The Ship has thrown some tried and true gameplay styles -- among them murder/mystery, first person shooter and The Sims style character needs -- into the genre melting pot. Interestingly though, the result is a unique game, not something bland and derivative.

It’s set on one of several Titanic-esque cruise liners, where in exchange for your free ticket you have to kill a pre-selected player. Interestingly, you are somebody else’s target too. The resulting gameplay is tense, but thanks to the massive arsenal of inspired weaponry (umbrellas, barbeque tongs, candlesticks and more are all fair game) and a system of rules that prevent you from going postal, the game becomes quite involving.

Like the Battlefield series, the single player component feels like padding. Playing online however opens up worlds of macabre fun. Although the learning curve is a little steep, the strange combination of player needs, weapons and the game’s quirky premise becomes very entertaining. Take out your opponent and you’ll be rewarded with cash, which you’ll need to bank to win the round and use for food.

Ultimately, The Ship takes a step back from other frantically paced first person shooters, slowing the gameplay down to let you stew over the other players who are hunting you, manage your character’s needs such as food and sleep and enjoy the scenery and experience. It’s distributed through Steam, Valve’s online distribution system, and is thirty bucks.