Sea of Thieves (2026 Edition) 🏴‍☠️ – Game Review

Quippy Title: Finally, a Pirate Game Where You Can Actually Be a Pirate!

Let’s start by showing y’all the trailers shall we?

Non-Spoiler Plot Overview

Ahoy, everybody! Today we’re reviewing Sea of Thieves, a pirate adventure game developed by Rare and published by Xbox Game Studios, originally released in 2018.

And before we begin, I want to make something abundantly clear.

I LOVE PIRATES!

I love Pirates of the Caribbean. I love One Piece. I love the ships, the treasure, the swords, the mythology, the supernatural nonsense, and the entire concept of sailing across the ocean looking for adventure.

So naturally, a video game where I can become a pirate, command my own ship, search for treasure, fight skeletons, explore islands, and occasionally get absolutely demolished by a giant sea monster sounds like something specifically designed to take up hundreds of hours of my life.

And you know what?

Sea of Thieves understands the assignment.

Especially compared to a certain Ubisoft game that took roughly a decade to develop and somehow forgot that pirates have legs.

Yes, Skull and Bones, I’m looking at you.

But Sea of Thieves isn’t a perfect game. Far from it. Because underneath all the pirate fantasy is a game that can occasionally be frustrating, repetitive, and downright infuriating.

Still, when everything comes together, there really isn’t much else quite like it.

And since we’re looking at the 2026 edition, we’re judging the much-expanded game rather than pretending we’re still playing its rather bare-bones 2018 launch version.

Character Rundown

Here’s where Sea of Thieves does something rather interesting.

You aren’t playing as a predetermined protagonist with an elaborate backstory. You’re playing as your own pirate.

You choose your appearance, customize your clothes, collect weapons, purchase cosmetics, decorate your ship, and essentially create your own identity.

And I like that!

Not every pirate game needs to give me a tragic protagonist whose family was murdered by an evil admiral before he decided to become a pirate.

Sometimes I just want to put on a ridiculous hat, grab a sword, and steal somebody’s treasure.

Is that really too much to ask?

The game does have its share of memorable characters, however.

There’s the Pirate Lord, who acts as a central figure in the Sea of Thieves mythology. There’s Captain Flameheart, whose presence brings some genuinely entertaining supernatural pirate villainy. And there are various merchants, factions, and story characters scattered throughout the world.

The Tall Tales also introduce more substantial narratives and personalities, particularly in the Pirates of the Caribbean crossover, A Pirate’s Life.

And yes, the fact that this game actually lets you go on an adventure involving Captain Jack Sparrow is a pretty big selling point for me.

But ultimately, the most important characters are you and your crew.

Because depending on who you’re playing with, your crew can either resemble a highly coordinated band of experienced sailors or four complete idiots who somehow managed to set their own ship on fire.

And honestly?

Both are entertaining.

Gameplay and Exploration

This is where Sea of Thieves really shines.

You actually get to do pirate things!

I KNOW! WHAT A REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPT!

You can sail your own ship, adjust the sails, steer the wheel, raise and lower the anchor, fire cannons, repair damage, bail water, and navigate using maps.

And the beautiful thing is that all these mechanics work together.

If your ship takes damage, you need to repair it.

If water starts flooding the lower decks, somebody needs to grab a bucket.

If an enemy ship approaches, somebody needs to man the cannons.

And if you’re sailing with friends, communication becomes essential.

The ship doesn’t magically operate itself while you sit there pressing one button.

You’re actually responsible for keeping the damn thing afloat.

And I LOVE that.

There’s something genuinely satisfying about successfully navigating a storm, surviving a naval battle, and finally reaching an island with your ship still intact.

The exploration is also excellent.

You can visit islands, follow treasure maps, solve riddles, explore caves, uncover hidden locations, and search for valuable loot.

And unlike Skull and Bones, when I see an island, I can actually get off my ship and explore it!

