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Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves' excellent gameplay loop and compelling world make up for some minor issues. Rare still has work to do here, but this is a great start.
Sea of Thieves Game Cover
81%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
91% User Score Based on 121,276 reviews
Critic Score 69%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCTabletPhoneXbox OneXboxWindows
Sea of Thieves Game Cover

About

Sea of Thieves is a multiplayer open world simulation game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Rare Ltd and was released on June 2, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Sea of Thieves offers the essential pirate experience, from sailing and fighting to exploring and looting – everything you need to live the pirate life and become a legend in your own right. With no set roles, you have complete freedom to approach the world, and other players, however you choose.

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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 121,276 reviews
story1.4k positive mentions
grinding1.3k negative mentions

  • story
    6,261 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of "Sea of Thieves" is characterized by a mix of player-driven narratives and structured quests known as "tall tales," which provide a more guided storytelling experience. While many players enjoy the emergent storytelling that arises from interactions with others and the open-world exploration, others find the main quests repetitive and lacking depth, often reduced to fetch quests with minimal rewards. The introduction of story-driven content, particularly the "Pirates of the Caribbean" crossover, has been well-received, but the overall experience can be marred by the game's PvP elements, which frequently disrupt players attempting to engage with the story.

    • “The tall tales (story mode) are super fun pirate adventures, especially when doing them with a friend.”
    • “The story-driven tall tales provide hours of engaging gameplay.”
    • “The quests and tall tales are fun yet challenging!”
    • “Sparse story: the game lacks a strong narrative.”
    • “The story is, and I am serious, the worst story of any game I have ever played.”
    • “The quests are the same: 'go here, find that and then return it for gold but the game really started to pick up steam when it released tall tales which are fun stories that you can knock out in a day or so.”
  • gameplay
    4,533 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Sea of Thieves* is characterized by its engaging sailing mechanics, cooperative multiplayer elements, and a mix of PvE and PvP interactions that create dynamic experiences. Players appreciate the intuitive controls and the freedom to explore, but many note that the core gameplay loop can become repetitive over time, often revolving around treasure hunting and combat with other players. While the game offers stunning visuals and a vibrant world, some players express frustration with the lack of meaningful progression and the toxic behavior of certain members of the community, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “The game's intuitive controls and cooperative mechanics make sailing and combat feel engaging, while its emphasis on player-driven emergent gameplay ensures that no two adventures are ever the same.”
    • “With its stunning visuals, immersive gameplay, and endless opportunities for adventure, it's no wonder that Sea of Thieves has become the go-to game for aspiring pirates everywhere.”
    • “The gameplay is simple yet incredibly fun and rewarding, allowing players to master the art of navigation and exploration at their own pace.”
    • “Ever since they added Xbox to this game, it has been bug after bug, and it's honestly terrible; it ruins the gameplay experience.”
    • “The gameplay loop is incredibly minimal, and the combat is subpar at best.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is just sail to an island, get the treasure, and return it for a small reward; it quickly becomes repetitive and boring.”
  • graphics
    3,934 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Sea of Thieves" are widely praised for their stunning, vibrant art style that combines cartoonish elements with realistic water physics, creating an immersive and visually captivating experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the environments, particularly the ocean and weather effects, which enhance the overall atmosphere of the game. While some mention minor graphical glitches, the overall consensus is that the game's visuals hold up impressively well, even on lower settings, making it accessible to a wide range of hardware.

    • “The game's vibrant art style and attention to detail bring its colorful world to life in breathtaking fashion, with stunning sunsets, dynamic weather effects, and realistic water physics that make sailing feel truly immersive.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, transporting you to a world of azure waters, golden beaches, and ominous storm clouds.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the water is clear as blue and the sun and moon shine ever so brightly.”
    • “The graphics are very pleasing to look at, especially the water.”
    • “The graphics are so cartoonish that it feels like a child's game.”
    • “The graphics are decent for the art style, which is just about the only real compliment I can give this game.”
  • humor
    1,696 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Sea of Thieves" is widely praised, with players highlighting its chaotic and unpredictable nature that leads to countless hilarious moments, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews mention the game's ability to create funny interactions through proximity chat, silly glitches, and the absurdity of pirate antics, making it a memorable experience filled with laughter. However, some players note that the humor can diminish when playing solo or encountering toxic players, emphasizing that the best experiences come from shared adventures with friends.

    • “The role-playing opportunities in Sea of Thieves are endless, leading to countless hilarious and memorable moments.”
    • “It's amazing and extremely funny and entertaining to play with friends.”
    • “The game is very good, funny, and has great mechanics.”
    • “There are technically NPCs, but they do nothing of interest other than stand in place and reel off unfunny dialogue about which one-dimensional adjective they happen to be.”
    • “Honestly, it's not funny and should warrant an instant ban, in my opinion.”
    • “Be a pirate, not funny haha.”
  • grinding
    1,494 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of "Sea of Thieves" is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some enjoy the grind for cosmetics and the camaraderie it fosters when playing with friends, others find it frustrating, especially when hard-earned loot can be lost to more experienced players or cheaters. Overall, the game is characterized as a grindy experience that may not appeal to those who dislike repetitive tasks or seek meaningful progression beyond cosmetic upgrades.

