If you’ve been craving a true pirate game, there’s finally an open world on the horizon—and it only took a single day to raise the funds. Ahoy, from Capstan Games, stormed onto Kickstarter last week and hauled in a staggering $750,000 in support in record time.

For years, pirate games—especially in the strategy genre—were a safe harbor for fans: exploring the Caribbean, storming aquatic fortresses, and pillaging the seas were highlighted in classics like Sid Meier’s Pirates! But in recent years, ambitious pirate titles have all but vanished. That’s finally changing: a new game rooted in 18th-century naval history, Ahoy, has smashed all Kickstarter expectations and is already shaping up to be one of indie gaming’s most exciting upcoming releases.

Developed by Capstan Games, Ahoy isn’t about swashbuckling clichés; it’s about historical authenticity. Where games like Sea of Thieves or Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag lean into Hollywood spectacle, this project is all about precision: ship mechanics, naval combat, trading, and the politics of the age are front and center. The response has been overwhelming—the Kickstarter passed $750,000 and hit its goal in just 21 hours, with thousands of gamers rallying behind the project.

Ahoy Will Launch in Three Stages, Beginning in 2026

The game will roll out in multiple phases. First up is Sea Trials, a cooperative multiplayer mode teaching the basics of sailing—slated for Q1 2026. That’s followed by Ahoy: Arena, a PvP-focused experience with competitive servers, seasonal events, and objective-driven maps, expected to hit Early Access later in 2026. The final vision is Ahoy: Open World—a sprawling sandbox where players can carve out their own destinies as merchants, privateers, or true pirates.

Capstan Games was started by two British teens who grew up playing Sid Meier’s Pirates! and Pirates of the Burning Sea. Their goal is to bring historical authenticity back to a genre crowded with fantasy. “We saw a gap for an experience that truly captured 18th-century life,” they explain. Ahoy aims to immerse players in the real trade routes and geopolitical tensions that shaped the Caribbean.

What really sets the project apart is its dedication to detail: not only does the game take place in the real world, but it meticulously recreates ships, naval tactics, crew hierarchy, and even daily life at sea. This pursuit of realism has attracted a passionate community that values narrative rigor and mechanical depth.

While Ahoy’s full release is still a ways off, Capstan Games says the trust of its backers has allowed them to map out a robust, realistic development plan. Pre-production began in 2021, with full development ramping up in late 2024. There’s no firm date yet for the completely open world, but the direction is set: a technically ambitious, historically faithful, and player-driven pirate adventure. If Ahoy lives up to its promise, it could become the new gold standard for pirate games in the years ahead.

Source: 3djuegos