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Best Pirate Games

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is still the best pirate game on PS5 and PS4, with Sea of Thieves the pick for crews who want a live ocean, and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii the one that plays the whole thing for laughs. This list covers twelve games where sailing, plundering or captaining a crew is the point, from the golden age of piracy to a genie with a cutlass, ranked and weighed against what players actually say, not just critic scores.

By How we rank games

By Ugur Saritepe · Updated Jul 19, 2026

Top Picks

Assassin's Creed® IV Black Flag
#1 Pick

Assassin's Creed® IV Black Flag

★ 4.6Mixed
Sea of Thieves
#2

Sea of Thieves

★ 4.2Mixed
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
#3

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

★ 4.6Good

Discover Games

12 games found

1Assassin's Creed® IV Black Flag
Best overall

Assassin's Creed® IV Black Flag

4.6(78,019)2013
PS+ ExtraPS Plus ExtraESRB Maturehistorical
MixedReview analysis

Overall player feedback for Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is very positive, with many praising its immersive pirate gameplay, strong narrative, and naval combat mechanics, alongside some criticism regarding technical issues and Ubisoft's launcher. Despite these criticisms, players express deep affection for the game, often recalling fond memories and experiences. The mixed sentiment surrounding Ubisoft's practices somewhat offsets the game's numerous accolades.

Why it's here: The Jackdaw, not Edward Kenway, is the real main character: a sail on the horizon is always an invitation to give chase, board and plunder, across a Caribbean with no loading screens to break the spell. It is the benchmark the rest of this list gets measured against, though whether the assassin half still earns its place is another matter.

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2Sea of Thieves
Best multiplayer

Sea of Thieves

4.2(19,000)2024
Co-op: 4ESRB Teenfantasy
MixedReview analysis

Overall, players appreciate the vibrant multiplayer experience and beautiful graphics in Sea of Thieves, especially when playing with friends. However, there are notable frustrations regarding toxicity among players and a lack of engaging content for solo play, attracting mixed feedback.

Why it's here: Every sail on the horizon is another crew of real players, and a galleon needs four pairs of hands across sails, helm and bilge pump at once. For a group on voice chat it generates stories nothing else here can. Sailed alone, that same openness turns merciless, which is the trade it asks every crew to accept.

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3Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
Best offbeat pick

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

4.6(7,959)2025
ESRB Mature 17+fantasy
GoodReview analysis

The feedback for 'Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii' reveals a largely positive player experience, with many praising its fun gameplay, humor, and engaging side content. However, there are notable criticisms regarding the story quality and ship combat mechanics, leaving some players feeling disappointed. Overall, players appreciate the goofiness and adventurous atmosphere of the game, although opinions vary significantly on how it fits within the Yakuza series.

Why it's here: Goro Majima washes up on a Hawaiian beach with no memory and is captaining a pirate crew before the day is out. It is the only entry here that plays piracy as farce, bolting ship battles onto a formula of dense districts and absurd distractions. Whether the naval layer is substance or garnish is the thing worth deciding.

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4Assassin's Creed® Freedom Cry

Assassin's Creed® Freedom Cry

4.2(41,512)2014
PS+ ExtraPS Plus ExtraESRB Maturehistorical
GoodReview analysis

Overall, player feedback on Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry has been largely positive, with many comparing it favorably to Black Flag. Players appreciate the emotional narrative and engaging gameplay, although there's criticism regarding its length and some technical issues.

Why it's here: Black Flag's quartermaster gets his own command, and aims the same sailing and boarding systems at slave ships off Saint-Domingue. It is the shortest voyage on this list and the only one that treats the golden age as a crime scene rather than a playground. Whether that focus outweighs its length is the trade it makes.

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5ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4
Best for anime fans

ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4

4.7(13,731)2020
Co-op: 4ESRB Teenpirate
GoodReview analysis

Players overwhelmingly endorse "ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4" for its engaging gameplay, large character roster, and strong representation of the One Piece anime. However, criticisms regarding repetitive gameplay, a lack of story depth, and technical issues adversely affect the experience for some users.

Why it's here: Dozens of Straw Hats, hundreds of enemies an island, and a sequel that finally lets Devil Fruit powers fight in the air as well as on the ground. Co-op runs to four, which is where the spectacle makes most sense. The catch is that it plays as a highlight reel for readers rather than an introduction for newcomers.

