Ocean Trader

Ocean Trader is a 1995 strategy game for players who have looked at the sea and thought, “That is a lot of water. I should probably make money from it.” The game focuses on maritime commerce, with players managing ships, trading goods, selecting routes, and attempting to build a profitable shipping operation. Success requires an understanding of markets, timing, and logistics, because transporting valuable cargo across the world is slightly more complicated than simply pointing a boat in the right direction. Ocean Trader offers the satisfaction of starting small and gradually building a commercial empire, provided the player can avoid losing money to poor decisions. It is a business simulation with a nautical flavor, where every voyage is both an opportunity and a potential financial disaster. In short, it is capitalism with waves, ships, and considerably more opportunities to blame the weather.