Building a ship
Everything starts with the hull. It decides how many hull points the ship has (how much damage she takes before she sinks), how much energy she has to spend on equipment, and how many mounts there are to fit things to. You start in a wooden dinghy with 6 energy; the largest hulls have more than 30.
The six kinds of part
- Turrets
- Your guns. They fire on their own whenever the enemy is in range, and do most of the damage.
- Bow weapons
- A ram, drill or saw on the nose. It only hurts when the ships collide, and hits harder the faster you close.
- Defenses
- Armour takes a slice off every hit. A shield soaks damage before the hull does and recharges. Pumps put out fires.
- Engines
- Speed gets your guns into range sooner and makes a ram bite.
- Gadgets
- Repairs, smoke that spoils the enemy's aim, faster reloads, extra coins, lucky critical hits.
- Captains
- One crew member with one strong perk for the whole ship.
Energy is the budget
Every part costs energy, and the total can never exceed what the hull gives. Stronger and rarer parts cost more, so building is choosing: one big gun or two small ones, armour or a faster engine. Best fit fills every mount with the strongest loadout you own in one tap. The power number sums up the whole ship, and you see the enemy's before every fight.
Rarity and levels
Parts come in five rarities: common, uncommon, rare, epic and legendary. Any part can be raised to level 20 by fusing spare parts into it for a few coins. There are 200 parts and 12 hulls to find.
Your flag
Every ship flies a flag you design yourself: a pattern, an emblem and three colours. Opponents see it. It changes nothing in a fight.
How battles work
Battles are one against one and fought automatically. You do not steer or aim; the outcome comes from how the two ships were built.
- They close in. Both ships sail toward each other. The faster one arrives first.
- Guns open up. Each turret fires as soon as the enemy is inside its range, then again every time it has reloaded.
- They collide. Bow weapons strike, then the ships trade fire at point-blank.
- One goes under. The first ship to run out of hull points sinks, and the other wins.
What decides a fight
- Shields go first. A shield takes damage before the hull and recharges if left alone for a moment.
- Armour shaves every hit, so it is best against many small shots.
- Fire keeps burning. A ship set alight loses hull points every second; burning ignores shields and armour.
- A little luck. Some gadgets and captains give a chance to dodge a shot or land a critical hit for double damage.
Arenas and Kraken's Wrath
There are eight arenas, each with its own trouble: a sloshing bathtub, lightning in a storm, icebergs in the way, lava bombs, a tsunami, a whirlpool with something living in it, and low gravity on the moon. No fight lasts for ever: after 40 seconds, Kraken's Wrath begins and both ships lose hull points faster and faster until one sinks.
Leagues, trophies and crates
Winning earns trophies and losing costs a few. Trophies set your league, from Puddle up to Abyss, and your place on the leaderboard. Each new league comes with a bigger hull, fitted for you with the best parts you own, and new arenas open as you climb.
Every win drops a crate into one of four slots. Start its timer (two minutes for the smallest) and open it for parts and coins. Three, six and ten wins in a row earn better chests. Coins pay for fusing and the daily deals; gems open a crate without waiting.
If you keep losing
- Salvage grows. Each loss in a row pays more coins than the last, up to four times as much.
- A crate washes ashore on every third loss in a row.
- Sparring. After two losses in a row you can spar a ship built weaker than yours. No trophies are at stake, and a win pays coins and a crate.
- Long shots are free. Losing to a ship far stronger than yours costs no trophies. The leaderboard shows each ship's power against yours, so you can see who is in reach.
The billboard: promoting your app
Sign in with X and add your app: a name, a pitch of up to 60 characters and an https link. It is shown on the leaderboard at whatever rank your ship holds, and on your ship before every fight. Beat a ship ranked above you and you trade places with it. There are no bids and no paid placements: a place changes hands only when one ship sinks another.
Questions and answers
Is Sinkers free?
Yes. Sinkers is free to play in a web browser, with nothing to download and no account needed to start. Optional gem packs open chests sooner; every part can also be earned by playing.
Do I control the ship during a battle?
No. Sinkers is an auto battler: once you press Battle, both ships sail and fire on their own. What you control is the build, which decides the fight.
How long does a battle take?
Under a minute. If neither ship has sunk after 40 seconds, Kraken's Wrath begins: the waves grow and both ships lose hull points faster and faster until one goes down.
How do I get a bigger ship?
Reach a new league. Each league comes with its hull, fitted for you with the best parts you own. There are twelve hulls, from a wooden dinghy to a ghost ship.
What happens if I keep losing?
A losing run pays more each time: salvage coins grow with every loss in a row, every third loss washes a crate ashore, and after two losses you can spar a weaker ship for coins and a crate with no trophies at stake. Losing to a ship far stronger than yours costs no trophies at all.
How do I promote my app on Sinkers?
Sign in with X, then add your app's name, a one-line pitch and an https link in your profile. Your app is shown on the leaderboard at your ship's rank and on your ship before every fight.
Can I play Sinkers on a phone?
Yes. It runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, and can be added to the home screen.