Reviews

• gamedeal user

  Aug 16, 2022

  The developers of this computer program need to take a close look at the mouse and keyboard control concepts employed by 3D design software developers such as Autodesk 3D Studio Max and Blender 3D. Apparently these eSail developers don`t fully appreciate the difference between 2 dimensional space and 3 dimensional space and let`s be honest, this "game" is a physics tutorial, either that or they don`t appreciate diversity of human cognition. Flight simulators get it right, even FPS games know what is what. You MUST separate the axis and make inversion on the up/down available separately from the left/right axis, DO NOT make inversion toggle apply to both axis mandatory, that is sheer ignorance/arrogance. Also make rotation mappable to mouse buttons. I want to learn about boats and I want to zoom in to all the components without frustration from struggling with a hall of mirrors. The point of this "game" is to introduce the land-lubber to sailing boats and concepts, don`t sabotage a good intention with basic perspective error.
• gamedeal user

  Oct 6, 2022

  I've spent about 20 hours in this sim so far. Let me talk about what I don't like first. The graphics are very bad. Early 2000's bad. You only get one boat. There is only one map that is fictitious. There are no mods. The chart that comes with this map only covers the main island, so you really can't chart and plot long ranges.(Edit: I was wrong, there's a whole "Treasure Hunting" aspect of the game, where you find objects and unlock charts) I bought both eSail and Sailaway. eSail, despite its shortcomings, is WAYYYY better. eSail actually simulates more than Sailaway does. Sailaway reels you in with the graphics, real world map and multiple vessels, but trust me, An hour in and I was hating every frustrating minute of it. Now let's get to the good stuff. The controls are good. The tutorials are very good and are voiced, but the bouys that you have to sail to, in order to get to the next tutorial, are kind of annoying and I kept getting caught up in them. I ended up using the menu to get to the next tutorial. Which, by the way, the menu is better than the confusing one in Sailaway. The water graphics are good enough that they get the job done. The views, angles, and options are good a little sluggish, but good. The physics feel fairly realistic. The deck hands are a little clunky at first, but you get used to them fairly quickly. There are easter eggs all over the place that took a little while to notice. I didn't realize that there was more to the map than what was on the chart, which was cool, in that you had to venture out to find them, but kinda sucked that you couldn't plot your course for those islands. I like that it simulates an engine, autopilot, mooring and anchoring, Sailaway doesn't. Whoever makes Sailaway, needs the devs from eSail to show them how to properly present views in game and simulate anchoring, mooring, and an engine. Whoever makes eSail needs the Devs from Sailaway to show them how to make real world maps and more boat options. After playing this for some time, It's actually really fun.
• gamedeal user

  Feb 24, 2023

  Originally tried the Sailaway simulator trial because I was told it was the best sail sim out there and you can sail the world. Unfortunately, it had fatal camera bugs that made the game completely unusable and, while on the large scale, you can cross oceans and all that, but coasts don't look anything like they do in real life and places you should be able to sail, like canals, you can't. Looking for a replacement, I stumbled onto eSail. It looked good enough with skills like mooring, anchoring, and the likes so we pulled the trigger. So far, we both love it. The tutorials are well done and narrated, the scenery, while sparse in areas, is interesting enough ( the sea life is a great touch!), and overall, the game feels like a rather solid program with few to zero glitches. I feel like the developer has pride and puts care in this project and it shows, so kudos. Some things that would be nice to see in the future; 1. Obviously more boats and sails!! 2. Enhanced scenery. It looks good, but can always be better!! 3. Dedicated keys to select individual lines, winches, jammers etc.. It would be awesome to build a physical sailing sim that you could actually sail the boat with vs relying on mouse clicks; improving both the realism and allowing sailors to work on skills when not able to get on the water.
• @Lucas_Capitano

