Sea of Thieves, developed by Rare Ltd., sets sail on PlayStation 5 after being an Xbox and PC exclusive for over six years. A unique multiplayer pirate adventure, Sea of Thieves promises boundless seas, hidden treasures, and daring escapades all yours to enjoy. From the moment you step onto the deck of your ship, you’re thrust into a world brimming with opportunities for exploration, camaraderie, and high-seas hijinks. But after six years, is now the best time to jump in?
Sea of Thieves captures the essence of a pirate’s life with its stunning art style and immersive world design. From the shimmering waves to the sun-kissed islands, every inch of the game’s environment is teeming with life and detail. The vibrant colours and whimsical aesthetic create a sense of adventure and wonder that’s unique and oddly cute for its subject matter.
Rare has spared no effort in crafting a world that feels alive and dynamic. Whether you’re embarking on a perilous voyage through a raging storm or exploring the underwater ruins of a forgotten shipwreck, each island feels distinct, with its unique landmarks, flora, and fauna, further enriching the sense of immersion.
Sea of Thieves‘ day-night cycle and dynamic weather systems add another layer of depth to the game’s atmosphere, with storms brewing on the horizon always called to me, knowing that where there is danger, there is also treasure. During my playtime, I was in public servers with a friend, and we lived our best pirate lives in our little sloop. Taking on the larger Galleon, knowing our speed was our greatest asset. Also, with nothing to lose, we had a great time.
At its core, Sea of Thieves offers a sandbox experience where players can live out their pirate fantasies in a shared world populated by other players and AI-controlled threats like a giant ship that roams the seas and skeletons…so many skeletons. The gameplay revolves around sailing ships, completing quests, battling skeletons, and engaging in thrilling naval encounters with rival crews. Each thing you do in Seas Of Thieves helps your relationships with different factions, each of which lets you unlock cool new cosmetic designs.
Sea of Thieves takes a minimalist approach to progression, eschewing traditional levelling systems in favour of a more organic player-driven experience. Players earn gold by completing quests, selling loot, and engaging in various activities throughout the game world. This gold can then be used to purchase cosmetic items for your pirate avatar, including clothing, ship customizations, and decorative items.
“Sea of Thieves captures the essence of a pirate’s life with its stunning art style and immersive world design.”
While the emphasis on cosmetic progression adds a layer of personalization to the game, some players may find the lack of tangible rewards and meaningful progression systems to be a drawback. Rare has made efforts to address this issue through regular content updates and events, introducing new features such as Tall Tales (story-driven quests) and seasonal challenges. However, the game still lacks the depth and variety needed to keep players engaged over the long term.
Sailing a ship in Sea of Thieves is a perilous experience that requires teamwork and coordination. From hoisting the sails to steering the vessel, every aspect of sailing feels intuitive and rewarding. Whether you’re navigating treacherous waters or engaging in ship-to-ship combat, the mechanics are finely tuned to deliver an authentic pirate experience. Knowing when to angle the sail to catch the most wind, when to stop for repairs, and when to fire the cannons, there is a lot of shouting and uproarious laughter if you manage to sail the seas with friends.
“While the quests themselves can sometimes feel repetitive, the game world’s dynamic nature ensures that no two voyages are ever the same.”
The game’s quest system offers a variety of activities to keep players entertained, from hunting for buried treasure to battling fearsome sea monsters. While the quests themselves can sometimes feel repetitive, the game world’s dynamic nature ensures that no two voyages are ever the same. The thrill of discovery and the rush of adventure are constants in Sea of Thieves, and this sense of unpredictability will keep me coming back for more.
Sea of Thieves truly shines when experienced alongside a crew of friends, as you chance rolling the dice when joining strangers. The game’s emphasis on cooperative gameplay fosters memorable moments of camaraderie and excitement as players work together to overcome challenges and share in the spoils of their adventures. Now that PlayStation users can join the party, finding crew mates will be even more accessible.
Sea of Thieves is a swashbuckling adventure that excels in capturing the spirit of piracy with its stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and vibrant community. While its minimalist progression systems and occasional repetition may deter some players, the game’s sense of exploration, camaraderie, and adventure makes up for its shortcomings. Whether you’re a seasoned buccaneer or a landlubber looking for adventure, Sea of Thieves offers a pirate’s paradise unlike any other. That being said, I did have a few visual bugs and got disconnected once or twice during my time, but neither was bad enough to ruin my experience.
