Classic Games Database
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Uncharted Waters

Review
Also known as
Daikōkai Jidai Super Daikōkai Jidai スーパー 大航海時代 大航海時代

Trade goods between ports, explore the seas, and restore your family's name.

Uncharted Waters (Daikōkai Jidai) was originally released in 1990 for the PC-9801 and other Japanese computers. The Super Nintendo (SNES) version, titled Super Daikōkai Jidai in Japan, was released in 1992 in Japan; the North American SNES release as Uncharted Waters followed in 1993. The earliest SNES release is 1992.


							Uncharted Waters cover
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About Uncharted Waters

Uncharted Waters is a simulation focused on maritime trade and exploration. Players begin by acquiring a ship and engaging in commerce between ports to generate income. The open-ended structure allows for extensive travel across the seas, where one can encounter various nations, pirates, and natural hazards like storms.

The narrative centers on Leon Franco, a Portuguese noble seeking to restore his family's honor. His personal objective is to gain enough renown to marry Christiana, a goal that drives the long-term progression. Ports serve as hubs for trading goods, resupplying crews, repairing ships, and gathering information in taverns.

Gameplay unfolds from an overhead perspective, with navigation involving wind, currents, and potential encounters. Beyond trading, players can accept specific missions from figures like merchants or royalty. The pace is largely self-directed, with the core challenge lying in managing finances, reputation, and exploration to achieve the protagonist's ultimate ambition.

Uncharted Waters Screenshots

12 images
Title Screen
Trading Artworks between Pisa and Naples
I can sell the wool for a good price later...
Japan is a good place to buy silver
You don't stand a chance! Arrrrrr
Turn-based sea battles
I won! Yay!
It's a map... with a cross on it! Let's go treasure hunting
I wish I'd asked for the exact coordinates...
Selling my old ship at the shipyard...
...and buying a new one
Yea, I'm a peaceful merchant