  Aug 23, 2023

  As an avid sailing enthusiast and instructor, I was pleasantly surprised by the immersive realism that eSail Sailing Simulator offers. This game manages to capture the essence of real-life sailing to an astonishing degree, providing a platform where I can impart the basics of navigation, maneuvering, and sail setup to my students before they venture into the open waters. eSail not only educates but also entertains, making it an incredibly enjoyable experience for passionate sailors like myself. The attention to detail is remarkable, from the way the boat responds to wind shifts and currents to the intricacies of sail adjustment. It's as close to the real world as one can get from the comfort of their computer. Kudos to the developers for their dedication to recreating the maritime experience in such a meticulous manner. The visuals are stunning, the physics are accurate, and the overall gameplay is smooth and engaging. Whether you're a seasoned sailor looking to hone your skills or a novice eager to learn the ropes, eSail Sailing Simulator is an outstanding tool that bridges the virtual and real sailing worlds. In conclusion, eSail Sailing Simulator has truly impressed me with its authentic sailing environment and comprehensive learning opportunities. This is not just a game; it's a valuable teaching tool that every passionate seafarer, be it an instructor or a student, should have in their digital arsenal. Well done to the developers for creating a remarkable sailing experience that sets sail on its own voyage of excellence!
• gamedeal user

  Mar 29, 2018

  I've been sailing for 50+ years. My crusty old grandfather taught me port and starboard before left and right. This sim makes me smell the salt air and feel the spray! I highly recommend this (and have to my sailing club) for anyone from the novice just trying to move a boat forward, to more experienced who understands topping lifts and sail shape (flat is fast). I’ve really enjoyed this game, which is more of an experience than just game play. Tech support has been phenomenal! I had a slight issue that was responded to immediately and fixed. Please note this was an issue with the Steam install and not the software. I give this the highest rating of any game I’ve used. Get this game – you will not be sorry.
• gamedeal user

  Mar 31, 2018

  MY E-SAIL SIMULATOR REVIEW BY GAZPODE_L I first discovered this game, when it was previewed by a well known & respected twitch streamer "SteveChes" (AKA SIM-UK.) What I witnessed that day made me very excited to play the game, so I bought it when it was released recently. As I own my own boat (3rd season) and have done many a flotilla in Greece, I know my way around and yacht and it's respective lines, however I still made a point of running through the quick-start tutorial to get to grips with the variety of controls. PLAYING THE GAME - NO1- LEARN YACHTING WITH E-SAIL! The tutorials themselves found within the "learn yaching" section are very well thought through and carefully explain what each function does and the effect it causes to the boat. I even found at times I was learning (or re-learning) some things which I had become rusty on such as anchoring and navigation - I'm hearing from the DEV's (Developers) who made the game that they are planning to release an expanded version of the navigation "tools" so that you can take hand-bearing compass bearings to do things like three-point fixes...I'm sure I can even mess around with things like transits, & clearing bearings!!! NO2 - CHALLENGES I will post a later review on these as I haven't had the time to look at any of these as yet, as I've spent so much time exploring using either locations or the main part of the game LIVE SAILING! NO3 - LOCATIONS There are four or five set "Scenarios" with a fixed time of day & weather conditions. This mode places you into your chosen area, and is ideal for those who do not wish to go through the lengthy process of either sailing or motoring to the chosen point. The scenarios or "Locations" include being inside the pretty Webster Bay, starting off moored up or "Docked" at one of the two marina's in the game,and a couple of scenarios aimed at getting the best out of your sailing with one featuring a strong mid-afternoon breeze and another starting at dawn, with the sails down waiting for the wind to arrive! NO4 - LIVE SAILING This is where this game is at it's VERY BEST! Live sailing starts you off in a fixed position within the Game, a few miles outside the main islands. here you are subjected to changing weather conditions and sea-states and can choose to sail or motor to any part of the chain of islands currently in the game (the DEV's say they are working on more scenery). There may be the odd occasion where you get stuck or run aground - this is NO issue as all you need to do is go into "Settings" by clicking on the cog in the top left menu and then click reset live sailing! you then find your situation reset and you can continue to enjoy sailing. A few things I find particularly great about this sim which outmatches other sailing games/sims is 1) the weather - just as you do in Real life, if you go behind a headland or mountain range sheltered from the wind, it drops and the sea-state eases - BRILLIANT! 2) the anchoring part of this sim is spot-on and I found myself doing just the same things (and making the same errors!) as I had done on my own boats! 3) the third & final thing is the mooring feature - only one other sim supported this and that was very basic in nature by clicking one button - here you are able to control the lines and ease or tighten them to your satisfaction! Then when it's time to go out again, you can create slip-lines and ease your boat slowly out of its berth! All in all, a fantastic sim, with a friendly & attentive developer who actively continues to improve & polish an already very solid game/sim! I can't wait to see what updates the rest of this year is going to bring for this excellent product! I URGE you to go and purchase it today! It WILL benefit your sailing in real-life!
• gamedeal user

