Raft Wars

Raft Wars – Aim Your Shots and Defend Simon’s Treasure

Raft Wars is a turn-based artillery game where Simon and his brother defend a stash of gold and diamonds from pirates, Vikings, and other enemies approaching across the water. Each turn, you aim a projectile from your raft, adjust the shot for distance and arc, and try to damage opponents or knock them into the water before they defeat your crew. Winning battles earns money that can be spent on stronger ammunition and raft upgrades.

The original Raft Wars was released in 2007 and was developed by Martijn Kunst for BubbleBox. A later HTML5 remake lists Martijn Kunst and Tiny Dobbins as its developers while preserving the same aiming, upgrade, and treasure-defense structure.

How Raft Wars Gameplay Works

Each battle takes place between Simon’s raft and one or more enemy positions. Instead of moving freely around the level, both sides take turns firing projectiles. Your main challenge is judging how high and how far the shot should travel before releasing it.

Enemies have health, but reducing a health bar is not always the only way to remove an opponent. A well-placed projectile can knock someone completely off a raft or platform and into the water, ending that threat immediately. The physics also allow projectiles to bounce from parts of the environment in some situations.

After winning a battle, you receive credits. BubbleBox specifically rewards efficient victories, so completing a fight with fewer shots gives you more money to spend on later upgrades.

How to Play Raft Wars

1. Study the enemy position: Check how far the opposing raft or platform is from Simon before taking the first shot.
2. Aim your weapon: Use the mouse to choose the direction and trajectory of the projectile.
3. Fire: Release the shot and watch where it lands.
4. Correct your next attempt: If the projectile falls short or travels too far, make a smaller adjustment on your next turn.
5. Target vulnerable enemies: Direct hits reduce health, while strong knockback can sometimes send an opponent into the water.
6. Survive enemy turns: Opponents fire back, so eliminating dangerous targets quickly reduces the amount of damage your own team receives.
7. Complete the battle efficiently: Using fewer shots increases the amount of money you can earn.
8. Buy upgrades: Spend your rewards on better ammunition or improvements to Simon’s raft.
9. Continue defending the treasure: Later encounters introduce different opponents and positions that require new aiming adjustments.

Raft Wars Controls

Raft Wars uses the mouse for its core aiming and shooting system. The classic version simply describes the control as aiming and firing with the mouse, while the HTML5 remake uses a drag-and-release aiming system.

• Mouse: Aim the active character’s shot.
• Left Mouse Button: Control and fire the projectile.
• Drag and release in the HTML5 version: Pull back to set the shot direction and strength, then release to fire.

Learn the Projectile Arc

The most important skill in Raft Wars is learning from where the previous projectile landed. A shot that drops into the water before reaching the enemy needs more range or a different angle. A projectile that passes over the target needs a smaller adjustment in the opposite direction.

Do not completely change your aim after every miss. Once the shot is close, small corrections are easier to understand than dramatically changing both power and angle at the same time.

Enemies positioned behind parts of their raft or scenery can also require a higher arc. Instead of firing directly at the visible target, send the projectile upward so it drops into the protected position.

Damage vs Knocking Enemies Into the Water

Every enemy can be defeated through damage, but Raft Wars also rewards understanding its knockback physics. The original game allows sufficiently strong impacts to throw characters off their raft or platform.

This creates two possible targets. Hitting the center of an enemy can provide reliable damage, while striking from an angle may create enough force to push that character toward the edge.

When an opponent is already standing close to the water, a shot designed for knockback may finish the fight faster than repeatedly reducing its remaining health.

Weapons and Ammunition

Simon begins with basic projectiles, but later upgrades provide stronger options. Official Raft Wars material confirms that the first game includes purchasable grenades and rockets in addition to the standard shots.

• Standard shots: Your regular option for dealing damage and pushing enemies.
• Grenades: Special ammunition that provides another way to attack difficult enemy positions.
• Rockets: Stronger ammunition that can be purchased with the credits earned from battles.

Special ammunition costs resources, so using it on every easy target can leave you with fewer options later. Basic shots remain useful when you already have a reliable angle.