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6ONE PIECE ODYSSEY PS4 & PS5
Best pirate RPG

ONE PIECE ODYSSEY PS4 & PS5

4.3(6,100)2023
ESRB Teenfantasy
MixedReview analysis

Overall player feedback for ONE PIECE ODYSSEY is quite divided, with many fans praising its visual appeal, engaging storyline, and nostalgic elements connected to the One Piece franchise. However, a notable portion of players expressed dissatisfaction with the pacing, excessive cutscenes, and a perceived lack of depth in gameplay, leading to a significant mix of positive and negative experiences.

Why it's here: The one entry that slows piracy to a turn-based crawl: the Straw Hats are stranded, stripped of their powers and rebuilt across an island written for the game rather than lifted from the manga. Battles split the crew into separate skirmishes, so composition matters. The long cutscenes are the price of admission, and not everyone will pay it.

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7ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 3

ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 3

4.7(14,000)2015
Co-op: 2ESRB Teenpirate
MixedReview analysis

The overall player feedback for ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 3 is highly polarized, with many players praising the game's engaging gameplay and nostalgia for the One Piece franchise, while an overwhelming number criticize the technical flaws of the PC port, including severe bugs, poor controller support, and frequent crashes. The common sentiment indicates a divide, where fans of the series might enjoy the game despite its issues, but new players are frequently discouraged by these problems.

Why it's here: The entry that actually tells the story: its Legend Log walks from Romance Dawn to Dressrosa at a length the sequel skips straight past. Combat stays grounded and old-fashioned, and co-op stops at two. For a reader taking the arcs in order it is the more faithful pick, even though the sequel plainly plays better.

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8Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
Best 2D adventure

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

4.8(1,700)2022
ESRB Teen
GoodReview analysis

Overall player feedback for 'Shantae and the Pirate's Curse' is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting its engaging gameplay, charming graphics, and memorable music. While many players praised its fun mechanics and character interactions, a segment of reviews pointed out issues with difficulty spikes and frustrating navigation. Still, the game is seen as a standout in the series, making it accessible for newcomers and a delight for fans.

Why it's here: A change of scale on a list of open seas: this pirate is a genie who has lost her magic and fights with a hat, a scimitar and a cannon, each doubling as a way to reach somewhere new. It is the tightest-paced entry in its series and the easiest place to start, provided a 2D island hop is the wanted register.

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9Sailing Era
Best age of sail

Sailing Era

4.2(401)2023
ESRB Teenfantasy
GoodReview analysis

Overall, player feedback for Sailing Era is largely positive, with many praising its engaging gameplay, nostalgic nods to classic games, and immersive exploration mechanics. However, there are notable criticisms regarding technical issues, repetitiveness in gameplay, and translation quality, leading to a divided experience for some. While most players relish the game, a portion expresses frustration with its execution and mechanics.

Why it's here: Piracy here is one career among trade, exploration and diplomacy, played across a map of real ports where knowing which cargo sells where matters more than broadsides. It is the closest thing on console to the old Uncharted Waters games. A rough translation and slow opening hours are the toll, and whether the trade loop repays it is the question.

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10Rogue Waters
Best tactics

Rogue Waters

4.1(261)2025
PS+ TrialPS Plus PremiumESRB Matureocean
MixedReview analysis

Player feedback on Rogue Waters is highly polarized, with many praising its engaging pirate theme and tactical combat while others criticize its numerous bugs, balance issues, and unfinished gameplay. Many feel that while it has potential, the game's execution and stability detract significantly from the overall enjoyment.

Why it's here: Boarding is the whole game, fought on a turn-based tactics grid where crew abilities chain into one another and a failed run still feeds the next. It is the sharpest idea on this list and the roughest build of one. It sits in PS Plus Premium, which is the sensible way to find out whether that trade is worth it.

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11Sail Forth
Best relaxed sailing

Sail Forth

4.2(61)2022
ESRB Everyone 10+fantasy
GoodReview analysis

Overall, players find "Sail Forth" to be an engaging and charming sailing game, praising its vibrant art style, enjoyable mechanics, and the fun of open-world exploration. While the majority of reviews highlight the relaxing nature of the game and its rewarding gameplay, some users express frustration over repetitive gameplay elements and control issues.

Why it's here: The wind is the actual mechanic here: trimming sails and tacking matter more than cannons, and the bright flat art hides how much attention the rigging wants. It is the low-stress entry on this list, rated for ten and up and built for charting rather than plundering. The archipelago does eventually stop surprising, which is the honest limit of it.

