We know, reading about pirate raids and stormy co-op adventures is exciting, but watching it? Way better. Be sure to check out our full gameplay video! And if you prefer reading at your own pace — no worries, our full hands-on write-up awaits just below!
We got into the alpha version of Crosswind - and this might just be the next great co-op game you had been waiting for if you love Enshrouded, Valheim and pirates. Here’s what the game is all about, what we loved and what we’d love to see when the game releases and by the end ...we bet you’ll be wantin’ to join the crew!
What Is Crosswind?Crosswind is a co-op survival RPG set in a procedurally generated pirate world. It blends elements of Valheim and Enshrouded, but trades vikings and fog for pirates, treasure maps, and sun-soaked islands. And yes — you can be the captain now.
While the focus is PvE, shared hubs allow for MMO-style player interaction, and PvP remains entirely optional. Players sail their own personal ships, explore randomized archipelagos, and work through a 30–40 hour main storyline full of pirate legends and cursed mysteries.
Every player has their own world, but up to three friends can hop aboard in co-op — making it a perfect fit for groups who love the idea of surviving, crafting, and building... with style and sea shanties.
The game opens with a modest character creator — and already impressed us. Body types, hair, beards, tattoos, and a good range of skin tones are in. Triangle sliders for facial structure make customization easy without going overboard.
Our only wish? More stereotypical pirate flair. Peg legs, hooks, eye-patches — we hope to see those added later on.
You wash ashore in literal rags and begin the familiar survival loop: gather sticks, craft a campfire, place your bedroll. But soon, you’re crafting workbenches, discovering recipes, and fighting off angry Dodos — and yes, even those can be deadly.
Here’s where Crosswind shines — it respects your time. Resource pickup is automatic within proximity. You can teleport freely using crafted bells (even with full inventories), and crafting pulls directly from nearby containers. Oh — and co-op partners can all interact with everything at the same time.
“Probably one of the best quality-of-life systems we’ve seen in any survival game.”
Workstations queue up items, can be upgraded, and feel intuitive from the start. Whether you’re a hardcore builder or just want a functional pirate hut, the building system lets you choose: place pre-built structures or build piece-by-piece. Decor, unlockable through milestones and drops, adds personality.
No voxel digging or terrain deformation here — but the world is gorgeous and full of secrets to find.
The combat in Crosswind aims for souls-lite — dodge, parry, time your attacks. It’s challenging, especially early on, and the enemies don’t hold back. Even Dodos can end your run if you aren’t careful.
But here’s the rub: combat feels a bit unpolished in its current alpha form. Janky hit detection, stamina management that punishes disengaging, and some delayed animations led to a few too many respawns.
We grew accustomed to it over time, but we hope the devs get a chance to refine it.
Your first boat is a humble rower — but you’ll eventually unlock your own sailing ship. For now, it’s a solo vessel — no shared crewing yet. We’d love to see something like Sea of Thieves: assign roles, man the cannons, shout “brace!” as a team.
Even so, the co-op already works impressively well. Hosting and joining is seamless, players can build and gather together in real-time, and shared crafting is a dream. Quest sync is still a work-in-progress, but it’s clear the devs are actively working on it.
- Join friends in their world
- Build together in real time
- Craft from shared storage
- Explore and loot cooperatively
For an alpha, Crosswind is impressively smooth. We had no major crashes, performance was solid across low to high settings, and the game held up visually even on lower specs.
We only encountered a few bugs — but mostly harmless or funny ones. Quest sync issues aside, we didn’t hit anything game-breaking. We’re cautiously optimistic, especially with a published roadmap and active dev communication.
Crosswind will be free-to-play on Steam — and of course, that raises eyebrows. While no monetization was active in the alpha, we expect:
- Cosmetics and outfit packs
- Battle pass-style progression
- Optional boosts or convenience items
“No pay-to-win elements were visible in the alpha — but this is always something to watch.”
The developers already teased future content: story expansions, new biomes, ship upgrades, crew companions, and even endgame activities. If they follow through, this could become a long-lasting co-op staple.
Crosswind has the bones of something great. It respects your time, supports co-op from the start, and offers just enough pirate chaos to keep things exciting. Performance is stable, the world is beautiful, and quality-of-life systems are some of the best we’ve seen in the genre.
The combat still needs a little polish. But everything else already feels like a hidden gem.
If they get the monetization right and refine the rough edges, this might be the pirate survival game to set sail with your crew.
Now if you’ll excuse us — we’ve got a teleport bell to ring and a parrot to name. See you on the high seas!