Salt 2: Shores of Gold similar games & best alternatives

Salt 2: Shores of Gold

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2025

Should you play it?

Salt 2 is an open world pirate game focused on exploration, crafting, survival, and RPG elements. Sail an endless sea with your ship as a mobile base. Discover islands full of quests, towns, caves, and secrets. Level up skills, craft powerful gear, hunt, fish, loot, and make your ship your own.

What works
  • Relaxing and immersive sailing and exploration
  • Large procedurally generated world with varied islands and dungeons
  • Meaningful skill progression and crafting systems
  • Ship customization and decoration
  • Stable and polished for an early access game
Things to keep in mind
  • No multiplayer or co-op yet
  • Combat is simple and can feel clunky
  • Ocean and world feel somewhat lifeless with limited npc activity
  • Navigation and map system can be unintuitive
  • Some grind and repetitive elements

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Starcom: Unknown Space

  • Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

  • Seven: Enhanced Edition

  • Cubic Odyssey

  • Tunguska: The Visitation - Final Cut

  • Seablip

  • Block Story™

  • BLACKTAIL

  • Sands of Aura
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Sands of Aura

  • Rum & Gun

  • Kristala
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    Stranded Deep
  • Autonomy

    Salt
  • Continuation

    Nebuchadnezzar

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Salt 2: Shores of Gold: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Relaxation, Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Survival.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have freedom to explore vast procedurally generated world, choose their own path, craft and upgrade ships, and decide how to approach quests and combat."

    Capsule for Salt Salt

    "Players have freedom to explore vast procedurally generated ocean and islands, choose quests, craft, and customize ships at their own pace."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Combat requires timing, dodging, and skillful use of abilities; leveling and crafting systems offer meaningful progression"

    Capsule for Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

    "Skill progression through combat, crafting, fishing, and navigation; combat is simple but requires strategy and timing."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal pace and cooperative play; no PvP or ranked modes mentioned."

    Capsule for Lightyear Frontier Lightyear Frontier

    "Focus is on solo play and personal progression without PvP or ranked modes; multiplayer co-op planned but not yet implemented."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Players report long sessions and habitual play, with many hours invested and engagement sustained by ongoing updates and challenges."

    Capsule for Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar

    "Players report long play sessions and habitual exploration, with many hours invested and ongoing engagement."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -3

    "Currently single-player only; some players desire co-op but no multiplayer is implemented yet."

    Capsule for Astrometica Astrometica

    "Currently single-player only with no multiplayer; co-op is highly anticipated but not yet available."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players build and customize their ship, craft various items and cook meals, allowing creative expression within game systems."

    Capsule for Spiritfarer®: Farewell Edition Spiritfarer®: Farewell Edition

    "Ship customization and decoration, crafting system with many recipes, and map marking allow creative expression."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -4

    "No evidence of player dominance or power over others; gameplay is solo and non-competitive."

    Capsule for FATE FATE

    "No evidence of power over others or competitive dominance; gameplay is cooperative or solo without social hierarchy."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Many players describe the game as relaxing and therapeutic, a way to vent frustration and escape real-life stress."

    Capsule for Deconstruction Simulator: Prologue Deconstruction Simulator: Prologue

    "Players describe the game as relaxing, stress-relieving, and a peaceful escape from toxic multiplayer environments."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or pressure."

    Capsule for Left 4 Dead 2 Left 4 Dead 2

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and enjoyment; no indication of obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players explore new islands, experiment with crafting recipes, and try different strategies for combat and navigation."

    Capsule for Salt Salt

    "Exploration of new islands, experimenting with different weapons, crafting recipes, and navigation techniques."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay involves discovering new islands, underwater wrecks, and resources in a procedurally generated world."

    Capsule for Stranded Deep Stranded Deep

    "Core gameplay revolves around discovering new islands, caves, dungeons, and secrets in a large procedurally generated world."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Character customization and ship decoration allow for personal expression."

    Capsule for Little-Known Galaxy Little-Known Galaxy

    "Ship decoration and character customization provide avenues for self-expression."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    3

    "Imaginative pirate setting with whimsical elements like talking monkeys and mythical sea monsters."

    Capsule for Piratopia Piratopia

    "Pirate-themed fantasy setting with mythical elements like skeletons and sea monsters hinted at."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -3

    "Mostly solo play with limited social interaction; community exists but gameplay is individual-focused."

    Capsule for Dyson Sphere Program Dyson Sphere Program

    "Mostly solo play with limited social interaction; community exists but gameplay is individual-focused."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Extensive skill leveling in combat, farming, crafting, and social interactions."

    Capsule for Rune Factory 5 Rune Factory 5

    "Skill leveling in combat, crafting, fishing, and navigation; players report meaningful progression."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Typical sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for ARMORED CORE™ VI FIRES OF RUBICON™ ARMORED CORE™ VI FIRES OF RUBICON™

    "Typical sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires active attention for exploration and combat; not designed for idle or background play."

    Capsule for Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal

    "Requires active attention for exploration, combat, and crafting; not designed for background or idle play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Limited social interaction; no evidence of close relationship building."

    Capsule for Crimson Desert Crimson Desert

    "Limited social interaction and no evidence of close relationship building; mostly solitary experience."

  • Leadership
    Insufficient data

    No nearest game available

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players accumulate items, gear upgrades, and character levels; side quests and story progression provide a sense of advancement."

    Capsule for Quartet Quartet

    "Players accumulate items, upgrades, and better ships; quest and skill progression systems reinforce advancement."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    4

    "Game praised for calming atmosphere, soothing music, and stress-relieving gameplay."

    Capsule for FixFox FixFox

    "Game praised for its calming atmosphere, soothing music, and stress-relieving gameplay."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Enjoyable visual and auditory environment with immersive ocean and island atmospheres."

    Capsule for Stranded Deep Stranded Deep

    "Enjoyable visual and auditory experience with beautiful ocean and island environments."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -3

    "No social status or recognition systems; focus is on individual achievement and gameplay."

    Capsule for My Card Is Better Than Your Card! My Card Is Better Than Your Card!

    "No social status or recognition systems; gameplay is focused on personal achievement."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    3

    "Narrative immersion is a key part of the game with quests and faction stories, though some critique on writing and dialogue style."

    Capsule for ENDLESS™ Legend 2 ENDLESS™ Legend 2

    "Presence of main questline, guild factions, and lore books provide narrative immersion."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Combat and exploration require tactical thinking and planning."

    Capsule for Underspace Underspace

    "Combat and navigation require tactical thinking; players develop strategies for fighting and exploration."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Some tension from survival elements and combat, but overall gameplay is more relaxed than suspenseful."

    Capsule for Kingdoms Reborn Kingdoms Reborn

    "Some suspense in combat and exploration, but overall gameplay is calm and relaxing rather than high tension."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report excellent value for price with frequent updates and engaging gameplay."

    Capsule for Out of Ammo Out of Ammo

    "Players report excellent content and gameplay value for the price, especially given ongoing updates."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    2

    "Combat involves ship battles and destruction but is not excessively violent or graphic."

    Capsule for Windward Horizon Windward Horizon

    "Combat involves fighting pirates, skeletons, and animals but is not excessively violent or graphic."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    1

    "Some survival elements like hunger and resource management, but not very punishing."

    Capsule for Block Story™ Block Story™

    "Basic survival elements like hunger and resource gathering exist but are forgiving and not highly punishing."

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Last update: 01/06/2026