  Jul 1, 2018

  Having played this game for only a short period, I can definitely recommend it with a few reservations. As a sailor looking for a sail simulator, it does the job. Are you going to sail great oceans? No, are you going to race with your friends online? No. But if you are interested in learning to sail, I can safely say that this will teach you the basics. Having taught people to sail, I think it does an excellent job within the constraints of the tutorial simulation. It is definitely still a work in progress, but has a very active developer involvement. Recommendations and requests are noted and the developer works quickly to resolve small issues. Is this worth the $20 I paid for it? I don't think so. But am I upset about having paid it? No. For ocean cruising, go elsewhere. For learning to sail, get this. For zipping around islands filled with landmarks and little points of interest? Get it. Best recommendation: Put it on your wishlist and pick it up when you see it on sale (even if only 30%).
• gamedeal user

  Oct 17, 2018

  I wish I could give this game a Neutral score as it is a easy to learn sailing sim. Tutorials are fine, the auto crew is good. But... The graphics look like something from the 1990's . The boat is ok but the ocean is not very nice and the land is very badly done. I know it is a sailing sim but the shoreline is a part of the journey, a destination. Only one boat to choose from and no interior detail at all. The weather is poorly done. No sorry I think this could have been way better then it is. Of course only my opinion Im sure there is a lot of people very happy with the product. it's just not for me..
• gamedeal user