    • “Great game, not grindy, and really fun.”
    • “It's a game full of 'levels', 'money' and other such numbers, but they all amount to nothing besides cosmetics: there's no grinding for stats; no waiting for your friends to catch up to your level; no unfair situations where players who clocked more hours than you are stronger due to having better items and not due to being better at the game.”
    • “Not too grindy and not as toxic as games like Rust where there's other players in the world, actually pretty funny when you find other players.”
    • “However, nothing is going to fix that slightly frustrating scenario of grinding for loot for over 30 minutes, just to have a bigger ship/crew pull up on you and set you back to square one.”
    • “Unfortunately when you get to the point where the only cosmetics (which are the only progression in this game at all) require weeks or even months of grinding for a single item and the grind itself isn't fun due to boring and repetitive design, it saps any enjoyment from the game.”
    • “I don't recommend this game unless you like grinding for an hour and losing everything to some toxic people.”
  • music
    1,265 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Sea of Thieves" is widely praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall pirate experience. Players enjoy the ability to play various instruments together, creating a sense of camaraderie and fun during their adventures. The soundtrack, featuring both original compositions and classic sea shanties, is noted for its quality and ability to adapt to gameplay situations, making it a standout aspect of the game.

    • “The music is incredible and the graphics are amazing.”
    • “The musical score, composed by Robin Beanland, adds the perfect touch to the pirate ambiance.”
    • “The dynamic and atmospheric musical score adds to the sense of adventure, crescendoing as you engage in epic battles or serenading you as you explore the tranquil waters.”
    • “The audio design is equally subpar, with repetitive sound effects and a forgettable soundtrack that only add to the tedium.”
    • “The soundtrack itself should just speak for itself, heck it's got pirates of the caribbean ost's in it now.”
    • “The only downside is that there isn't any music options to play drunken sailor or the pirates of the caribbean theme song or wellerman; pretty much any well-known sea shanties you can't play which is pretty sad as it really breaks the immersion of the whole game.”
  • stability
    652 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of "Sea of Thieves" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and server issues that detract from the overall experience. While some users find the game enjoyable despite these technical problems, others express frustration over the time spent troubleshooting and the impact of glitches on gameplay, particularly in PvP scenarios. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," with ongoing issues that have persisted since its launch, leading to a mixed reception regarding its stability.

    • “The game runs great on my 8 year old Linux PC, and the developers are actively still updating it. It's just a good online open world game with no logistical or technical issues.”
    • “The game as a whole is high quality, runs great on the Steam Deck, and when unobstructed, is enjoyable.”
    • “From the time I've played, I can tell you this: the game is almost entirely bug free, and any bugs I have encountered have just been plain funny. The controls are simple to learn and easy to master.”
    • “Have been trying to play since season 8, and to date have legitimately spent more time troubleshooting trying to get into the game than actually playing the game.”
    • “Game has always been unstable; it's literally unplayable now after a bunch of troubleshooting.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess and I had to buy it a second time to get it on Steam.”
  • atmosphere
    376 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Sea of Thieves" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, vibrant art style, and immersive sound design, which together create a captivating pirate experience. Players appreciate the dynamic weather, day-night cycles, and the engaging audio elements, such as sea shanties and environmental sounds, that enhance the sense of adventure and exploration. However, some reviews note that the game's PvP elements can disrupt the otherwise relaxing atmosphere, leading to moments of tension amidst the beauty. Overall, the game is celebrated for its unique and enchanting atmosphere that draws players into its world.

    • “The sound design further enhances the atmosphere, with the creaking of wooden ships, the roar of cannon fire, and the haunting melodies of the sea shanties creating an auditory experience that pulls players deeper into the game's world.”
    • “The dynamic lighting, weather effects, and water physics contribute to the immersive atmosphere, creating moments of breathtaking beauty as you sail through sunrise and sunset or weather challenging storms.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredible, and you'll easily be immersed with the sailing aspects.”
    • “It creates an atmosphere of constant stress.”
    • “The biggest thing I hear people complain about in Sea of Thieves is the chill atmosphere a large part of the time in between quests and islands that merely requires you to listen to your captain when they ask you to adjust sails, drop the anchor, or man the wheel.”
    • “Extremely toxic atmosphere from other players and no safety anywhere, and after 2 hours of work you could lose everything.”
  • monetization
    235 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game has drawn mixed reactions from players, with many expressing frustration over the prevalence of microtransactions and advertisements, especially given the game's initial purchase price. While some players appreciate that all microtransactions are cosmetic and do not affect gameplay, others feel that the aggressive promotion of in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience, labeling it a cash grab. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game offers a fun experience, its monetization strategy could be perceived as excessive and intrusive.

