"Journey of the Wind" Is Now Available in Early Access—Can It Outshine "Black Flag"?

Speaking of pirate-themed games, players of my generation all carry a bit of a Black Flag complex. That romance of sea wind rushing at your face, cannons roaring in unison, and boarding actions on the deck feels a lot like the jianghu dream we had when we first encountered Chinese Paladin back in the day—once it gets under your skin, it’s hard to shake off. So whenever I see a new pirate game, I always give it a second look, hoping it lives up to the theme, while also worrying it might just be another hollow attempt to cash in on nostalgia.

Recently launched into PC Early Access, Voyage of the Winds is exactly the kind of game that can stir something in veteran players. It’s developed by the Uzbek team Kraken Express and published by Pocketpair Publishing, with a team of only around 15 people. Set in the “Golden Age of Piracy” in the early 18th-century Caribbean, players take on the role of a captain stranded on a deserted island after being betrayed by “Blackbeard.” From there, you fight to survive, build up your power, and ultimately set your sights on revenge and treasure. That premise alone already carries a strong flavor of old grudges and vendettas.

Back to the game itself, its direction is actually very clear. Both the official description and player feedback point to one core combination: survival and base-building like Valheim, naval combat like Sea of Thieves, and ground melee leaning toward the Soulslike style. There’s nothing new about that mix; the hard part is making sure it doesn’t end up as an undercooked mess. Judging from the current highly rated reviews, it has at least gotten the “pirate feel” right. Some have even bluntly said that what this 15-person team has made feels more like the pirate game people actually wanted than Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones.

That may sound like a bold statement, but it also says a lot about current market sentiment. Players no longer blindly trust big-name studios. Whoever can make the full experience of boarding, bombardment, plundering, and survival feel smooth and satisfying earns the right to sit at the table. More importantly, Voyage of the Winds supports up to 8-player co-op. Pirate games are naturally suited for teaming up with friends and setting sail together. If the co-op is stable and the building systems feel solid, it could easily spread through streamers and friend groups.

But looking at it calmly, Early Access is still just a beginning, not a crowning achievement. The game is currently launching only on PC, so console players shouldn’t hold their breath for now. The full release also won’t arrive until 1.5 to 2 years after the start of Early Access, with more regions, enemies, bosses, and ship content to be added later. In other words, what you’re buying now is a ticket for a ship that has already set sail, not a treasure map to the final destination.

If you already enjoy survival-building and co-op naval combat, or if experiences like Valheim and Sea of Thieves appeal to you, then Voyage of the Winds is worth keeping an eye on—and it may even be worth boarding early to test the waters. But if you care more about the completeness of solo storytelling, the amount of content, and overall polish, then I’d suggest waiting to see how future updates and word of mouth develop. Don’t let the “Blackbeard revenge” premise get you drunk too early. As for whether it can outshine Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Remake, I think the answer is fairly realistic: it may not beat the IP in terms of sheer brand power, but it absolutely has a chance to plant its flag first in the spot of “the most pleasantly surprising pirate game of the year.”