Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 Lives!

Don’t get Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 if you value your time. My first attempt took me about 4-6 hours, and in that time, I didn’t even finish a contract. Why was that exactly? Pig-headedness, inexperience, and chill vibes. Make sense? Didn’t think so, but let’s at least try and decipher this somewhat in a review.

From Games Incubator and PlayWay once again, it’s very much a rinse and repeat of the first game, only the UI has been tidied up, and the visuals are waaaaay better. That could be due to my recent purchase of a Ryzen 9 laptop, but that aside, it’s a vast improvement. I mean, how exciting could a ship graveyard be?

With a backdrop of ship carcasses that could be an alternate reality version of Nassau, Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 feels like an open world, but there’s never The Truman Show itch to go past the derelict sheds, recycle centre, or of course, your ship set for scrapping. That’s a testament to an addictive style of play: you’re so focussed on salvaging parts you might not give a toss about the outside world, like me and the reason for clocking up so much playtime.

Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 Review

There’s zero faffing about in terms of a story, which is refreshing in modern simulators. An optional tutorial is available from the start and is essential, as the bulk of the tools are unlocked from the get-go. The task is to strip a ship, flog the parts for profit, and then move on. 

Your trusty laptop will be the hub to the outside world, where you can take on new contracts, one ship at a time. Locals will request an inventory of parts, and should you locate and sell to them, they’ll give you a good amount of cash for it. Everything else can be taken, recycled, and sold to the local merchant for a pittance.

The exchange system in Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 can be somewhat unfair considering the amount of hard work you put in, but the core gameplay makes it fun/a chill experience. Other than making a living, money earned from the scrap can be exchanged for blueprints to improve your tools, thus, workflow. Once you source the required scrap, you can upgrade your abilities and speed things up.

Jack Of All Trades

Our tool line-up consists of the following: your hands, a sledgehammer, saw, blowtorch thingy, explosives, a rope, and radio backup. Your hands will pick everything up and launch into the back of your truck with insane accuracy, allowing you to transport it back to the recycling plant to sort and sell. You are limited to how much you can carry, but this can be upgraded like all the other tools.

A sledgehammer knocks out connectors that appear like rivets, or you can ‘bonk’, yes, bonk items so they fall apart. The saw cuts through metal, easily breaking structures, the blowtorch heats the hardier metal, and the explosives are the equivalent of dynamite fishing. 

One of the significant changes to the style of play is the addition of the radio command. Pending you detach the heavier machinery, and it’s accessible, you can call in a crane that will lift items out and store them at your warehouse. Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 also introduces a rope that handles like a wet noodle. Then, point at an inaccessible area above to climb up, and nothing happens. Yeah, not a fan.

Verdict

Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 is pretty much the same concept as the first, but it steps up regarding the addictive element, presentation, and ease of use. There were a few glitches along the way, but for the most part, it was immersive, repetitive, and enjoyable. Just make sure you have the time to play it.