Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 Switch Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch
Yep, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I ended up in a desert pulling apart ships… It’s a long story, one that started as a viewer recommendation from Nicked Fenix, someone in the What’s It Like? community that shares my tastes in games, and at their recommendation, I added it to my watch list. As fate would have it, Ultimate Games approached me with a review copy to test out, so I jumped at the chance. I’m a big fan of games that you can switch your brain off and just play, and Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 looked to right up my alley. What’s it like? Put on some gloves, grab a helmet, and prepare to violate nearly every workplace health and safety law known to man as we review Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 for Nintendo Switch.
Taking Apart The Gameplay
At its core, Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 is all about the grind, but in the best way. You buy a shipwreck, salvage what you can, complete a few quirky contracts, recycle the rest, and reinvest in better tools so you can do it all again just a little more efficiently. It’s the kind of game that quietly pulls you into its loop without much fuss. The core gameplay loop is simple but satisfying. Once you purchase a derelict ship, you board it and start tearing it down piece by piece. You’ll be smashing panels, torching bulkheads, and bonking (yes, that’s the in-game term for it) bolts in messy, methodical work. Each ship usually has three randomly assigned contracts, like salvaging a certain amount of iron or recovering oddly specific items like clocks, dartboards, and toilets. They add just enough structure to keep things interesting, especially when you’re chasing that final missing item hidden under a pile of rusted debris.
Progression is mostly tied to your tool upgrades. You start with basic gear that can barely scratch the surface, even bolts requiring multiple hits of the hammer, so early hours can feel a little slow, especially if you’re trying to be thorough. In my case, I actually skipped the contracts on my first wreck just to scrape together enough cash for better tools and enjoyed the game a lot more when I could smash my way through things easier because once you’ve got a halfway decent torch and grinder, the game starts to flow, and you really get into a rhythm. There’s not much in the way of narrative or hand-holding, and that works in its favour. Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 is a game for people who enjoy digging into a grind. It’s definitely not going to appeal to everyone, but if you enjoy games like PowerWash Simulator, there’s a strong chance this one will scratch the same itch.
Low Rez, High Rust
Much like the hulking wrecks you dismantle, Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 looks a little rough on the Switch. Textures are extremely low resolution across the board, with characters and items that are enough to serve the gameplay, but it does give the whole game a distinctly cheap look. Performance holds together most of the time, but it absolutely tanks under certain conditions, like using the blowtorch or collapsing large sections of the ship, which sends the framerate into single digits. You’ll be watching chunks of hull stutter to the ground in 3–4 FPS slow motion while the game tries to catch up with its own physics calculations. Sound design is minimal with a few ambient clangs, a looping radio track in your truck, and some serviceable effects when you’re hammering or torching. It does the job, but it doesn’t add much atmosphere. Occasionally, overlapping panels will cause visual flickering or artifacting; still, if you’re already onboard with the kind of game this is, you probably won’t mind the scrappy visuals too much.
Functional but Fiddly
The controls in Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 are perfectly serviceable on Switch. Nothing feels too clunky, and once you’ve got a handle on your tools, the process of dismantling ships flows smoothly enough. It’s not especially polished, but it doesn’t get in the way either. Where things start to wobble is in the user interface. Menus can be a bit awkward, especially when navigating upgrades or shopping for tools. It’s all functional, just not very refined, and sometimes it’s hard to tell if you’ve missed a prompt or are trying to cash in a contract. The game does include a snappy tutorial that walks you through the basics quickly, and for the most part, it does a good job of explaining itself. That said, I did run into one moment where I thought I hadn’t unlocked a feature, only to discover a crucial section hidden behind a hard-to-spot panel that required the blowtorch. These moments are rare, but they can slow down the otherwise steady pace of the game.
It’s Not a Wreck Though…
Here’s the thing… Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 probably doesn’t look as enjoyable as it is at face value. With its low-res textures, awkward physics, and plain presentation, it feels like a game that should wear out its welcome fast. But once it sinks its hooks in, it becomes strangely hard to put down. There’s something genuinely relaxing about slowly dismantling a massive ship, one bolt and beam at a time. I found myself playing for hours at a stretch, fully engrossed in the process. At one point, I even started experimenting by cutting out all the supports in the lower section of a ship just to watch it collapse in a glorious mess of orchestrated chaos. It wasn’t efficient or necessary, but it was certainly chaotic fun. This is the kind of game that pairs perfectly with a movie in the background or a favourite playlist. It’s a podcast or Netflix type of game, something to sink into when you just want to zone out and grind for a bit. If you like the low-key satisfaction of clearing grime in PowerWash Simulator or the cozy repetition of House Flipper, there’s a good chance you’ll find a similar groove here.
Face Value?
For my wreckers looking into accessibility options, there aren’t any additional features, so as always, I recommend further research into seeing if Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 suits your needs. Here’s where scoring the game gets tricky. It’s currently about $26 AUD on the Eshop on sale, which I think is decent value for the 15-20 odd hours I sunk into it, but the full retail price of $45 AUD probably is a stretch. I think your best bet is grabbing it on sale and spending a lazy weekend tearing things down. There’s a somewhat cathartic joy to it, and it’s hard to score because, personally, despite its rusty edges, I had a blast, but critically on paper, it doesn’t hit a lot of marks, and I guess that’s why we say reviews are subjective. For those who like games like Powerwash Simulator and find them a relaxing moment of Zen, Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 will most likely satisfy, even if there’s a bit of rust and mess you have to put up with first.
So, What’s It Like? Ship Graveyard Simulator 2 is like Powerwash Simulator, crossed with Car Mechanic Simulator.
I award it a 60/100.
In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by the publisher, but this doesn’t influence my score.
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