China Sea Trader

Forget piracy—China Sea Trader makes hauling porcelain and spices across 19th-century Asia feel like a cutthroat business. It’s part economic sim, part geography lesson, and all DOS brown-and-gray. You buy low, sell high, and occasionally fend off hostile junks (no, not your inventory). The UI is functional but cryptic, as if the game assumes you’re a retired admiral with insider knowledge of Qing Dynasty trade routes. But once you get into the rhythm, it’s surprisingly engaging. Also, expect to lose everything to bad weather or a sudden opium price crash. It's educational and stressful!