The game has a built-in scenario editor to create new missions.
Users can also design their own missions, and share with others. A game element is added to the simulation by means of forty 'missions' which have to be completed as fast or as accurately as possible. The user can steer various ships, amongst others a Rotterdam water taxi, a container ship and even the ill-fated RMS Titanic, in various weather conditions and in three real-life harbours, which are Rotterdam, Hamburg and Phi Phi Islands in Thailand a fourth harbour, New York City was later released as a free download.
The first version of Ship Simulator was released in 2006 and was titled Ship Simulator 2006.
