There’s always been something thrilling and unique about the thought of being a pirate. But what is that thrill? What does being a pirate mean?
Well, of course you get the thrill of sailing the vast ocean and uncovering the secrets of the seas while drinking unhealthy amounts of Rum. You get to shoot cannon balls and clash swords with rival pirates. If you’re lucky, maybe you get a parrot that can somehow speak English.
But that’s not what being a pirate means. That’s what a pirate does. To figure out what being a pirate means, and why that idea is so desirable, you have to dive deeper. You have to figure out what it represents.
I think that pirates represent a sort of freedom. They’re outcasts from the law. They do whatever they want, whenever they want. They’re not dependent on anyone for anything. They’re free. Free to conquer the ocean until their dying breath.
Now of course, it wouldn’t be a great idea to attempt to be a pirate in real life. That type of vigilantism is past its time, and wouldn’t likely go your way. But luckily, there are ways to take a step back from your daily routine, and experience life through the eyes of a pirate, through some insane video games.
So without further ado, I present to you the best pirate games available to those of you who seek the thrills of conquest and freedom:
20. Sea of Conquest: Pirate War
iOS, Android, PC
Sea of Conquest is a free to play RPG pirate game with endless adventures for single player or multiplayer. With your ship and your crew, you sail the vast ocean looking for enemy ships to take down, places to loot, and challenging battles that test your skill and your wit.
Your goal is simple. Become the most powerful pirate to ever sail the Seven Seas. You do this by growing your wealth, reinforcing your ship, and taking down anyone that dares stand in your way.
The game is fully equipped with dialogue that brings the characters to life through their own stories. While adventuring, you might notice some references to some famous pirates, or mythical creatures like The Kraken.
Sea of Conquest: Pirate War gameplay
19. Pirate Power
iOS, Android
Pirate power is a fun and simple round based game that can help you to easily lose track of time. The game starts with your character and his raft washing up on shore. You’re struck with confusion but there’s no time to wait. Giant crabs approach and you need to help (For some reason). So you strap a cannon to your raft, and off you go. You go from being the worst pirate I’ve ever heard of (on your little raft), to the annihilator of all who stand in your way.
Throughout the game, you face a variety of enemy ships and creatures in combat. Your goal is to keep winning battles to grow more powerful. The more battles you win, the more weapons you gain access to.
To win battles, you have to constantly upgrade your ship during the fast paced battle. If a cannon breaks, you need to replace it quickly, aim it at your enemy, and overwhelm them with your power.
You’ll get a rush while playing this game as you strategically think on your feet, and come up with creative ways to walk away from battles victorious.
Pirate Power gameplay
18. Pirates Flag－Open-world RPG
Android
If sailing the endless blue ocean, conquering monsters and pirates alike, hunting for treasure, and claiming trophies is something that you enjoy, then this might just be the game for you. In this open world experience, you are the pirate. You hoist the colors, you fire the cannon balls, you become the King/Queen of the ocean.
Your mission is very simple. Take what you can, give nothing back. Sink enemy ships, eliminate monsters, take home the gold. To do this, you must do as a captain does. You must drive/maintain your ship, inspire your crew, drink unlimited rum, and find the gold. It’s a full time job, but it’s a rewarding one.
This game features impressive graphics, and fantastic gameplay. Everything is yet to be discovered. The perfect game for those searching for an action packed mystery.
Pirates Flag－Open-world RPG gameplay
17. The Pirate: Caribbean Hunt
iOS, Android, PC
Keep to the code. Savvy? By day, you’re just a humble pirate trying to claim the seas. You travel great distances to sink your prey, like a great white shark. On the hunt to sink lesser ships, and steal what they had. Strategically circling your ship around theirs while overwhelming them with a barrage of cannon balls. Once your work is done, you get to go relax on shore and build a beautiful home. A home with a great big dock where you can station your collection of warships.
You dream of one day being the captain of a crew that leads the very ship that strikes fear in the hearts of all who see it. Legends will be told of the ships you’ve conquered. All those who come into your path sink to the bottom of the ocean.
