The best pirate games – Here you can let off steam as a buccaneer

Whether co-op, single player, PvP or role-playing – we sort out the most important pirate games of all time for you.

Harr! Pirates have always exerted a very special fascination on people. They are, after all, a bunch of outlaws who have built up a name as bad as their reputation through theft, murder and other crimes.

However, not least because of numerous films and novels, piracy has been romanticisedso that we are only too happy to sympathise with one or two scoundrels of this guild, at least in books, films and games (real pirates are still stupid!).

In gaming, too, there are numerous adventures in which we slip into the role of a pirate We have put together the best of them for you here.

Buccaneers

(Genre:Action-RPG – Release: Mar 7, 2022 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Verified)

What”s it about? In Buccaneers! you don”t just get to play pirates, you can even influence the development of the game world itself! You can join one of four factions and go on the prowl, as well as try to end piracy in the Caribbean once and for all!

You”ll build your own ship and either make the high seas safer by fighting the pirates and attacking their ships and bases, or more unsafe by raiding and boarding other ships. You experience all of this directly from your own character”s point of view, which you can even control directly via VR in a particularly immersive way.

This makes Buccaneers! is a real experience for all those who want a pirate sandbox.

Sea of Craft

(Genre:Simulation – Release: Apr 29, 2022 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Unknown)

What”s it about? Sea of Craft is a somewhat unique pirate game. Because with its Caribbean setting and the possibilities of the editor, you can easily screw together typical pirate pots here and wage very atmospheric battles accordingly.

Thanks to an impressive physics engine, not only the ocean is simulated realistically, but also the ships themselves. This comes into its own in the PvP battles, when you try to hold your own against the constructions of your opponents and can really shoot away every single part of their ships. The same applies to your own craft, of course.

At the same time, you are also allowed to get a little more futuristic and build constructs like cars or mechs. But no one said there couldn”t also be sci-fi pirates! This makes the game particularly suitable for creative natures with a strong imagination.

Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire

(Genre: Role Playing Game – Release: May 8, 2018 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable)

What”s it about? Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire continues the story of the first part, but sends you on a ship in a Caribbean setting, where you have to deal with all kinds of pirates. Here you don”t have to fight round robin battles as is usual in classic role-playing games, but you also have to manage and upgrade your ship to stand a chance against hostile buccaneers.

Moreover, the world is not all jewellery. Deadfire also knows what to do with the setting in terms of story. Accordingly, you will meet many believable characters with the most diverse motivations and experience an exciting plot that will even make you think.

Sid Meier”s Pirates!

(Genre:Action-Adventure – Release: 1987 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Unknown)

What”s it about? The original Sid Meier”s Pirates! made its debut back in 1987 – including on the PC. In the years that followed, there were several remakes and ports that, among other things, put the gameplay into a more modern 3D guise. However, the motivating principle has remained unchanged to this day: You take on the role of a pirate who has to make a name for himself in the Caribbean.

To this end, you do everything for which pirates have become so notorious: You capture ships, duel with sabres, go treasure hunting and take on nations like France, Spain and the Netherlands. Thanks to accessible controls, smaller quests and a trading system, long-term motivation is always ensured.

Our recommendation: The remake from 2005 with chic 3D graphics that have aged quite well thanks to the overdrawn style. Costs only 10 euros, runs smoothly via Steam on modern systems and gives you a great pirate sandbox.

Sea of Thieves

(Genre: Multiplayer Action Game-Release:March 20, 2018 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable)

What”s it about? Sea of Thieves is the most recent pirate game on this list, but realises an aspect of buccaneer life that many other titles fall short on: cooperation. You don”t even need to play Sea of Thieves solo, because it”s much more fun in co-op.

You can create your own buccaneer and experience adventures in a Caribbean-inspired world together with other players. These range from treasure hunts on remote islands to firefights and the almost obligatory sea battles. In addition, numerous quests await, such as tracking down legendary artefacts or finding a certain treasure.

At release, Sea of Thieves ran out of content too quickly despite these advantages. In our original GlobalESportNews -test it therefore missed the 80 rating mark. At the beginning of 2021, however, we upgraded it due to its updates and in 2022 the development continues. For example, with adventures whose story you can help to determine.

Assassin”s Creed 4: Black Flag

(Genre: Action game – Release:November 22, 2013 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable)

What”s it about? The Assassin”s Creed series also sends a representative into the race for the title of best pirate game. Assassin”s Creed 4: Black Flag is set in the year 1715, where pirates rule the Caribbean and have even founded their own lawless republic. You take on the role of the Assassin freebooter Edward Kenway and travel to several islands such as Cuba, the Bahamas and Jamaica.

