About the Arena
Mare Nostrum • Punic Wars Defense
Stop the Boats is a free, browser-based strategy game set during the First and Second Punic Wars — the titanic struggle between Rome and Carthage for dominance of the Mediterranean world.
You command Rome's coastal defences. Eleven sea lanes connect five enemy harbours to Roman and allied cities. Each lane is a battle in itself — three escalating Levels of Carthaginian assault that must be repelled before the next port awakens. Clear them all and the final crossing to Britannia opens.
No download. No account. No cost. Just strategy, history, and the fate of the empire in your hands.
How to Play
Choose Your Theatre of War
From the campaign map, select one of the eleven sea lanes radiating from five enemy ports — Carthage, Icosium, Tingis, Cyrene, and Gesoriacum. Each lane leads to a Roman or allied city under threat.
Pick a Level
Every lane has three Levels of rising difficulty. Level I is an opening skirmish; Level III is a full Punic assault. Clear Level I to unlock II, and II to unlock III. Master all three on every lane to open the final crossing to Britannia.
Deploy Your Defences
Spend gold on towers from the shop panel. Each tower type has a different damage class — pierce, siege, fire, or true damage — and different range and fire-rate. Place them wisely along the shore before the first wave lands.
Survive the Waves
Enemy ships arrive in waves of increasing size and speed. Click a placed tower to upgrade it or sell it back for half cost. If too many ships reach the far shore, the city falls and the level is lost.
Claim the Sea
Clear every lane from a port to neutralise it and unlock the next tier of ports. Secure all eleven lanes to complete the campaign and defend the empire.
Questions
Is the game free?
Yes — completely free to play in your browser, no download or account required.
Does my progress save?
Progress is saved automatically in your browser's local storage. Clearing your browser data will reset it.
Will there be more games?
Mare Nostrum is the first title in the arena. More historically-themed browser games are planned — support the cause to help fund development.
Can I play on mobile?
The game is playable on modern mobile browsers, though a larger screen gives the best experience of the campaign map.