Screenshots
Madness Afloat
Dynamic Box · Published by Dynamic Box
Last updated 28 Sept 2026
Pilot customizable steamships through a Lovecraftian Polynesian archipelago. Explore and survive handcrafted missions, manage cursed cargo, and balance sanity against power. Face the deep alone or in optional co-op expeditions.
Action, Adventure, RPG · 2027 · More free games
Navigate treacherous Polynesian archipelagos in Madness Afloat, where each mission demands careful cargo management and bold ship piloting. Discover a world of mystery and horror, solo or with friends, as you face the deep alone or together.
About this game
Madness Afloat is a Lovecraftian naval action game set in an alternate 1899. Pilot customizable steamships across an open world Polynesian archipelago scarred by forbidden waters, uncover dangerous missions, and survive voyages where every decision leaves lasting consequences.
Sail deeper, risk more, and decide how much you’re willing to lose.
Explore an open world of contested ports, shifting routes, and hostile seas. Missions are handcrafted and escalate in danger the deeper you push into forbidden waters.
Turning back is safer.
Going on is a choice you may regret.
Your cargo hold is both lifeline and liability. Transport volatile, fragile, and cursed goods using a spatial grid where placement matters. Mistakes can trigger chain reactions, sanity loss or catastrophic detonations mid-voyage.
Dread sharpens the senses until it breaks them. As sanity erodes, hallucinations creep into view: false threats, warped horizons, impossible shapes. Push deeper into madness to glimpse hidden paths and forbidden places unseen by sane eyes.
Customize your steamship with modular weapons and systems. Recruit named officers from rival factions, each shaped by traits, trauma and loyalty.
Your choices open doors and close others permanently.
Madness Afloat is fully playable solo, built for atmosphere and tension. Optional co-op expeditions let multiple captains sail together in high-risk dives where coordination is survival.
Open World Exploration: Sail freely between ports, routes and dangerous waters
Handcrafted Missions: Authored voyages with escalating tension and consequences
Customizable Steamships: Modular weapons, systems and upgrades
Cursed Cargo System: Spatial cargo management where placement and damage matter
Sanity as Risk-Reward: Hallucinations and instability grant power at a cost
Named Officers & Factions: Recruit crew, build reputation, shape long-term outcomes
Solo First, Optional Co-Op: Play entirely solo or take on co-op expeditions
System Requirements
Will my PC run this? →Minimum
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 / AMD FX-6300 or equivalent
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1050 / AMD Radeon RX 560
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 20 GB available space
Recommended
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1650 / AMD Radeon RX 580
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 20 GB available space
Supported Languages
*languages with full audio support
Latest news
AnnouncementsOfficial
SCAM ALERT!
Dear community, We’ve received reports from our community that someone is using Madness Afloat’s artwork and branding to create a fake website and distribute a fake download link containing malware. Please stay alert and do not download anything from unofficial websites or links. The only official version of Madness Afloat will be available through our Steam page. Our game is still in development and is not yet ready for release or download. For official news, updates, and announcements, please follow only:Our official Steam pageOur official Discord server We do not have any third-party websites or download links where you can currently download Madness Afloat. Any future playtests and the official release of the game will be announced and made available through our official Steam page and official Discord only. Nowhere else. We are already taking serious legal and technical action against the fake website and those responsible. These processes can take some time, but we are actively working to protect our community and our game. Thank you for your support, and please help us spread the word!Read full article on Community Announcements (Hit That Super Mario)AnnouncementsOfficial
Cargo Minigame: Risk, Order, Consequence
Greetings, Captains!We’re introducing the Cargo Minigame, a new tactical system where preparation matters as much as what happens at sea.Frequently you’ll load your ship’s hold using a grid-based system inspired by gravity and spatial constraints. Cargo comes in different shapes and types, some fragile, some volatile, some best kept hidden.Poor placement can reduce rewards, damage valuable goods or even threaten your sanity once you take a hit. Careful planning, on the other hand, can unlock bonuses and safer voyages.This is an early look, but cargo management is shaping up to be a core part of mission risk-reward and long-term decision-making.Stay steady, Dynamic Box TeamRead full article on Community Announcements (Mechaniqe)AnnouncementsOfficial
Curio Vendor: Place for Oddities and Ornaments
Greetings!A new figure has appeared at the Port, the Curio Vendor, a merchant of strange and beautiful things. We’re currently building out his store and functionality, and here’s a first look at the work-in-progress:Here’s what to expect:CosmeticsDecorative ornaments for your ship and quartersStickers, hull paints, writings and nameplatesFlags, emblems and other visual customizationsOdditiesRare finds from expeditions can be sold hereSome may unlock hidden lore, unique rewards or even mysterious ship upgradesIt’s still early, but this vendor will soon become a key part of your long-term journey — a place where beauty and the bizarre meet.Stay adrift and stay curious. Dynamic Box TeamRead full article on Community Announcements (Mechaniqe)AnnouncementsOfficial
Port: Central Hub
Hello, Lovecraft lovers!We’ve been steadily working on one of the most important parts of Madness Afloat: The Port, your main hub for everything you do in the game. It’s where you’ll:Hire and manage your crewPrepare for expeditions into the deepMaintain and upgrade your shipBuy/sell stuffInteract with key story charactersRight now, most of the core systems related to Port are already working. Our next focus is on bringing the atmosphere to life.We’ll share more as the visuals and ambient details come together in the coming weeks.Stay adrift, and stay sane.Most sincerely, Dynamic Box TeamRead full article on Community Announcements (Mechaniqe)AnnouncementsOfficial
gamescom and ongoing work
Hello Lovecraft lovers!It’s been a busy month both at sea and in our game studio. Here’s what’s new since our last update:gamescom 2025: We sailed into Cologne, met fellow indies working on equally strange projects, and shared some of the madness we’ve been cooking up. It was inspiring to see how much weirdness is thriving in games right now.The Port (Hub): Your ship doesn’t float alone. The Port now acts as the heart of your journey: hire new crew members, take contracts from rivaling factions, repair your battered vessel and perform cleansing rituals to hold back the corruption.Monsters of the Deep: 2 eldritch horrors now stalk the seas, with more waiting in the shadows. Some whisper that the Covenant is waking larger things…Visual & Atmosphere Updates: We’ve tuned lighting, level design and environmental details to deepen that “fog-and-lantern” feel the game lives on.Lore Expansion: We’re working with an experienced magician from the animation world to enrich the myths of Tuva’i.Progression & Save System: Both have been reworked for smoother long-term play. Full integration wraps up next week.And the Usual Madness: Countless small tweaks, quality-of-life fixes and strange whispers in the radio static.We’ll be posting more often to keep you in the loop. Thanks for steering with us through fog and fear, the seas only get stranger from here.Read full article on Community Announcements (Mechaniqe)
