Dangerous Waters on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information

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S.C.S. - Dangerous Waters allows you total control over multiple air, surface, and submarine platforms in a modern-day naval environment. Take direct control of individual crew stations and also plan and execute combined arms naval strategies from a top-down 'Commanders Eye' perspective.

Dangerous Waters is a strategy, naval combat and simulation game developed by Sonalysts and published by Strategy First.
Released on February 07th 2006 is available in English only on Windows.

It has received 374 reviews of which 293 were positive and 81 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.4 out of 10. 😊

The game is currently priced at 14.99€ on Steam, but you can find it for 0.44€ on Gamivo.


The Steam community has classified Dangerous Waters into these genres:

Media & Screenshots

Get an in-depth look at Dangerous Waters through various videos and screenshots.

System requirements

These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.

Windows
Minimum: Windows XP, 550Mhz CPU, 128 MB RAM, D3D Video Card with 32MB RAM (DirectX 9.0b drivers), DX9 Sound Card, 590MB hard drive space, Internet or LAN connection for multiplayer
Recommended: 1GHz+ CPU, 256 MB RAM, D3D Video Card with 64MB RAM (with DirectX 9.0b compatible drivers), 1GB hard-drive space

User reviews & Ratings

Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.

Jan. 2026
Dangerous Waters is a demanding and uncompromising military simulation that remains one of the most detailed portrayals of modern naval combat ever released on PC. Developed by Sonalysts and published by Strategy First, the game was never designed to appeal to a broad audience. Instead, it targets players who crave realism, procedural depth, and a genuine understanding of how modern naval warfare actually functions. From the moment you step into your first mission, it is clear that Dangerous Waters prioritizes authenticity over accessibility, asking players to think like real-world naval officers rather than arcade pilots or action heroes. The gameplay revolves around commanding a wide range of naval platforms drawn from contemporary military arsenals, including nuclear-powered submarines, diesel-electric submarines, surface combatants, maritime patrol aircraft, and helicopters. Each platform can be controlled at multiple stations, allowing players to jump between sonar, navigation, fire control, radar, and command roles as needed. Rather than simplifying these systems, the game models them with remarkable fidelity, forcing players to interpret sonar contacts, manage sensor noise, plot intercept courses, and carefully plan weapon deployments. Combat is rarely immediate or flashy; instead, it unfolds slowly, often over long stretches of tense silence punctuated by moments of sudden, decisive action. Submarine warfare is where Dangerous Waters truly distinguishes itself. The game places enormous emphasis on acoustic stealth, positioning, and patience, making undersea combat feel like a high-stakes chess match played in near darkness. Players must constantly balance speed against noise, depth against detection risk, and aggression against survivability. Identifying a contact is rarely straightforward, as sonar returns can be ambiguous or misleading, demanding careful analysis and cross-referencing. This creates a level of psychological tension that few games manage to replicate, where victory often comes from outthinking the enemy rather than overpowering them. Surface and air warfare add further layers of complexity. Managing a surface ship requires attention to radar coverage, missile defense, and coordination with allied units, while aircraft operations introduce entirely different tactical considerations such as search patterns, fuel management, and sensor range. The game encourages players to think holistically, combining assets rather than relying on a single platform. Success often depends on information superiority — knowing where the enemy is before they know where you are — reinforcing the game’s core theme that modern naval combat is as much about data and detection as it is about firepower. The structure of Dangerous Waters supports long-term engagement through campaigns, standalone missions, and a powerful mission editor. Campaigns place players within broader geopolitical conflicts, lending narrative context and strategic continuity to individual encounters. The mission editor, meanwhile, has played a major role in the game’s longevity, enabling a dedicated community to create and share custom scenarios that expand the experience far beyond the original content. This community-driven ecosystem has helped keep the game relevant years after its release, especially among hardcore simulation enthusiasts. Presentation is utilitarian and reflects the game’s age, but it serves its purpose effectively. Visuals focus on clarity rather than spectacle, with much of the action conveyed through tactical displays, sonar waterfalls, and radar screens rather than cinematic views. While the 3D graphics and interface feel dated by modern standards, they remain functional and readable. Sound design plays a critical role, particularly in submarine operations, where subtle audio cues can mean the difference between remaining hidden and being detected. The inclusion of voice command support further reinforces the simulation mindset, allowing players to interact with systems in a way that feels surprisingly immersive. The most significant barrier to entry is the game’s learning curve. Dangerous Waters demands time, study, and patience, often requiring players to consult manuals or community resources to fully understand its systems. Tutorials are limited, and the game assumes a level of prior knowledge that can be intimidating for newcomers. However, for those willing to invest the effort, this complexity becomes one of its greatest strengths, offering a sense of mastery that few modern games attempt to deliver. Ultimately, Dangerous Waters stands as a benchmark for realism-driven naval simulations. It is not flashy, forgiving, or easy to approach, but it offers an unparalleled depth of tactical and procedural gameplay that continues to reward serious players. While casual gamers may find it overwhelming or outdated, those with an interest in military simulation, naval strategy, or submarine warfare will discover an experience that remains intellectually engaging and deeply satisfying even years after its original release. Rating: 7/10
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Nov. 2025
One heck of a learning curve if you want to man all stations yourself, but incredibly rewarding also. Update - I still don't know what I'm doing but I'm having a blast. The campaign is a bit peculiar and unexpectedly tough after the first easy missions are done. Definitely recommend! Update a 50+ - Multiplayer is where this game shines. Use a vpn like zerotier and it's an easy connection and setup. The multi-station mode is a blast!
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Oct. 2025
I’ll just say that I cannot get this to run from steam on windows 10 without downloading some file from some guy,maybe. But I can get it to run out of the box using a different service, which is Good. Because I am Old, and I like Games.
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July 2025
You might have a hard time getting to run this now, but I remember the times I played this on CD way back in the 2006 era. Man.. I'm old now. Anyway, it is a good game for some naval combat.
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March 2025
I like that game. Graphics are not the best and I acutally had trouble running it on Windows 11. But it works now on Linux via Proton! Its very technical with all the station and all that but its fun. I think its one of the best naval sims out there.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Dangerous Waters is currently priced at 14.99€ on Steam.

Dangerous Waters is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 14.99€ on Steam.

Dangerous Waters received 293 positive votes out of a total of 374 achieving a rating of 7.36.
😊

Dangerous Waters was developed by Sonalysts and published by Strategy First.

Dangerous Waters is playable and fully supported on Windows.

Dangerous Waters is not playable on MacOS.

Dangerous Waters is not playable on Linux.

Dangerous Waters offers both single-player and multi-player modes.

Dangerous Waters offers both Co-op and PvP modes.

Dangerous Waters does not currently offer any DLC.

Dangerous Waters does not support mods via Steam Workshop.

Dangerous Waters does not support Steam Remote Play.

Dangerous Waters is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.

You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Dangerous Waters.

Data sources

The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.

Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.

Last Updates
Steam data 14 March 2026 11:18
SteamSpy data 10 March 2026 20:23
Steam price 15 March 2026 04:45
Steam reviews 14 March 2026 07:59

If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Dangerous Waters, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.

  • SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Dangerous Waters
  • SteamCharts - Analysis of Dangerous Waters concurrent players on Steam
  • ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Dangerous Waters compatibility
Dangerous Waters
Rating
7.4
293
81
Game modes
Features
Online players
3
Developer
Sonalysts
Publisher
Strategy First
Release 07 Feb 2006
Platforms
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