Running a ship with your crew
Blackwake is a first-person multiplayer naval game where the whole crew shares one ship. Someone has to steer, others load and fire the cannons, and someone needs to patch holes and bring powder and shot back to the guns. Crews can run up to 13 players, and matches hold 54 players in total, so there is plenty of room for your group to split across small and large ships. When the ship takes damage, repairs and resupply become part of the fight, not a side task.
Fighting on the water and on deck
Sinking a ship is only one option. You can also close in and board with firearms and swords, taking the fight onto enemy decks. A captain leads the vessel through nomination, issues orders to the crew, and calls the tactics, so someone in your group should be ready to take that role and keep everyone working together. There is a wide weapon selection for sniping, melee, and heavy work at the cannons.
Modes and maps to expect
Three game modes are available: team deathmatch, Siege for attacking or defending a fort, and Capture the Booty. Maps change up the conditions with different weather, times of day, and hazards like volcano eruptions and icebergs to steer around. Ranking up unlocks character and ship customization, so your group can give its vessel a look of its own as you play more.