What is Iron Tide?
Iron Tide is a free 3D warship game you play right in your web browser. You command a single ship on an open ocean with islands, lighthouses, weather and a day and night cycle. Enemy ships arrive in waves: destroyers, cruisers, submarines, aircraft carriers that launch planes, torpedo boats and shore batteries. Every gun has real shell travel time, so you lead your shots, pick armor-piercing or high-explosive rounds, and aim for the citadel for big hits.
Sinking ships earns XP and credits. Spend them in the Shipyard on new hulls, upgrades, paint schemes and kill effects. Your captain rises through the ranks as you play, and every ship levels up on its own.
How to play
Choose a ship on the main menu, pick a mode, and press Set sail. Steer with the engine telegraph and rudder, aim with the mouse or right stick, and hold fire to send a salvo. The range markers show how long your shells will take to land. Torpedoes are slow but devastating, and depth charges take care of submarines that slip in close.
When your ship is hurt, pop smoke to hide, repair, or boost away. Sink enough ships in a row and you earn a special weapon. Rack up kills and you can even call in the Kraken.
Game modes
Solo and co-op against the computer
- Survival: endless waves that get tougher each round. How long can you stay afloat?
- Fleet battle: your squadron against theirs, with ships you can take command of.
- Convoy escort: keep the cargo ships alive through repeated attacks.
- Fort assault and Harbor raid: take the fight to coastal guns and defended ports.
- Capture points and a full Campaign.
- Surprise missions pop up mid-battle, like knocking out an island radar station or escorting a ship to safety.
- Boss rush: four bosses back to back, including the Sea Serpent and the Leviathan.
- Daily and Weekly challenges with fixed setups so everyone plays the same battle.
Versus with friends
- 1v1 Duel: first to five sinks, no bots, no aim assist on human players.
- Team Battle: two teams, first to ten sinks.
- Free-for-all, King of the Hill and Capture the Flag.
- Last Ship Afloat: one life each while the safe circle closes in.
- Juggernaut: one captain sails a huge armored ship. Sink it to take its place.
- Convoy Raid: one team escorts three cargo ships to port, the other team has four minutes to sink them.
- Party games: Shooting Gallery, Torpedo Bowling, Buoy Race and a five-round Tournament.
Ships
You start with fast, light hulls and unlock heavier ones as you earn credits and rank.
| Ship | Type | Plays like |
|---|---|---|
| Kestrel | Corvette | Small and quick. Dodges shells and hits with torpedoes. |
| Harrier | Destroyer | The all-rounder. Good guns, torpedoes and speed. |
| Sentinel | Heavy cruiser | Long-range guns and solid armor. |
| Colossus | Battleship | Slow, huge guns, takes a beating. |
| Valkyrie | Aircraft carrier | Launches planes to strike from a distance. |
| Barracuda | Submarine | Dives to hide and attacks with torpedoes. |
| Skimmer | Hovercraft gunboat | Very fast and very fragile. |
| Black Gull | Pirate galleon | Rows of broadside cannons. Fun to sail, hard to master. |
| Wraith | Stealth destroyer | Hard to spot. Gets in close before the enemy sees it. |
| USS Elsie, USS Kayden, USS Junny | Fast, super and hyper battleships | The heavy hitters you work your way up to. |
| Iron Citadel | Fortress ship | A floating fortress with guns everywhere. |
Controls
Keyboard and mouse
| W S | Engine speed |
| A D | Rudder |
| Mouse | Aim. Click or Space to fire (hold) |
| Shift | Gunsight zoom |
| Tab | Lock target, next target |
| F G | Torpedoes, depth charges |
| R | Switch shells, AP or HE |
| Z X C T | Smoke, repair, boost, spotter plane |
| 3 I | Ship special, earned weapon or the Kraken |
| P | Pause and photo mode |
Xbox controller
Left stick steers, right stick aims, right trigger fires, left trigger zooms, right bumper locks on, left bumper fires torpedoes and A drops depth charges. The game detects the controller as soon as you press a button. Up to four controllers can share one screen.
Phone and tablet
Hold the device sideways. Use the stick on the left to steer, drag anywhere on the right half of the screen to aim, and double tap to lock a target. Fire, torpedo, lock and ammo buttons sit on the right, with smoke, repair, boost and specials along the top.
Playing online with friends
Press Online on the main menu and choose Host. You get a short room code. Your friends press Online, enter the code and join your lobby. The host picks the mode and whether bots fill empty seats. Battles connect player to player, and friends who join late can watch as spectators until a seat opens.
Aim assist only ever locks onto computer ships. Against other people, every hit is yours.
Tips for new captains
- Keep moving. A ship that sails in a straight line at one speed is easy to hit.
- Use high-explosive shells on small, lightly armored ships and armor-piercing on cruisers and battleships.
- Turn broadside to bring every gun to bear, then turn away to dodge the return fire.
- Smoke breaks enemy locks. Pop it when you need to repair.
- Watch the radar for submarines and torpedo wakes.
Questions
Is Iron Tide free?
Yes. It is completely free, with no ads, no sign-up and no purchases. It runs in your web browser.
Can I play with friends online?
Yes. Press Online, host a battle and share the room code. Up to four captains can play together, with room for spectators, in co-op or versus modes.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Phones and tablets get touch controls automatically. Hold the device sideways. On iPhone, add the page to your home screen for a full-screen view.
Can I use an Xbox controller?
Yes. Plug in or pair the controller and press any button. Up to four controllers can play split screen on one computer.
Do I need to download anything?
No. It runs in Chrome, Edge, Safari or Firefox. Your progress is saved in your browser on that device.
My game is slow. What can I do?
Set Graphics to Low on the main menu. Phones use the faster setting automatically.