    • “The in-game monetization, while present, is extremely fair to players, where going for the battle pass' paid route is usually never necessary.”
    • “Microtransactions don't ruin this game; you can still do regular gameplay and have a ton of options for getting cool skins through effort.”
    • “All updates to Sea of Thieves are free, and the only microtransactions are purely cosmetic.”
    • “Once the download finally completed, I start up the game and the first thing I see is ads for battle passes shoved into my face.”
    • “Seems like a fun little something to do with friends, but for an 'established game' with a $40 price tag that slams you with ads every time you log in, it is basically boring and buggy.”
    • “The game really is a cash grab.”
  • optimization
    234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including lag, stuttering, and poor server performance, particularly during combat and in crowded areas. While some users have noted that the game runs well on lower-end systems and has beautiful graphics, others express frustration over the lack of consistent performance improvements with updates, leading to a generally unplayable experience for many. Overall, while the game has potential, its optimization remains a major concern for players across various hardware setups.

    • “The graphics are amazing, the combat is great, and the performance is beautiful.”
    • “The game runs smoothly on ultra with my GeForce 1070 and so far I have not encountered any game-breaking bugs.”
    • “Sea of Thieves runs smoothly on a range of systems, offering visually appealing graphics and enjoyable gameplay without demanding high-end hardware.”
    • “Game is good but the memory optimization is horrible.”
    • “Currently unplayable, laggy servers making PvP impossible, cheaters everywhere and barely optimized; devs would rather make new stories that nobody asked for and create new cosmetics than invest in an anti-cheat and better servers.”
    • “The game has very poor optimization.”
  • emotional
    189 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with players experiencing a wide range of feelings from joy and camaraderie to frustration and heartbreak. Many highlight the game's ability to create memorable, wholesome interactions with other players, while others express disappointment over a lack of emotional depth in storytelling and the impact of toxic encounters. Overall, it serves as an emotional rollercoaster, where players can find both uplifting moments and significant emotional distress, often leading to tears and strong connections with the community.

    • “This game makes me want to cry sometimes... I love it!”
    • “Sea of Thieves is one of the most inspirational and emotional games I have ever played. When you're sitting with your mates just singing 'Wellerman' while playing music to the sound of waves and the wind hitting your face, it makes the game feel like heaven.”
    • “Will consistently break your heart; however, all the emotional trauma this game puts you through, you won't be able to stop coming back and crying yourself to sleep every night you play this game.”
    • “They spend months and months working on a boring story that half the players completely ignore, just for the whole event to end in two weeks.”
    • “The story in this game is probably one of the most dragged out, repetitive, and absolutely boring storylines I've ever tried to experience.”
  • replayability
    179 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is highly praised, with many players noting its dynamic world, diverse quests, and player-driven interactions that ensure each session feels unique. While some find the core gameplay loop repetitive and limited in variety, the regular content updates and multiplayer elements contribute to a sense of ongoing adventure, making it enjoyable for both solo and group play. Overall, it is regarded as a game with near-infinite replayability, especially when played with friends.

    • “With its dynamic world, ever-changing encounters, and regular content updates, Sea of Thieves provides endless replayability and a sense of ongoing adventure.”
    • “This game is amazing and highly replayable. The more I play it, the more I love it, and it has insane replay value if you are into pirates, sailing, and all that.”
    • “The game's sandbox design and player-driven interactions ensure that no two sessions are alike, further enhancing the replayability and long-term appeal of Sea of Thieves.”
    • “Events do really well to provide a lot of replayability, but even that grows dull pretty quick.”
    • “It has limited replayability unless you are really into doing the same 3-4 kinds of missions over and over, fight the same 3-4 kinds of enemies, and earn lots of customizations that don't affect gameplay.”
    • “With content being removed, I really cannot recommend this game whatsoever. I know many people will disagree, and I know other games have removed content too, but for Sea of Thieves, which relies a lot on a few events being replayable, I really think this hurts the game in a way I don't see how they can recover from.”
  • character development
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the charming character designs and visually appealing world, while others criticize the lack of meaningful progression and repetitive gameplay. Players express a desire for a more robust character development system, including customizable options and skill trees, as many feel that the current offerings lead to a monotonous experience. Overall, while the aesthetic elements are appreciated, the absence of substantial character growth detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “These missions provide opportunities for character development, obtaining new items, and experiencing new adventures.”
    • “I thought this was a seafaring open world RPG with skill trees, character development, and a story.”
    • “The character designs are varied, playful, and seemingly endless, although I wish there was a fully customizable character creation option and a third-person view option so the vanity items players work for could be appreciated by the player who earns them.”
    • “The lack of meaningful progression or character development makes each session feel like a monotonous grind to get a paint job on my virtual pirate ship.”
    • “There is no coherent story to speak of, the gameplay is super repetitive, no character development at all, super annoying riddles and puzzles.”
    • “No character development, no interesting quest rewards.”
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30h Median play time
1298h Average play time
8-150h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 558 analyzed playthroughs
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Sea of Thieves is a open world simulation game with fantasy theme.

Sea of Thieves is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Phone, Xbox One and others.

On average players spend around 1298 hours playing Sea of Thieves.

Sea of Thieves was released on June 2, 2020.

Sea of Thieves was developed by Rare Ltd.

Sea of Thieves has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Sea of Thieves is a multiplayer game with local co-op support.

Similar games include Sea of Thieves, Raft, Blazing Sails, Unturned, DayZ and others.