WHAT A CONCEPT!

You can also encounter skeleton crews, hostile sea creatures, skeleton ships, Megalodons, and the Kraken.

The Kraken is particularly memorable because of how dramatically it changes the atmosphere.

One moment you’re peacefully sailing across the ocean.

The next moment the water turns black, enormous tentacles emerge, and suddenly everybody aboard your ship is having a VERY BAD DAY.

It’s wonderful.

The game also has fishing, cooking, trading companies, world events, ship customization, and a substantial amount of additional content accumulated over the years.

There’s plenty to do.

But here’s where I have to start criticizing the game.

Pacing and Gameplay Flow

Sea of Thieves has one significant problem.

Sometimes it takes FOREVER to accomplish anything.

And I don’t mean that in the sense that the game is difficult.

I mean you can spend an absurd amount of time sailing between islands, collecting supplies, completing objectives, and transporting treasure.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I understand that sailing is a fundamental part of the pirate fantasy.

I don’t want the game to eliminate sailing.

But there’s a difference between making a journey feel adventurous and making me stare at the horizon for fifteen minutes while absolutely nothing happens.

The game can struggle with that distinction.

And the repetitive nature of certain voyages doesn’t help.

Dig up treasure. Return to ship. Sail somewhere else. Fight skeletons. Collect loot. Repeat.

Eventually, you begin recognizing the gameplay loop.

Thankfully, the Tall Tales and larger world events provide some much-needed variety.

But I still think the game could benefit from more meaningful activities and surprises between destinations.

And then there’s the other major issue.

Other players.

Oh boy.

PvP and Other Players

Sea of Thieves is designed around the possibility that another crew might attack you.

And thematically, that makes perfect sense.

It’s a pirate game!

Pirates steal things!

I understand that.

But there’s something uniquely irritating about spending an hour completing a voyage, collecting treasure, surviving enemy encounters, and finally heading toward an outpost…

Only for another player to arrive and sink your ship.

And suddenly?

ALL THAT WORK!

GONE!

Now, some people will argue that this is what makes Sea of Thieves exciting.

And they’re not entirely wrong.

The possibility of losing your treasure creates tension. It makes every encounter with another ship unpredictable.

But let’s not pretend that every PvP encounter is some magnificent cinematic pirate battle.

Sometimes it’s just an experienced crew absolutely destroying somebody who was trying to enjoy a casual treasure hunt.

And that’s not particularly fun.

The addition of Safer Seas, which offers a more restricted private experience, was a welcome improvement.

However, the limitations on progression and rewards mean it isn’t a complete replacement for the shared-world experience.

I understand why Rare wants to preserve the game’s central identity.

But I also understand why some players just want to explore the world without constantly worrying about being attacked.

Both perspectives are reasonable.

Pros

The biggest strength of Sea of Thieves is its atmosphere.

The ocean looks gorgeous. The lighting is beautiful. The islands are colorful. The water physics are impressive. And the stylized art direction has aged remarkably well.

Rather than chasing photorealism, Rare created a world with a distinctive visual identity.

And that was a smart decision.

The ship mechanics are another highlight.

There’s something special about physically operating a pirate ship, especially with friends.

Naval combat can be chaotic, stressful, hilarious, and incredibly rewarding.

The supernatural elements also add tremendous personality.

Skeleton pirates, cursed treasure, ghost ships, sea monsters, and mysterious islands make the world feel like an actual pirate adventure rather than a generic naval combat simulator.

And the Pirates of the Caribbean crossover?

Come on.

Of course I love the idea of sharing an adventure with Jack Sparrow.

That’s practically pirate fan service at its finest.

Another major positive is how much the game has grown since 2018.

The original release was criticized for lacking meaningful content, and I think those complaints were justified.

But Rare continued expanding the game with new stories, activities, mechanics, and events.

That deserves recognition.

Cons

Unfortunately, the game still has some frustrating design decisions.

