Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas

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Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas is a single player and multiplayer casual role playing game. It was developed by Grey Havens and was released on July 6, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Every activity in Puzzle Pirates is a uniquely fun puzzle: be it sailing, gunning, or hauling treasure, your own puzzling skill determines your success!

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74%

Audience ScoreBased on 442 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

graphics7 negative mentions

Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas offers a unique blend of puzzle gameplay and cooperative multiplayer, making it a fun experience for players who enjoy teamwork.
The game has a friendly and welcoming community, with many players willing to help newcomers learn the ropes.
The variety of puzzles and the player-driven economy provide depth and engagement, allowing players to explore different roles and strategies.

The game suffers from a lack of active players, leading to dead servers and limited opportunities for engaging gameplay.
Many players have reported issues with the microtransaction system, feeling that it creates a pay-to-win environment and limits access to certain features.
The graphics and user interface feel outdated, which may deter new players from fully enjoying the experience.

graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
72%
18%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, with many users noting that they resemble styles from the early 2000s, which may not appeal to those seeking modern visuals. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and find the aesthetic fitting for the game's theme, others express disappointment and call for a graphical overhaul to enhance the overall experience. Despite the dated visuals, the gameplay and community aspects remain engaging for many players.
- “The graphics may be a little old school, but you soon forget about these when you're laughing away with friends and dock tarting.”
- “The interface has aged like fine wine, the puzzles are as fun and as engaging as ever, and the graphics have an artistic charm to them that capture the nostalgic bliss of the early 2000's MMO scene.”
- “This game is virtually timeless, as its easy-on-the-eyes graphics allow for hours and hours of puzzling and community fun.”
- “Changed settings to fullscreen 1080p, re-launched the game and now the game is broken, just a black screen with music playing and no way to fix the problem with no options of visuals of any kind. Disappointing.”
- “The graphics in this game are severely dated and the UI leaves a lot to be desired, but if you can break through that, you'll find a very satisfying MMO experience.”
- “If this game was released in 2010, it would be graphically outdated.”
gameplay
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
54%
9%
The gameplay of this game is characterized by a diverse array of engaging puzzles and mini-games, including sailing, treasure digging, and crafting, which contribute to a cooperative and nostalgic pirate atmosphere. While the mechanics are generally solid and enjoyable, some players note a lack of new content and certain dysfunctional elements. Overall, the game offers a unique and captivating experience, particularly for fans of puzzle-based mechanics in an MMO setting.
- “You work and complete different puzzles/mini-games in order to accomplish sailing, digging for treasure, sword fighting, tailoring, blacksmithing, alchemy, etc. It's a cute game and the mechanics are solid.”
- “With its creative puzzle-based mechanics and cooperative spirit, it’s still one of the most unique MMOs ever made.”
- “A relaxing collection of pirate-themed mini-games, each with their own gameplay and rules.”
- “The idea of a ship where every player must do his job to get the ship going is nice, but the gameplay is terrible.”
- “No new actual gameplay updates, only cosmetics that come with a huge price tag.”
- “New islands, new mechanics, same old puzzles.”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the absence of mandatory microtransactions for success, while others criticize the implementation of optional purchases that create a pay-to-win environment. Many users feel that the game has devolved into a cash grab, repackaging the original experience with excessive microtransactions and a dwindling player base. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to detract from the game's integrity and enjoyment.
- “You will find yourself smiling to know that this game was created before microtransactions and paying for dubs is completely optional.”
- “Another great thing is this game requires zero microtransactions to become successful.”
- “The doubloons is what you pay for microtransactions besides the normal in-game money called pieces of eight (poe).”
- “This game has become a quick cash grab at this point.”
- “Literally just the original game repackaged with more microtransactions and a dead population.”
- “The microtransactions in this game make the game pay-to-win.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" highlight a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the reduced grind compared to the original version of the game, others find it tedious and time-consuming, often leading to boredom. The game offers competitive elements and intricate mechanics that can make grinding enjoyable, but the reliance on other players can lead to frustration when activity is low. Overall, the grinding experience varies significantly based on player engagement and game dynamics.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Quick summary: there are better games to waste your life on; you'll spend all your time grinding for a stingy reward or be completely bored waiting for someone to play with, as most of the oceans are dead - which is bad for a game that relies completely on other people to play.”
- “Then it loses its flavor and becomes tedious.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story is perceived as simplistic and somewhat outdated, focusing on quests and puzzles rather than a deep narrative. Players engage in swordfights and build crews to conquer islands, which may appeal to those who enjoy interactive gameplay over a compelling storyline.
- “The story is engaging and filled with unexpected twists that keep you on your toes.”
- “I wagered my two ships in a swordfight, which added an exciting layer to the narrative.”
- “If you enjoy puzzles and interacting with others to complete missions, the story enhances the experience of building crews and taking over islands.”
- “The story feels graphically outdated and is overly complex, making it difficult to just enjoy the puzzles.”
- “The narrative is lacking depth, as I found myself wagering my ships in a swordfight without much context.”
- “While the game offers engaging puzzles and missions, the story fails to provide a compelling backdrop for the gameplay.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The music in the game receives mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the classic and charming soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere, others criticize it as repetitive and lacking variety, describing it as "elevator music." Additionally, technical issues have led to frustrating experiences where players are left with only music and a black screen.
- “The theme song is awesome; I always stay a few extra seconds on that screen just so I can hear it a little bit more.”
- “ Classic, charming soundtrack that perfectly matches the atmosphere.”
- “Loading music”
- “No battling, no content, just elevator music the whole time. There are no virtual payments, no graphics, and only two puzzles that keep repeating.”
- “Changed settings to fullscreen 1080p, re-launched the game, and now it's broken. I just get a black screen with music playing and no way to fix the problem. It's disappointing.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game features an authentic pirate atmosphere enhanced by cooperative gameplay among the ship crew, complemented by a classic and charming soundtrack. Players appreciate the friendly environment that encourages teamwork and collaboration.
- “‍☠️ Authentic pirate atmosphere with cooperative ship crew gameplay.”
- “ Classic, charming soundtrack that perfectly matches the atmosphere.”
- “The game creates a friendly atmosphere with players who want to work together and help one another.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization in the game is well-received, with users praising the performance and experience systems that allow for easy goal-setting. Players appreciate that success is based on real-time performance rather than character level or grinding, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- “The performance and experience systems are awesome, and it's easy to set goals.”
- “Being a good or bad pirate is not determined by your level or how much you grinded - it's your actual real-time performance in that minigame.”
- “Being a good or bad pirate is not determined by what level you are or how much you grinded - it's your actual real-time performance in that minigame.”
- “Your puzzling performance is rated from poor to incredible.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is characterized by a rough and buggy experience, reminiscent of the original version from a decade ago, though it benefits from an active player population.
- “The game feels like a cheaper version of the Dublon Oceans, with an actual player population, but it's rough and buggy at points.”
- “It reminds me of the original game from 10 years ago, but the stability issues really detract from the experience.”
- “While there are some minor additions, the overall stability is lacking and makes gameplay frustrating at times.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, often overshadowing its outdated graphics as players enjoy laughing together, particularly during multiplayer sessions.
- “The graphics may be a little old school, but you soon forget about that when you're laughing away with friends and dock tarting.”
- “Funny”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas is a casual role playing game.

Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas was released on July 6, 2018.

Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas was developed by Grey Havens.

Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its graphics.

Puzzle Pirates: Dark Seas is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Puzzle Pirates, Old School RuneScape, ArcheAge: Unchained, Naval Action, World of Sea Battle and others.

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