Raft Upgrades and Additional Defenders

Your raft can also be improved between battles. The original progression begins with Simon and his brother, while later raft upgrades can expand their setup and add additional helpers.

These upgrades matter because enemies become more demanding as the adventure continues. Investing in the raft gives Simon’s side more support rather than relying only on stronger projectiles.

Choosing between ammunition and raft upgrades creates a simple progression decision. Special weapons can help immediately in a difficult battle, while improving the raft provides a broader advantage across future encounters.

Raft Wars Tips

Use the First Shot as a Range Test

When facing a new enemy position, the first projectile gives you valuable information. Watch exactly where it lands, then correct the next shot by a small amount instead of guessing a completely different trajectory.

Aim for the Edge When Knockback Is Possible

If an opponent stands near the side of a boat or platform, try to hit from an angle that pushes the enemy toward the water. A successful knock-off can remove the target without requiring several additional damage shots.

Finish Dangerous Enemies First

Every surviving opponent receives more opportunities to attack your side. When one target is already damaged or in a vulnerable position, finishing it can reduce the number of incoming shots during the remaining turns.

Save Special Ammunition for Awkward Positions

Do not spend grenades or rockets when a basic shot already has a clear path. Keep stronger ammunition available for opponents that are difficult to reach or costly to eliminate with repeated regular shots.

Try to Win With Fewer Shots

BubbleBox rewards efficient battles with more cash. Once you understand an enemy position, accurate shots improve both your immediate result and the upgrades you can afford afterward.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Making huge adjustments after a near miss: A projectile that almost hits usually needs only a small correction.
• Aiming only for health damage: Knockback can sometimes eliminate enemies much faster.
• Ignoring the shape of the battlefield: Higher arcs can reach targets protected by parts of a raft or platform.
• Using expensive ammunition too quickly: Regular shots may be enough once you have learned the correct trajectory.
• Taking unnecessary extra shots: Efficient victories provide more money for upgrades.
• Forgetting progression: Upgrade purchases make later enemy groups easier to handle.

Original Raft Wars and the HTML5 Remake

The classic Raft Wars was a Flash game released in 2007. BubbleBox later rebuilt the game in HTML5 so the original adventure could continue on modern browsers. The remake keeps the treasure-defense concept while adding some extra content compared with the original release.

The classic release credits Martijn Kunst as the developer, while the modern HTML5 page credits Martijn Kunst and Tiny Dobbins. Both versions center on Simon, his brother, projectile battles, earning money, and upgrading between encounters.

Similar Games on YaloGames

If you enjoy aiming projectiles, naval combat, and destroying enemy positions, try these related games available on YaloGames.

• Ship Smasher: Continue with another game centered on attacking and destroying ships.
• Battleship: Use careful targeting to locate and destroy an opponent’s naval fleet.
• Bow Battle: Practice another projectile-based combat system built around judging aim and shot trajectory.
• Rocket Fortress: Use powerful ranged attacks while strengthening your defenses against incoming enemies.
• Ragdoll Launcher: Try another physics-focused launching game where trajectory determines whether your shot reaches its target.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the objective of Raft Wars?

You help Simon and his brother protect their buried treasure by defeating the enemies attacking them from rafts and other positions on the water.

How do you control Raft Wars?

The game is controlled with the mouse. You aim and fire projectiles at enemy positions, with the HTML5 remake using a drag-and-release aiming system.

Can you upgrade your equipment?

Yes. Money earned from battles can be spent on raft upgrades and special ammunition such as grenades and rockets.

Can enemies be knocked into the water?

Yes. Strong or well-angled hits can push characters off their rafts or platforms, allowing you to eliminate them without depleting all of their health.

Who developed Raft Wars?

The original game was developed by Martijn Kunst for BubbleBox. The current HTML5 remake credits Martijn Kunst and Tiny Dobbins.

Protect the Treasure in Raft Wars

Raft Wars turns a simple mouse-controlled shooting system into a game of trajectory, knockback, and efficient resource use. Watch where every projectile lands, make measured corrections, look for opportunities to knock opponents into the water, and save stronger ammunition for situations where basic shots are not enough. The fewer attempts you need to win each fight, the more money you can invest in the raft and weapons needed for the battles ahead.