The biggest is repetition.

Despite all the additional content, the core gameplay loop can become repetitive over time.

Sailing between destinations can occasionally feel like padding, particularly when you’re playing alone.

And speaking of playing alone, solo players are at a considerable disadvantage in many encounters.

Yes, you can operate a smaller ship by yourself.

But having to steer, repair, fire cannons, manage sails, and defend against enemies simultaneously can become overwhelming.

The PvP system is also a double-edged sword.

When it works, it’s fantastic.

When it doesn’t, it’s one of the most aggravating things I’ve experienced in a pirate game.

There’s also the progression system.

Sea of Thieves largely emphasizes cosmetics rather than traditional power upgrades.

And while I appreciate that this prevents veteran players from having overwhelmingly superior equipment, it can also make progression feel less rewarding.

Sometimes I want more than a new jacket or a fancy cannon.

I want to feel like my pirate has meaningfully developed.

Final Thoughts

Sea of Thieves is one of the best examples of a game understanding its central fantasy.

You want to be a pirate?

Fine!

Here’s a ship.

Here’s a sword.

Here’s a treasure map.

Now go cause some trouble.

And I appreciate that simplicity.

The game doesn’t need a ridiculously complicated crafting system or a massive cinematic storyline to justify its existence.

Its greatest moments come from the adventures you create yourself.

Surviving a Kraken attack. Discovering treasure. Fighting another ship. Getting lost in a storm. Watching your idiot friend accidentally blow up your own vessel.

Those are the experiences that make Sea of Thieves special.

But I refuse to ignore its shortcomings simply because I love pirates.

The repetition, occasionally slow pacing, solo-player frustrations, and potentially punishing PvP keep it from reaching masterpiece status.

Still, when the game is firing on all cylinders, it’s a fantastic pirate adventure.

And after playing something like Skull and Bones, I appreciate it even more.

Because apparently allowing a pirate to actually walk around, board ships, and explore islands is now considered an impressive technological achievement.

THANK YOU, UBISOFT!

Rating: 8.5/10

A fantastic pirate sandbox with excellent atmosphere, memorable naval combat, entertaining supernatural adventures, and a genuinely enjoyable sense of freedom. Repetition, uneven pacing, and frustrating PvP prevent it from being perfect, but it’s still one of the most enjoyable pirate experiences available.

⚠️ SPOILER WARNING ⚠️

The following section discusses story content and major encounters from Sea of Thieves, including its Tall Tales.

Spoilers

One of the most entertaining aspects of Sea of Thieves is how its storylines embrace supernatural pirate mythology.

The Shores of Gold storyline builds toward an adventure involving the legendary treasure and the Gold Hoarder, turning what initially feels like a straightforward treasure hunt into something much more elaborate.

And that’s exactly the kind of storytelling I want from a pirate game.

Give me ancient curses, mysterious islands, dangerous villains, and treasure that comes with consequences.

The Pirates of the Caribbean crossover also deserves attention because it understands the appeal of that franchise.

Rather than simply throwing Jack Sparrow into the game as a cosmetic character, A Pirate’s Life incorporates him into an actual adventure involving Davy Jones, the Sea of the Damned, and supernatural threats.

That’s how you handle a crossover.

You make it feel like an adventure rather than a glorified advertisement.

And the game’s ongoing conflict involving Flameheart gives the world an additional layer of mythology beyond simply digging up treasure and selling it.

My main complaint is that these more substantial story experiences sometimes highlight how repetitive the ordinary voyages can feel.

When the game is giving me a memorable supernatural adventure, I’m completely invested.

When I’m sailing across the map for the fifth time to deliver another collection of treasure chests, I’m considerably less enthusiastic.

Ultimately, Sea of Thieves succeeds because it understands that being a pirate should be exciting, unpredictable, occasionally terrifying, and frequently ridiculous.

And that’s exactly what it delivers.