  Mar 14, 2019

  I came to eSail after putting in over 100 hours on Sailaway. I still go back to Sailaway occasionally as it has its own strengths, such as if you just want to head off into the depths of the ocean, but eSail is in another league and I can’t recommend it enough. As others have said, at the very least you’ll learn plenty about how to sail, which isn’t offered anywhere else to this degree. This review is mostly a comparison of the two, and hopefully that may help – when I was first trying to decide which one to go with, I didn’t have a clear idea of the differences. The sailing. eSail is so in-depth here – you can select lines and winches, move your crew around, anchor, deploy fenders, moor in marinas, plot your position on the chart down in the cabin. Simple things like being able to back the jib – crank it out on the windward side, whereas in Sailaway this can’t be done as the sail controls are far more dumbed down. You can pull the lines by hand or winch them, operate the jammers. Also, getting the sails right feels more demanding and therefore satisfying, not least because the telltales flutter much more believably than in Sailaway – it feels like there’s less spoon-feeding going on. The sailing simulation is massively in-depth. The water. The water is much less neat and regular than in Sailaway. With the new advanced water in the latest beta, the water is much more convincing overall. The spray is a little less impressive and certainly there’s some work to be done before this area matches up to Sailaway. That said, eSail is still openly in Early Access, so big allowances have to be made. I don’t know if it’s down to the slight translucency of the water or what, but eSail also doesn’t quite have the satisfying sense of the boat carving purposefully through the water that Sailaway has. This might also be down to the lack of rushing water audio, or the splash SFX that aren’t always in sync with the motion of the boat. But, when you’ve set the boat up from scratch, gone to the trouble of hoisting the sails and winching everything so it’s all just right and then headed out from your mooring, you’re already immersed and have plenty of other things to worry about. The boat rocks believably too and the sails flutter as the boat rolls through the wind, whereas in Sailaway the boat is always heeled over by the wind, irrespective of the waves, and the sails only flap if they need adjusting. The world. This is far more varied than Sailaway. Essentially in eSail you’re doing coastal sailing around a large island with some smaller outlying islands. There’s no great expanse of ocean to head off into like in Sailaway – when I tried in eSail I ended up in a black-screen place with no boat and had to resort to the very handy reset button in the menu that resolves many of the Early Access niggles that will be encountered. The smaller world also means it’s more condensed and interesting - there are details on the land, like trees, marinas, buildings and vehicles. They are more solid and believable than in Sailaway – they don’t have the dreaded hop where they jerk and relocate every few seconds. This said, the landscape textures aren’t any better than in Sailaway yet, and Sailaway’s real time weather and sea state offers a lot. Then again, the stars in Sailaway are just a splatter of fuzzy dots, whereas the stars came out in eSail and I recognised some of the constellations. There are other boats – thundering cargo ships that you really have to watch out for, other sailing boats both sailing and moored or anchored, and smaller fishing boats. I feel like I’m part of this island community and there are plenty of other people about on the water. I was merrily sailing along and could hear my engine rumbling. I thought, the engine isn’t on, is it? I was sure I’d turned it off. Checked the controls. Yes, definitely off. So what’s the rumbling? Getting louder. Much louder. And then JESUS CHRIST THAT WAS CLOSE!!! as a huge cargo ship ploughed by, so close I still don’t know how it missed me. Learned to keep a better look out and to think harder about where to sail when near harbours. The cargo ship was admittedly a huge, ugly, badly textured brown thing, which I’m putting down to it being an Early Access placeholder. The whole experience gave me enough of a moment of genuine panic that I was prepared to overlook the cosmetics anyway. The boat. The boat does its job but it’s nowhere near as pretty as those in Sailaway. I feel like I bought a second hand cruiser off eBay, albeit one with plenty of character. In Sailaway you’ve got ocean-ready boats fresh from a showroom somewhere. eSail also only has the one boat – some variety there would go a long way. But it’s a capable and effective boat. The amount of things you can do on it makes it feel very real. I would like to be able to feel like I was standing on it though, rather than just controlling a floating camera that can orbit and zoom around the boat – the various camera positions in Sailaway feel much more immersive in this respect – there, I can actually sit in the cockpit. The audio. This is mostly OK, but again there’s work to do before it’s quite as polished as Sailaway, which gives a better sense of speed through the water from the sound of the water rushing past. eSail also has two distinct recurring splash effects, so they can start to grate a little after a while due to the lack of variety and nothing but a little wind noise between each splash – no rushing water. eSail promises more islands to sail to in future and possibly some tides. With these aspects and my wishlist of 1. Better landscapes/textures, 2. A choice of boats, 3. Being able to feel like you’re actually on the boat and 4. Better audio this would be an absolutely mindblowing experience. As it is, it’s a fantastic and in-depth (I think I mentioned that a few times) sailing simulation. It has a great world with character and atmosphere and if it continues to develop as it has been then it’s really going places.
• gamedeal user

  Jul 7, 2019

  I own a sailboat in real life and have been sailing for decades. While I'm no expert, I do feel comfortable on the water. This is the best Sailing Sim out there. I'm using it to teach my girlfriend how to sail. The tutorials are excellent. Clear, concise, and helpful. I've learned a few new things as well. I especially like the view and camera angles. The tell tale windows are a huge help. The anchoring and mooring modes are a great touch and really useful in learning the actual skills. The boat itself is setup very well for learning. It has just enough complexity to be useful in the real world, but not overwhelming. The only negative I can find so far is that there is not enough danger of damage to the boat. There's no real reason to reef the sail, except for practice. I should not be able to fly full canvas in 28 knot winds, then crash gybe and spin through all points of sail without any repurcussions. Learning to sail this way gives you a false sense of security. In real life I'd be doing some serious damage to my boat, if not outright capsizing. Some improvement suggestions I'd love to see: Please let me be able to see the telltales with a reef in! Options for the following: Tiller steering Whisker pole Hanked on headsails, and more of them. Genoa, Spinnaker, Storm Jib, etc. Gusts and changing wind directions User adjustable wind speed A better way to see when the sails are luffing, and where the curve/twists are in the sails. Tutorial for radio usage would be nice. All in all a great sim. The dev should be proud.