Embrace your inner pirate on this journey of a lifetime. The game is completely free, even though it could definitely be worth money. Get ready for a strategic and open world adventure where you control everything.
The Pirate: Caribbean Hunt gameplay
16. Horizon's Gate
PC
This 2D pirate game is much more than meets the eye. It’s easy to overlook while looking for a new game on Steam, but what Horizon’s Gate lacks in flashy graphics, it makes up for in an incredible and complex combat system with multiple fun and unique battles.
You start the game with a tutorial that introduces you to the end game challenge. From there, you’re tasked with building your power and wealth through your choice of battles and adventures, until you’re powerful enough to beat the game. You get a variety of classes to choose from, each with its own unique fighting style.
Horizon’s Gate isn’t your average pirate game. Your ability to think on your feet will be tested, as you fight for your survival and your power.
Horizon's Gate gameplay
15. Windward
PC, IOS
Enjoy an action packed ship versus ship experience as you begin your exciting journey on Windward. A game where you’re constantly tested on your ability to survive. You play as your own battleship, equipped with a unique arsenal built for one purpose. Control the sea.
Find the line between madness and brilliance as you find ships and attack them with a barrage of gunfire, explosions, toxic gas, you name it. Enjoy a good day of slaughtering ships, stealing their spoils, going home to upgrade your ship, and doing it again tomorrow.
Windward gives you exactly what you expect every time you open the game. A fun way to spend your free time, and a ticket to victory.
Windward gameplay
14. Rum & Gun
PC
Rum & Gun is an incredibly fast paced combat game. The concept is simple: get attacked by swarms of people or creatures and run away while you shoot interesting projectiles at them, praying that you land a shot.
As you travel your way through the globe while slaughtering thousands, and drinking to the point that you don’t know what planet you’re on, you can upgrade your character and your arsenal to unlock some truly unreal weaponry to make the game a lot easier.
Rum & Gun is the game for you if you like fast paced progression paired with the ability to run around like a drunk maniac, trampling anyone in your way.
Rum & Gun gameplay
13. Blazing Sails
PC
Blazing Sails is an online PVP battle royale style pirate game. Never before have you been able to sail a ship and miss your shot due to high ping at the same time.
Your goal is to scurry around and collect treasure, while taking down any pirates who stand in your way, either through epic naval battles, or hand to hand combat. The team who collects the most gold wins.
I haven’t seen another online PVP game quite like this one. Through both ship battles, and hand to hand combat on land, there are so many unique playing styles that you can adapt to in this fast paced combat game.
Blazing Sails gameplay
12. The Curse of Monkey Island
PC, IOS
The Curse Of Monkey Island is the sequel to Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge. It’s the third game in the Monkey Island Series. It’s a story of a man who’s tasked with lifting a curse from his beloved, while staying guarded of his undead pirate stalker.
Your goal is simply to follow along with the story. Throughout the story, there are some fun puzzles, cool plot twists, and funny fourth wall breaking jokes.
The game features a unique design style, great voice acting, and an interesting story. A story that you can influence as you’re presented with a list of responses to give to certain prompts.
The Curse of Monkey Island gameplay
11. Uncharted Waters Online
PC
Command a fleet of over 500 ships. Uncover hidden relics in real world style locations. Observe and Travel to the furthest corners of the world by land and sea. document the stars. Trade with foreign ports. Control the world.
It's an open world style game that allows you to control the direction of the game. Your goal is simply to live the life of a pirate. You could conquer the world, you could become the best fighter, you could relax on a beach, you could become the richest pirate, you name it. The possibilities are endless, and completely up to you.
Uncharted Waters Online is a unique pirate game that features locations from the real world. You can travel to Africa, South America, Asia, etc. It’s the best way to feel like a real pirate.
Uncharted Waters Online gameplay
10. ONE PIECE World Seeker
PC, PS4, XBOX
For all you ONE PIECE fans out there, this game might be for you. Sit back and enjoy your adventure on a foreign island, as you embark on a mission to uncover hidden secrets, explore your unique and funky powers, and face off against familiar characters from the ONE PIECE series in a fierce battle.
