SEA OF THIEVES: THE BEST SAILING WITH FRIENDS ON ANY OCEAN

8.0 of 10 bananas. The best pirate stories are the ones your crew makes by accident.

By the Alpha. PC on Steam. Updated Oct 2026.

Platforms: PC on Steam is the button, where it is listed as the 2026 Edition. Xbox and PS5 versions also exist. I could not verify a current physical edition on Amazon for this release, so there is no Amazon button here.

Sit with me a moment. My crew of four had a ship full of treasure and a storm on the horizon. One of us was bailing water, one was patching holes, and one was playing the accordion. Then another ship showed up. We lost everything, and it was the best night of gaming that month.

What It Wants To Be

Rare's online pirate sandbox, published by Xbox Game Studios. It first sailed on Xbox One and Windows in March 2018, came to Steam in June 2020, and reached PS5 in April 2024. You and your crew sail, dig for treasure, fight skeletons and other players, and follow story voyages called Tall Tales.

What Works

Sailing is a team sport. Raising the anchor, trimming the sails, reading the map, and steering all take real coordination. The ocean looks and moves beautifully. Encounters with other crews create stories you will retell for years. Tall Tales and the Pirates of the Caribbean crossover add guided adventures for when you want a plot.

What Breaks

Listen well. Progression is cosmetic only, so grinders may lose interest. Solo sailing on a small sloop is hard and lonely. Other players can grief you, and losing an hour of loot in a minute stings. Voyages can feel repetitive after the first few weeks.

Who Should Play

Play if you have a crew of friends and like making your own fun. Skip if you play solo, hate PvP, or need gear upgrades to stay motivated. For a pirate game that missed the boat, read my Skull and Bones verdict.

Related: Skull and Bones, Helldivers 2.

Store note: the troop still needs an Amazon referral for this one. Steam is the only button until that listing is real.