In Sails to Steam, a game for 2–5 players, each player takes charge of a different empire that it must lead to economic prosperity. Starting with a small fleet comprised of a few meager sailboats and a canoe, players will build boats, settle colonies, and even found new countries in an effort to spread the influence of their mighty empire. As their influence and power expands, players must carefully gauge and react to the global economy created by their fellow players and attempt to leverage their advantages to push out other empires if they plan to become the mightiest empire.