For the first time in the series, you are free to sail the seas in a large sailing ship, which you can equip along with the crew. You take part in sea battles, go on a treasure hunt in a dive, and of course battles in the best Assassin”s Creed style are not to be missed. True to the motto: assassin meets pirate – a devilish mixture.

Assassin”s Creed 4 has won us a platinum award and is considered by many fans to be the best pirate game of all time.

Risen 2 & Risen 3: Titan Lords

(Genre: Action Role-Playing Game – Release: August 14, 2014 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable)

What”s it about? With Risen 2, Piranha Bytes ventured far away from its own roots for the first time in 2012. Instead of Gothic and Fantasy, we got a nameless pirate who travels the world with ship, crew and cutlass.

And lo and behold: many of the stylistic features of the German developer studio could be transferred perfectly to the pirate scenario anyway. After all, even in the age of the pirates there were crude people with crude sayings, crude fists and a crude mouth-to-mouth mentality.

Whereas Risen 2 deviated too far from the strengths of the older parts, Risen 3 brought everything together: There was still a ship, pirate charm and rough manners, but combined with the fantasy atmosphere of Gothic and Risen 1. The result is a very entertaining role-playing game that paved the way for Piranha Byte”s current RPG epic Elex.

Tempest: Pirate Action RPG

(Genre:Action RPG – Release: Aug 22, 2016 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable)

What”s it about? Tempest is reminiscent of the classic Sid Meier”s Pirates! Here, too, you actually do everything that characterises the life of a pirate: You capture ships on the high seas, face other pirates in battle and conquer mighty fortresses.

Unlike many other games on this list, however, you can also hunt huge sea monsters such as an octopus – Pirates of the Caribbean says hello.

Another interesting feature is that you can not only customise the appearance of your ships, but also equip them with various weapons. The crew also plays an important role and can level up so that they can support you even better. Tempest is a whimsical arcade piracy for a small price, not a milestone, but still an insider”s tip at a budget price.

The Secret of Monkey Island

(Genre: Adventure – Release:October 15, 1990 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable)

What”s it about? Another candidate for the title “Best Pirate Game of All Time”: The Secret of Monkey Island by LucasArts. The adventures of the equally clumsy would-be pirate Guybrush Threepwood are still among the most popular and best adventure games ever. This is due to both the pointed humour and the good puzzles that ultimately lead you from Melee Island to the eponymous Monkey Island.

Also iconic was the copy protection in the form of a turntable, the combinations of which were queried before each game start. In 2009, by the way, a graphically revised Special Edition of The Secret of Monkey Island came onto the market, which even offered a complete English language edition. At the touch of a button, however, you can switch to the original pixel graphics at any time.

The story of Monkey Island also continues in 2022. Because out of nowhere, a sequel was suddenly announced by series creator Ron Gilbert:

Abandon Ship

(Genre:Strategy Game – Release: Oct 22, 2019 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Unknown)

What”s it about? The strategy game Abandon Ship is also all about you earning your spurs as a pirate captain. Compared to many other games on this list, however, there are a few important differences. For example, you can expect procedurally generated oceans, which is always like a journey into the unknown.

In addition to quests, random events are also on the agenda. These include fights against giant squids. According to the developers, the graphic style of Abandon Ship was inspired by works of classical marine painting. The focus is not always on maximum realism, so you can also expect some fantasy elements.

The game can best be compared to FTL, but here the ships do not sail through a galaxy far, far away, but across the oceans. And that is fun. Since October 2019, the game has left Early Access and is officially released as a full version: The originally mixed feedback has stabilised since then: The recent reviews are extremely positive on average, so Abandon Ship is fully on course.

Blackwake

(Genre:Multiplayer Action Game – Release:February 20, 2020 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable)

What”s it about? Blackwake is a multiplayer action game that was finally launched in February 2020 after years of Early Access. You not only take on the role of a pirate captain, but also of his ship”s crew and take part in numerous battles on the high seas.

The focus is on teamwork, as the individual crew members have to work together to both keep the ship on course and load the cannons or prove themselves in close combat. If all players do not pull together, there is no chance of success.