This game gives you some fresh content for ONE PIECE, and must be played if you’re a serious fan. Enjoy some familiar nostalgia as you explore an entirely new environment. Your only goal is to follow the exciting story, and enjoy the mystery before you.
ONE PIECE World Seeker trailer
9. Naval Action
PC
Naval Action places you in the heart of history. The game features some ultra realistic looking ships, replicated from ships from the sailing era in history (the time when ships ruled the seas). You get to truly feel like a part of one of the coolest times in history, as you captain a proper vessel.
Your goal is to fight for the same cause that real life countries were fighting for during the 18th century. Build up the power of your nation by sailing under your nation's flags, taking enemy ships, and overwhelming your adversaries with a barrage of cannonballs. It’s just good business.
Naval Action is a must play PVP Strategy Game. Experience the pages of history while taking the fight to real life players in your fleet of ships. Learn how ship warfare actually works, and how to come out ahead of the enemy. Even a small ship can walk away victorious against a big powerful ship if you know what you’re doing.
Naval Action gameplay
8. Return to Monkey Island
PC, IOS, Switch, PS5, XBOX, Android
Welcome back to an unexpected addition to the Monkey Island Series. For those of you who enjoyed the earlier editions of the game series (The Secret Of Monkey Island, and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge), you’ll love this game! Enjoy the same characters you’ve grown so fond of, as they embark on another mission full of good comedy, a love story, an evil ghost pirate, and fun puzzles.
It’s another one of those unique story games where all you need to do is sit back and follow along. Rattle your brain as you figure out some puzzles so that you can advance forward, all the while trying to survive your menace, LeChuck.
The Monkey Island series follows the story of a man who’s true love was cursed by an evil zombie pirate. You do everything in your power to save her, while you maintain your sanity on some scary and bizarre adventures. If you haven’t played the previous games in the series, they’re definitely worth looking into.
Return to Monkey Island gameplay
7. Puzzle Pirates
PC
Puzzle Pirates is an online pirate game where you advance and become more powerful by winning puzzles. With 20 different puzzles, you’ll definitely find one that you love and excel at. Assemble a crew of your friends, or tackle it alone, and compete against enemy crews in a battle of the wits.
Your goal is to beat players from across the world at unique puzzles, and become known as the smartest and fiercest pirate to ever sail the seas. Customize your own pirate, and find the games that you enjoy the most, then start winning without mercy.
Puzzle Pirates gives you a unique way to enjoy classic board/card games that you might already be familiar with, as well as some that might be completely new to you, all the while building up a pirate empire. Become the best of the best, and spend your days searching for more people to conquer.
Puzzle Pirates gameplay
6. Sailing Era
PC, PS5/PS4
Sailing Era is a realistic game based in the 15th - 17th centuries (the Sailing Era), where world exploration was just beginning through the use of boats. Experience history as you sail the seas in the hopes of finding your destiny.
Your job in Sailing Era is to travel the vast seas and discover the world. Fight against storms, currents, pirate attacks, luring danger, etc. Find sunken treasure, and uncover the secrets of the ocean.
It’s nice to take a step back from the fantasy games where you fight Krakens, or shoot lasers out of your fingers, and embark on a journey that helps you relate to what real people went through hundreds of years ago. Adventures that were sealed in the pages of history are now right at your fingertips.
Sailing Era gameplay
5. Republic of Pirates
PC
Welcome to the golden age of piracy. Black flags terrorizing the sea, the Spanish fleet cornering anyone who dares hoist the colors of a pirate, and sinking them down to Davy Jones' locker. Greed and jealousy run rampant through the entire world. But somewhere down in the world lives the Republic of Pirates. A clan of pirates who live by a strict code of honor.
Your goal is to fight for your cause, and change the way of piracy. Eliminate the greed and jealousy that caused the mutiny that destroyed your old home, and spread the rules of the new world. Even if you have to sink some enemy ships to get your point across.
Reclaim your father’s legacy, and get revenge on the pirates who dared wrong you. Republic of Pirates is an empire game. Constantly build your power as you expand your territory, improve your arsenal, and take down your enemies.
