an itch it couldn’t quite scratch, leading many to wonder if Windrose might be the solution. [Early Access Review]

With its snappy ground combat and excellent sound design, Windrose has made a strong impression on me at its Early Access release. Particularly when it comes to polish, this feels more like a finished game than a beta. And while the story and progression cut off a bit abruptly, there's still more than 80 hours of stuff to do if you want to see everything that’s currently available. Some mission types need rethinking – it's no fun to be mobbed on the deck of a ghost ship by 20 zombies with no means of stealth or crowd control – and I'm not wowed by the naval battles yet. But a robust building system and exciting, handcrafted points of interest lay a strong foundation for some pirate adventures alone or with friends. [Early Access Score = 70]