Items14The creator’s order
  1. 1Sail Forth (2022)Sail Forth (2022) 7.0/10 on IGDBReleased Dec 21, 2022Start here if you want an island adventure with just enough sail handling to make the crossing interesting. The game models tacking and jibing, and the publisher built its wind system to be approachable. You can learn how the boat responds while exploring the archipelago.0
  2. 2Sailwind (2021)Sailwind (2021)Released Oct 18, 2021Take a cargo job and the crossing becomes the work. You have to tack into an unfavorable wind and can reduce sail in heavy weather. On longer passages, the navigation instruments and your food and water supplies matter as much as choosing the right angle to the wind.0
  3. 3The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002) 8.7/10 on IGDBReleased Dec 13, 2002The original GameCube adventure lets you use the Wind Waker baton to change the wind direction. Pick an island and call a wind that carries you toward it. It gives the wind a clear role in getting across the map without asking you to learn a whole rig.0
  4. 4eSail Yacht Sailing SimulatoreSail Yacht Sailing SimulatorUse the tutorials to learn tacking and sail handling, then try the sandbox. You can change wind speed and direction and see how the same yacht responds to a different sail setup. It’s a good choice if you want to repeat a difficult maneuver under controlled conditions.0
  5. 5Virtual Regatta Offshore (2006)Virtual Regatta Offshore (2006)Released Oct 29, 2006The wind map is the main event. Forecasts update through the day, and the time slider lets you look ahead. A detour toward stronger wind can cost places in the short term, then pay off later. This is the pick for online racing where you plan a passage in stages.0
  6. 6Windbound (2020)Windbound (2020) 4.5/10 on IGDBReleased Aug 21, 2020Building a mast changes the way your boat travels. It can follow the wind under sail, but an island upwind asks you to zigzag toward it and adjust the sail as you go. Choose this if you want the crossing to matter as much as what you find ashore.0
  7. 7Sailaway III (2024)Sailaway III (2024)Released Oct 1, 2024The simulator uses real-world forecasts for the boat’s location, so a calm patch can hold you up at sea. You can set the boat to hold an angle to the wind and keep going after you log off. It suits a long passage you check in on over time.0
  8. 8Sea of Thieves (2018)Sea of Thieves (2018) 7.1/10 on IGDBReleased Mar 20, 2018The sloop, brigantine, and galleon respond differently to wind. You adjust the sails as well as the wheel, and even in a direct headwind you can angle the sails to reduce the drag. Choose it when you want the job of keeping a pirate ship moving to be part of the adventure.0
  9. 9Valheim (2026)Valheim (2026) 8.4/10 on IGDBReleased Sep 9, 2026A headwind can leave the sail useless, so the steering oar becomes your fallback. It keeps you moving when a bay is too narrow to take a wider line. The wind makes choosing where to cross part of an expedition, even though sailing is only one part of this survival game.0
  10. 10Uncharted Waters Origin (2023)Uncharted Waters Origin (2023)Released Feb 1, 2023The world map shows the requirements for known sailing routes. A stronger vertical sail helps when the wind comes from either side of the bow or stern, while a stronger horizontal sail helps when the wind comes from behind. Pick this for voyage planning where outfitting a fleet matters alongside…0