Free-to-play fantasy role-playing game (RPG) Sea of Remnants made its appearance during Summer Game Fest, and we stopped by for a quick demo to see this unique visual game; by the end of the demo, we found it to be well worth playing.

Rocking the Boat

Developed by Joker Studio, published by NetEase Games, Sea of Remnants is a free-to-play game that’ll launch on specific platforms and mobile devices later this year. You’ll play as a Puppetfolk, a unique and expressive character with no memories of their past.

You’ll create a crew of these Puppetfolks to sail the seas and engage in battles not just on the waters but also on land. During our demo run, we played on land, and the turned-based battles were entertaining in themselves. Battles carry a significant amount of depth when strategizing turns. For example, instead of focusing on the main boss figure, focus on her “helpers” so you can create more damage to the boss. Players can use special abilities to significantly reduce the enemy’s health. When players use these abilities, they are treated to a cinematic display as the characters attack with fluid animation.

Once the battle is over, you’ll receive a cinematic visual and a choice players must make, such as kill the enemy or let it live. These choices can impact your adventure, and you can expect more of them in the game.

While we didn’t dive into the gameplay of sailing your ship, the free-to-play game gives off Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Sea of Thieves vibes. 

Color Me Surprised

The neon accents and visuals give it that resemblance to the Persona series. Sea of Remnants clearly references various traits of Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) gameplay mechanics. The unique styles of the Puppetfolks resemble Tim Burton’s art style, which is also known as “Burtonesque.” Each one gives a different flair and personality that adds more amusement to the game. The landscapes are beautiful and carry some realism, but overall the game embraces the whimsical fantasy rather than the realistic visuals you see many games strive for.

While the latest trailers showcased are very creative and musical, they don’t express enough of the gameplay. After experiencing an entertaining boss battle and a couple of enemy encounters on land, it grabbed my attention to want to play more thanks to its fun turn-based mechanics.

My biggest concern with Sea of Remnants is the details of the free-to-play model. What’s involved with the story, and how will it affect the gameplay? Is it paying per chapter or specific items? It’s challenging to say what will unfold until we get closer to the game’s launch. If it can make it consumer-friendly, expect this game to turn heads as a standout action RPG.

Sea of Remnants is scheduled to release in 2026 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam), iOS, and Android devices. Fans can visit the game’s official website for more information and wishlist options. We appreciate NetEase Games and their team for giving us the opportunity to test out their game at the Summer Game Fest.

Summer Game Fest Trailer

Gameplay Trailer