Even in the Early Access test, Blackwake softened the sailor”s heart of our then editor Johannes Rohe. As a man of the North, he was born on the high seas, so to speak, and can lose himself for hours in the fantasy of being part of a crew and controlling every move himself, from carrying buckets to plugging holes.

But despite pretty good Steam reviews, Blackwake 2021 has only a small player base. Around 300 sailors are currently playing the game on average at the same time – so you will have to put up with long waiting times in multiplayer.

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game

(Genre: Action Game – Release: May 24, 2011 – Steam Deck Compatibility Grant: Playable)

What”s it about? Not every pirate game needs blood and murder. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game is a lot more humorous – and that”s why it”s also great for younger audiences. You live through the adventures of the first Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, playing as Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Davy Jones and co.

Unlike the lousy official licensed version of the films, the developers combine this story with the colourful LEGO universe. You collect all kinds of secrets in the levels, unlock new characters, solve puzzles, beat up villains and marvel at the atmospheric pirate scenes. A special bonus: all this is also possible in co-op for two players.

This makes LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean the perfect pirate game for you and your children. Or partners. Or friends. Of course, you shouldn”t expect the level of serious titles, but the co-op hopping is all the more fun if you”re looking for a whimsical adventure for the weekend.

Tropico 2

(Genre: Construction Strategy – Release: Apr 8, 2003 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Unknown)

What”s it about? Tropico 2 may have over 15 years under its belt, but it remains a unique building strategy game to this day. Instead of building a banana republic or creating an honest industrious state like in Anno 1800, here you lead a horde of sabre-rattling pirates! Tropico 2 is like Monkey Island as a strategy game – it retains the crude humour of the pirate scenario, but combines this charm with a thoroughly challenging building game.

You take care of your buccaneers” dwellings, keep them happy with grog and entertainment, subsidise raids and have to meet increasingly complex needs. Tropico 2 has aged extremely well and is still a lot of fun today. If you”re interested, here”s a little tip: At GOG you can grab Tropico 1 and 2 in a bundle for 5 euros.

Naval Action

(Genre: Marine Simulation – Release: 13 June 2019 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Not Supported)

What”s it about? Naval Action is not so easy to recommend. Because according to Steam reviews, the multiplayer naval simulation still has its problems a year and a half after release: beginners have to put up with a frustratingly steep learning curve, the balancing wavers in many places and the player base rarely exceeds 1,000 simultaneously active sea lions. But the idea behind it is so cool!

Naval Action lets you sail the Caribbean in the classic pirate age – under the banner of umpteen possible factions. British Crown. French. But also pirates. The game relies on so-called RvR, as Realm vs. Realm. You win victories for your faction, earn riches and expand your ship and crew. The core of the game, however, are the battles, which strive for realism.

For where other games conjure up the pirate fantasy on the screen very lightly, in Naval Action you actually learn the ship”s craft – or at least have to think it through in detail in order to give the right commands on your barge. As I said: Naval Action is not a game for everyone. But for enthusiasts in the sale it is certainly worth a look.

Cleo – A Pirate”s Tale

(Genre: Adventure-Release: Dec 12, 2021 – Steam Deck Compatibility: Verified)

What”s it about? Cleo – A Pirate”s Tale will be a German declaration of love for Monkey Island. And The Legend of Zelda. You can already try out (a demo on Itch.io) now. The principle can be explained quickly: 14-year-old Cleo dreams of exciting pirate stories in her boring little coastal village – and of course promptly gets involved in one.

You travel an atmospheric pirate world “full of lies, deceit, greed and bad breath”. Those who love the humour of Monkey Island will feel right at home with both the art design and the concrete story. The Kickstarter campaign for Cleo has raised $35,000, almost double the amount needed.

Outlook: Skull & Bones

(Genre: Action Game – Release: November 8, 2022)

What”s it about? Skull & Bones is a pirate game by Ubisoft Singapore that was heavily inspired by Asssassin”s Creed 4: Black Flag – at least in terms of the naval battles. For these form the core of the game, but have been significantly expanded compared to the role model.

There are numerous ship classes to choose from, from the small sloop to the imposing frigate. In addition, thanks to a special system – similar to that in a role-playing game – you can customise and equip your ship according to your own ideas. The game clearly sees itself with a PvP focus: the 5-against-5 battles are meant to keep freebooters continuously on their toes.

However, the development is not under a good star and has been very turbulent. However, it seems to be far from complete and it is reported that the game will only be released in November because Ubisoft reportedly received a government grant for the work on Skull & Bones, contractually securing a release in 2022.