Fresh off its success as the most downloaded demo during Steam Ocean Fest in May, independent developer FloWHOA (led by creator Allen Goode, Mike Schmalz, and Ryan Marr – previously of Digital Extremes), announces Scallywags, an upcoming strategic pirate crew-management roguelike drawing inspiration from beloved classics like FTL: Faster Than Light and Bomber Crew. The game is currently in development and is set for a Q1 2027 release.
In Scallywags, players set sail with a ragtag crew, managing their pirate crew while engaging in ship-to-ship battles and balancing complex resource management. Each run delivers a unique narrative experience described as “a story about barely holding your ship together while your complement of misfits pulls off miracles.”
Scallywags introduces several distinctive gameplay mechanics:
- Unique Bow Spirits – Choose from living spirits that grant powerful abilities, each with their own personality (“they are alive, they are strong, and some ribbit!”)
- Siren Songs – Utilize unique ability combinations to accelerate gameplay and turn battles in your favor.
- Powerful Synergies – Combine effects strategically (such as Blitz with Wave Shield) for explosive results.
- Choices That Matter – Every decision influences outcomes, with multiple paths through encounters.
- Nine Deadly Aces – Face off against nine distinct boss characters, each with their own challenges.
“From the moment you choose your first bounty, Scallywags aims to spark the feelings of discovery, anticipation, and freedom; the same sense of adventure that drives our inspiration, One Piece. Every decision fuels the hunt for the nine Pirate Aces and the journey toward becoming a Pirate Legend,” said Goode.
Echoing Goode’s sentiments, FloWHOA studio co-founder and CEO Mike Schmalz added, “We’ve been incredibly inspired by the emergence of so many talented new studios and original indie IP over the past few years. With Scallywags and FloWHOA, we’re excited to begin a new chapter by creating games centered around fun, adventure, and memorable experiences. We couldn’t be happier with how both the game and studio are coming together.”
Scallywags will launch on PC via Steam. The game supports 10 languages including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain and Latin America), Arabic, Portuguese-Brazil, Russian, and Simplified Chinese – covering interface, full audio, and subtitles for core global markets.
The Scallywags demo is currently available for download on Steam allowing players to experience the chaotic crew management gameplay firsthand.
