HighFleet

The game is set in a distant, post-apocalyptic future where humanity has lost all history of its past following an unknown cataclysm wherein the moon Kharu over the (presumably) desert planet of Elaat, which the game takes place on, was shattered and rained down on the planet. This event wiped out most technology and knowledge, including the "minds of the old world's machines", implying pre-cataclysm humanity had some form of Artificial Intelligence. For instance, only one book is known to have survived the Cataclysm, and technology was at least set back to that equivalent of the early cold war era, save few exceptions. Over a following, unknown amount of time, said book, thereafter said to be the "Book of St. Lyn" (Named for Saint Lyn, the person who kept it intact) was divided among the people of the land of Gerat, the fragments becoming known as "Qoda" and used as proof of lineage for those in various states of power across Gerat. Qoda shown in game are actually quotes from the Book of Isiah, implying that is the true name and full content of the Book of St. Lyn. The book is respected as containing a prophecy, however the language it is written in is lost to time.

After an Unknown amount of time, possibly between one-hundred years before, and two-thousand years after the Cataclysm, an empire is formed, the Romani Empire, led by an Emperor from the House of Sayadi. It has a supposedly stable reign for two-hundred years by it's own claim, until the Gathering of Great Houses forms a rebellion and breaks away from the Empire, taking control of the land of Gerat. Seven years pass with an unknown state of war and/or peace until the beginning of the game where they are at conventional war.

The people of Elaat are split between two major races, Romani, and Elaim. Romanis have no notable traits or nationality asides a Eastern-European bias of appearance. Elaim have a tendency to be religious, although this is possibly just the culture of Gerat. Elaim also cannot spend long in the presence of open air without face coverings.

The Geography of Elaat is not known in detail, all that is known is that the land of Gerat is predominantly Elaim, and is to the North of the land, which has no known name, which contains the Romani Empire. The land of Gerat is considerably massive, to the point that it would cover over half of the Earth, and consists completely of Desert terrain similar to that Southern Kazakhstan, or the Middle-East in general. This possibly suggests Elaat has different dimensions than that of Earth.

At the beginning of the Prologue, the protagonist and player character, Duke Mark Sayadi Salemsky, heir to the Romani Empire's throne, is tasked to participate in an expeditionary fleet under Admiral Daud to regain control of the rebellious Kingdom of Gerat for the House of Sayadi, seven years after its fall to the Gathering. Recent news has revealed that the capital of Gerat, Khiva, has a functioning Nuclear Reactor that survived the Cataclysm. Pyotr Ignatovich Shahin, an Infantry General, is also assigned under his command, perhaps by the Emperor himself, to help him on this expedition. Until now, The Gathering and the Romani Empire each had one such reactor, the new third of which constituted a serious advantage in power to those who held it. Rumors also abounded that the Khiva reactor was a stockpile for weapons-grade Plutonium.[2] At the end of the Prologue, the player takes the minor city of Ur, meeting with Prince Fazil, a man who's bloodline once ruled over the land of Gerat until being disposed of by the Gathering. He gives support to the campaign, and at the same time, the Heavy Strategic Cruiser Sevastopol arrives unexpectedly from the capitol, bearing news that the capitol has suffered a Nuclear Strike. The state of the current Emperor is unknown, and the war in the south for the motherland is believed lost. After much deliberation, Pyotr sucessfully argues to continue the campaign successfully with the protagonist now leading the entire fleet, given they are essentially considered the Emperor now. The Strategic Cruiser Diana heads back to the capitol to confirm the situation.

The game continues with a northern push to Khiva, and the protagonist interacts with and (depending on player choices) recruits a variety of Tarkhans, previously disposed leaders of fleets in hiding after the Gathering's takeover. Some include pirates, tribes of hidden people, and even former Empire and Gathering officials. After some time the protagonist is invited to take a Qoda from a heirless old man. However, it is revealed that the player can actually fully read Qodas. The real reasoning is the Sayadi family had preserved the knowledge of the language, however the player is given the option to lie and claim it a miracle. Going further, the player eventually can play this lie up as being a Prophet for benefit, and that the true reason for the expedition to Khiva is actually to secure it as a form of "Ark". It is revealed that the ancient name of Khiva also means 'Ark-City', and that it's blast dome is excessively spacious for that of a nuclear reactor.

