If you’ve been craving more control over your ship, Ships At Sea has you covered. In this dev spotlight, we’re taking a closer look at the manual gear control system — a feature already available in-game that lets you take full command of your vessel’s movements.
Whether you're navigating narrow harbors, docking, or just want more immersion at sea, manual control gives you that real-world feel, without overcomplicating your gameplay.
⚙️ Here’s How It Works:
- Open the Game Settings and disable automatic gear control
- ???? Start your engine with the ignition key
- Push the gear lever forward to engage in forward motion
- Push the throttle lever forward to accelerate — or fine-tune it for smoother handling
- Want to reverse? Pull the gear lever back to engage in reverse motion
When you are done navigating:
- Pull the gear lever to neutral to disengage movement.
- Throttle down to idle or zero.
- Turn off the engine using the ignition key.
That’s it — simple!
⚠️ A Note on Boat Handling & Physics:
We’ve received your feedback about some vessels bouncing excessively or feeling difficult to steer. Rest assured — we hear you!
Ships At Sea is built with authenticity in mind, and we’re committed to continuously improving the boat and ship physics that shape your experience on the water.
As the game evolves, so too will the physics behind every vessel. Our goal is to support a broad range of vessel categories and classes in the future — from small boats to large ships — including various engine types and upgrades, thrusters, propeller configurations, and other critical ship systems. These aren’t just visual upgrades; they truly matter in how your ship handles.
Your feedback plays a vital role in helping us refine this complex simulation. We’ll continue to work to ensure that each vessel feels authentic, responsive, and truly satisfying to command.
- Team Misc Games
