Sea of Remnants Reveals New Gameplay and Confirms February Closed Alpha Test on PC
Publisher NetEase and developer Joker Studio have officially unveiled a new six minute gameplay showcase for Sea of Remnants, the ocean fantasy open world RPG first announced in June during Sony’s State of Play. Alongside the new footage, the studio confirmed the Wanderer Test, a small scale Closed Alpha that will run on PC from February 5 to February 12.
Starting today and running through January 23, players can apply to participate in the test through several official channels. Interested captains can follow and engage with the trailer post on the official Sea of Remnants X account, join the official Sea of Remnants Discord and complete the application questionnaire, or submit the same questionnaire via platforms including Steam and Reddit. According to the developers, test slots are extremely limited, and selected participants will be notified directly if they are granted access.
The newly released gameplay video offers a deeper look at the game’s ambitious blend of systems. Sea of Remnants positions itself as a hybrid experience that fuses open world exploration, survival and building mechanics, simulation elements, and turn based strategy layered with real time naval combat. Players assume the role of an amnesiac puppetfolk sailor, navigating treacherous seas toward a cursed realm said to grant immense wealth at the cost of one’s memories.
A core pillar of the experience is Orbtopia, a pirate hub city that evolves dynamically based on player choices. The game features more than 300 recruitable NPCs spread across rival factions, with shifting loyalties that can alter the political and economic balance of the city. Crew recruitment plays a strategic role, as each member brings specialized skills that influence ship performance, land combat effectiveness, and city based operations.
Combat is split between two distinct layers. Naval encounters unfold in real time, emphasizing responsive ship handling and tactical positioning. On land, battles transition into turn based engagements featuring systems such as Reinforcement Points, where dice rolls determine damage scaling, and a Posture gauge that rewards careful management of offensive and defensive actions. These mechanics aim to deliver depth without sacrificing accessibility, appealing to players who enjoy both strategy and moment to moment action.
Exploration spans a diverse range of environments, including volcanic islands, dense rainforests, and haunting ancient ruins. Progression is tightly anchored to Orbtopia, where players can craft equipment, cook meals, fish, play mahjong, train hidden professions, and even operate shops in partnership with NPCs. Roguelike inspired risk systems are also present, as death or shipwreck results in the loss of any loot that is not waterproofed, although courier services allow players to safely transport key materials and mitigate total loss.
From a meta progression standpoint, player decisions are designed to ripple across faction dynamics and narrative outcomes, ensuring that each playthrough can diverge meaningfully from the last. This systemic approach reflects the studio’s ambition to deliver long term replayability rather than a strictly linear adventure.
The press release concludes by confirming that Sea of Remnants will launch later this year on PC via Steam at and on PlayStation 5. While earlier announcements mentioned a mobile version, that platform was notably absent from the latest update, suggesting it may arrive at a later stage.
With its distinctive ocean fantasy setting, deep systemic design, and a strong emphasis on player driven outcomes, Sea of Remnants is shaping up to be one of NetEase’s most strategically ambitious RPG projects to date.
What are your thoughts on Sea of Remnants’ mix of turn based combat, real time naval battles, and roguelike risk mechanics? Would you jump into the February Closed Alpha if selected? Share your take below.
