New Horizons Overview
Uncharted Waters: New Horizons is a sailing simulation set in the early 16th century, a period defined by global exploration and maritime trade. The core experience involves managing a ship and crew across a top-down world map, where navigation is influenced by wind, ocean currents, and vessel condition. Players must generate income to sustain their voyage, primarily through trade, completing guild contracts, engaging in naval battles, or gambling.
Six distinct characters provide the narrative framework, each beginning with unique personal circumstances that define their initial goals. These include a Portuguese noble's son sent to prove himself, a Spanish officer turned pirate seeking vengeance, a debt-ridden Italian spy, a Dutch geographer funding his travels through mapmaking, an Ottoman orphan building a trading enterprise, and a British admiral commissioned as a privateer. Their individual stories can intersect as they pursue objectives ranging from personal wealth and discovery to military conquest and scholarly charting of the globe.
Ports serve as hubs for resupply and commerce, featuring various buildings like shipyards, taverns, and markets. Naval combat shifts the perspective to a turn-based tactical mode, where positioning for cannon broadsides or boarding actions is key. A direct confrontation between opposing flagships can trigger a separate, side-view duel sequence where captains exchange specific combat maneuvers.