As the game goes on, given enough time, the ash of the nuclear war to the south will travel to Gerat, causing nuclear winter and fear in the crews. How the protagonist keeps their crews in high spirits through this and how they care for their crew is ultimately determined by player decision. Additionally, the Cruiser Diana returns soon before reaching Khiva. Admiral Daud brings to attention information from the Diana, revealing Pyotr lied about the state of the capital: The war was actually tenuous, and the Emperor is alive. Depending on player choices, Admiral Daud is shot and killed by Pyotr, and the truth is covered up, or Daud takes all of the Romani forces present in the fleet back to the capitol, leaving the Protagonist only with the Sevastopol and any forces mustered after the end of the Prologue.

When nearing Khiva, the Lord Governor of Khiva issues a request to reconcile differences one-on-one on the plains of Basra, far from any city. Clearly a trap, the protagonist is able to ignore this request, in which case they will fight the Lord Governor in their flagship, the Heavy Cruiser Varyag over Khiva. If they elect to meet him, the Lord Governor reveals that his reasoning for leading the rebellion against the Empire seven years ago was to give freedom to the people of Gerat. He reveals that there will not be any negotiations either, believing the protagonist to be against the will of the people. The protagonist will either kill them (always including a battle with the Varyag), or, if they have adequately taken the "prophet" route, the protagonist may guess that the reason for the meeting was The Governor trying to truly see if the protagonist is a prophet (As no other man would enter such a trap). A short speech ensues which may or may not convince, the Lord Governor, and the Varyag, to join the expeditionary fleet.

Upon taking the capitol, Khiva, the protagonist is eagerly shown the truth of Khiva by the unsuspecting workers, eager to please their new masters: The Plutonium is real, and it is now a mass-manufacturing site for Nuclear Missiles. It is only now that mistakes are realized: The Gathering will not allow the expeditionary fleet to have Khiva by any means necessary, and it is revealed they intend to send the same, cutting-edge nuclear weapons used against the Romani capitol against Khiva to completely destroy it: Ballistic Missiles. The Expeditionary force rallies as many allies as they can from the various groups befriended on their way to the Capitol, as well as any local mercenaries, and engages in a final, nuclear clash with the missile carriers and strike group(s), destroying them without letting any harm befall the Capitol. The story is from that point uncontinued, implying that something akin to a Qoda was inscribed at the Khiva reactor.

The Gameplay can be considered to consist of four main "Layers", and generally has a "Simcade" approach to mechanics (Meaning With Simulator and Arcade elements). Unless noted otherwise, it is describing the Campaign:

Events / Diplomacy. Ship Editing. BVR / Strategic. and, WVR / Tactical.

• In BVR / Strategic Gameplay:, the player is presented with a top down view of the map and moves fleets or individual ships between cities and across Gerat, controls time, detects enemies with sensors and codebreaking / radio interception, engages enemies with Strategic Missiles and Jet Aircraft, and salvages wreckage after Tactical gameplay. Players must also consider fuel while moving around the map, and Morale of crews.
• WVR / Tactical Gameplay: initiates when two fleets directly engage each other, or when aircraft / missiles engage a target. In the former, the player will select ships to directly fight enemy ships with short range missiles, bombs, and mainly gunfire. The AI / Gathering can control up to three ships on screen at a time, any more will be queued to spawn after the destruction of one onscreen, meanwhile the player will only be given one at a time, to make up for the inefficiencies of the AI and the standard ship designs, as well as allow the player to control the ship granularly, having control directly over their movement and aim for instance. In the latter case where a Strategic Asset (Missile / Jet) initiates WVR, the attacking party cannot control any aspect of the combat except ordering aircraft to disengage. The defender can control ships to defend themselves with whatever they have, or to potentially evade the attack itself. If the target is also a Strategic Asset, neither has any control.
• Ship Editing: Allows the player to edit ships in a large variety of ways, fundamental to cosmetic. Outside of the Campaign, players may create ships in the ship editor and test them in Tactical Gameplay. During the campaign they may also buy special ammunition and fuel at cities and manage repairs.
• Events / Diplomacy: The player may meet Tarkhans in cities, as well as go through events important or unimportant to the main plot. The rewards for properly conducting events vary greatly, but Tarkhans allow the player to acquire a large number of ships when interacted. The Tarkhan interactions consist of a set of dialogue options where the player must pick the right choices based off of the Tarkhan's interests, as well as give gifts collected from salvage in Strategic gameplay. What choices the player makes in these speeches as well as events (e.g. talking highly of faith) will affect a "worldview" score, the value of which affects chance of success on some 'checks', as well as give Morale bonuses / Maluses.

It received mixed critical reviews.[3][4] As of April 22nd 2022, it has a 'Very Positive' Steam user review rating, at 88% positive of 3,710 Reviews.[1]