Republic of Pirates gameplay
4. Caribbean Legend
PC
Caribbean Legend takes place in 1654 AD. In the game, you play a young French man named Charles de Maure. A man who set about on a mission to discover the new world with his brother. A family adventure turns into a lifetime journey. You grow to love the sea, and spend years gathering wealth and power, until you become the most powerful person in the Caribbean.
It’s a luxury to own a warship, and you’re one of the few people who does. People live and die by your command. Fighting for you is one of the highest privileges. As you play the game, you get to lose yourself in a story that offers hundreds of hours of entertainment. A story about riches, power, and romance.
This game comes fully equipped with a never before seen story of power and adventure, unique treasures and weapons to be collected, and cities to conquer.
Caribbean Legend gameplay
3. ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4
PC, PS4, XBOX
Here’s another one for you ONE PIECE fans. Welcome to the fourth game in the series that aims to give you the opportunity to experience your favourite anime in an entirely different way.
Meet some of your favourite characters, and fight side by side with your trusted allies to destroy hordes of enemies, and deadly beasts. Your goal is to fight evil, and stop the monsters that have plagued the lands.
ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4 gameplay
2. Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag™
PC, Switch, PS4, XBOX
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag is one of the most thrilling pirate games out there. If you know anything about the Assassin’s Creed Series, you’ll know that they make some damn good games.
In Black Flag, you set out on countless adventures as the feared and respected captain of a ship crewed by some of the most skilled and capable pirates/assassins around.
Mixing Assassins and Pirates together was a stroke of genius. Your goal as a pirate is to find gold and wealth while ruthlessly striking down your enemies. And luckily for you, being an assassin makes you a mercenary of death, and a master of stealth. So as a Pirate Captain, and an Assassin, you swiftly and easily rise to the top of the food chain, and send enemy fleets scurrying away in fear.
You and your crew are tasked with finding the legendary hidden treasure. More gold than you could ever know what to do with. It’s the perfect score. The score that sets you up for life.
Throughout your adventure, you can upgrade your ship for speed, resistance, and firepower. Scale buildings and patiently await the perfect opportunity to jump down and assassinate your enemy. Choose to either lurk in the shadows and be a secret killer, or fight your enemies in the light of day with your choice of custom swords, guns, or your signature hidden weapon, your hidden knives.
Kill the strongest of animals, and use their hide and bones for armour and weapons. Explore and dominate the most unfamiliar of terrains, such as a creepy jungle riddled with tigers and beasts alike, or the depths of the ocean littered with exotic fish and dangerous predators.
That’s only a taste of what Black Flag has to offer. Truly one of the greatest pirate games out there. Incredible graphics and voice acting, exotic adventures, and one of the coolest combat styles I’ve seen in any game. Trust Assassin’s Creed to make a game the right way.
Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag™ gameplay
Sea of Thieves: 2024 Edition
PC, XBOX, PS5
Sea of Thieves is probably the most well known nautical themed game on the market. Ask anyone to name a pirate game, and they’ll probably say Sea of Thieves. But what is it about Sea of Thieves that has made it so much more popular than all the others?
Sea of Thieves offers you an open world player versus player experience to do with whatever you want. Either playing with your friends, or going solo, it’s a social game. You will run into enemy crews, and have to decide whether you’re going to destroy each other's ships, or be allies.
From improving your ship and weapon capabilities, to meeting new people from around the world and ruling the ocean with them, to fighting great big sharks and sea monsters. Sea of Thieves gives you your very own pirate adventure that you make along the way. You can be whatever kind of pirate you want to be. Witty/mad pirate who makes insane plans on the spot and just hopes they work out, maniacal and vindictive pirate who wants to watch the world burn, or just someone who wants to sail the seas and meet cool people. You can be whatever you want to be on Sea of Thieves.
I think that’s why Sea of Thieves has become the most recognized pirate game on the market. Because it gives you that very essence of piracy that we all crave. Freedom. Freedom to be whoever you want to be, and answer to no one.
Sea of Thieves: 2024 Edition gameplay
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