Comparison

Ship Handling Simulator vs Binnacle Arcade

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Ship Handling Simulator

Experience realistic ship handling, maneuvering, and mooring with tugboats. Pilot a vast array of vessels, from historical steamships to modern carriers, through challenging scenarios. Navigate narrow passages, avoid hazards, and master complex docking procedures.

Highlights
  • Realistic ship handling and maneuvering
  • Mooring with tugboat assistance
  • 30 detailed ship models
  • Hazard navigation and AI vessel interaction
  • Dynamic weather and environmental conditions
  • Sandbox mode for custom levels
Read full description

Original simulator of ship-handling, maneuvering and mooring to a pier with tugboats. 30 high-detailed ships, included passenger ships, cruise liners, cargo ships, battleships and aircraft carriers, from historical steam ships of 19th century till modern nuclear. Realistic control of single and multi-screw vessels (including famous Titanic, Britannic 1874 and 1914, Carpathia, Mauretania, Aquitania, Californian) and azimuth propulsion. Maneuvering with thrusters. Mooring the vessel to the berth using two tugboats with separate control. Departure from the berth and arrive into target area. Narrow-swimming, bypass of hazards, minefields, passing with other AI vessels. Sea marks of hazards and channels according to international rules. Day and night modes, different environment and weather conditions, calm or storm water with ocean waves and icebergs. Sandbox mode. You can create and pass your own levels. Damage and sinking of ships at collisions, splitting in half while sinking.

About

Binnacle Arcade

Features
Read full description

38 free maritime mini-games — no account, no ads, no time limits. From COLREGS Rules of the Road to celestial navigation, cargo stowage, harbor pilotage, and USCG exam prep, every game covers a real skill that mariners use on the water. GAMES INCLUDE: • COLREGS Quiz — give way or stand on before vessels meet • Harbor Pilot — dock a deep-draft vessel against current and wind • Chart a Course — DR navigation with set and drift • Celestial Fix — work a noon sight with HO-229 • Watch Bill — schedule crew across watches and rest requirements • EPIRB Test — know your distress equipment cold • Port Tycoon — manage berths, cargo, and port operations • Stow It — plan a stable cargo manifest • Docking Master — parallel-park a vessel without touching the pier • Sound Signals — identify and respond to fog and manoeuvring signals • Damage Control — contain flooding and restore stability • Anchor Watch — hold position on a dragging hook • VHF Squelch — clear comms in a busy harbor • Heavy Weather — make smart routing decisions in a gale • + 24 more BUILT FOR: • Mariners studying for USCG deck officer exams (OUPV through Master) • Maritime academy cadets • Anyone who works, lives, or recreates on the water All 38 games are free forever — no subscription, no paywall, no catch. Built by Binnacle AI — maritime crew compliance software for commercial operators.

Screenshots

Ship Handling Simulator4 screens
Binnacle Arcade4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Binnacle Arcade at Free against Ship Handling Simulator's $10.99. On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Binnacle Arcade is free to download; Ship Handling Simulator costs $10.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Ship Handling Simulator versus Binnacle Arcade: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShip Handling SimulatorBinnacle Arcade
Price$10.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (338 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews82.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings338 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size633 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAleksandr TurkinJohn Thomas

Bugs and requests

Ship Handling Simulator

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Icebergs not spawning in sandbox mode
  • Telegraphs not loading on some ships
  • Game crashing when sinking large ships
  • Issues with ship speed controls

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add more ships (Lusitania, Queen Mary, Poseidon, etc.)
  • Improve sinking animations (funnel collapse, split in half, etc.)
  • Implement working lifeboats and passengers
  • Add underwater view and ocean floor
  • Introduce more gameplay modes (tug control, port management, etc.)
Show 1 more
  • Improve graphics and water physics

Binnacle Arcade

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Ship Handling Simulator

No in-app purchases

None

Binnacle Arcade

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ship Handling Simulator free?
Ship Handling Simulator costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Binnacle Arcade free?
Binnacle Arcade is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Ship Handling Simulator or Binnacle Arcade have ads?
Neither Ship Handling Simulator nor Binnacle Arcade shows ads.

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