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12Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara
Best for kids

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara

4.1(93)2023
ESRB Everyone 10+
MixedReview analysis

Overall player feedback for 'Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara' reflects a blend of appreciation for its charming aesthetics and solid gameplay, alongside criticism of its repetitive elements and lack of depth. Many players enjoyed the simplicity and enjoyed it for its casual, relaxing vibe, though some found it lacking in challenge and story engagement.

Why it's here: The one entry here a younger player can be handed without a second thought: short, forgiving, tropical levels with time targets hiding underneath for anyone who wants to chase a clean run. It is slight by design and repeats its ideas, but on a list otherwise rated Teen and Mature it is the only pirate adventure built for a family room.

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About Pirate games

A pirate game, for this list, is one where the sea and the ship are central rather than decorative: sailing, boarding, plundering or commanding a crew has to be a system, not a costume. That rules out games that merely feature a pirate character, and it rules in an unusually wide spread, from Black Flag's open Caribbean and the shared world of Sea of Thieves to the turn-based boarding tactics of Rogue Waters, the trade routes of Sailing Era and a 2D island hop in Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. Ranking draws on player reviews collected from Steam and the PlayStation Store, summarized per game into what players consistently praise and consistently complain about. PS Plus tiers, ESRB ratings and co-op player counts come from the catalogue and appear on every card.

Best Pirate Games Compared

  • Assassin's Creed® IV Black Flag
    Best overall★ 4.64 / 5PS Plus Extra

    One seamless Caribbean where sailing, boarding and shore exploration run together without a loading screen.

  • Sea of Thieves
    Best multiplayer★ 4.17 / 5

    A shared ocean where rival ships are crewed by real players, and one galleon needs four sets of hands.

  • Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
    Best offbeat pick★ 4.64 / 5

    Bolts ship battles and a recruited crew onto a formula of dense districts and absurd side content.

  • Assassin's Creed® Freedom Cry
    ★ 4.18 / 5PS Plus Extra

    Reuses Black Flag's sailing for a short, pointed story about liberating plantations off Saint-Domingue.

  • ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4
    Best for anime fans★ 4.66 / 5

    Musou combat with a huge Straw Hat roster, destructible terrain and full aerial fighting.

  • ONE PIECE ODYSSEY PS4 & PS5
    Best pirate RPG★ 4.25 / 5

    Turn-based RPG on an island written for the game, with battles that split the crew into separate skirmishes.

  • ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 3
    ★ 4.7 / 5

    The fullest telling of the manga arcs, Romance Dawn through Dressrosa, in classic ground-based musou.

  • Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
    Best 2D adventure★ 4.75 / 5

    A genie stripped of her magic, using pirate gear as traversal tools across a tightly paced island hop.

  • Sailing Era
    Best age of sail★ 4.15 / 5

    Age-of-discovery trade across real ports, with four protagonists and an economy that rewards reading the cargo market.

  • Rogue Waters
    Best tactics★ 4.09 / 5PS Plus Premium

    Turn-based boarding parties on enemy decks, with crew abilities that chain and progression that survives a lost run.

  • Sail Forth
    Best relaxed sailing★ 4.2 / 5

    Sailing itself is the mechanic: wind, trim and tacking matter more than cannons across a bright archipelago.

  • Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara
    Best for kids★ 4.1 / 5

    Short, forgiving tropical platforming with speedrun time targets hidden under every level.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best pirate game on PS5?
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Its Caribbean is one continuous open world, with sailing, boarding and exploring on foot running together without loading screens, and it sits in the PS Plus Extra catalogue. Sea of Thieves is the stronger pick for anyone who wants an ocean shared with other crews.
Is Sea of Thieves on PS5?
Yes. Rare's shared-world pirate sandbox arrived on PS5 in 2025 and supports crews of up to four players online. It is the only game on this list where the other ships on the horizon are crewed by real players rather than AI.
Are there pirate games on PS Plus?
Yes. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry are both in the PS Plus Extra catalogue, and the pirate tactics roguelite Rogue Waters is in PS Plus Premium. The other nine games on this list are bought separately.
Which pirate games have co-op?
Three. Sea of Thieves crews up to four players online, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 supports four online or two on the same console, and One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 caps at two. Black Flag's campaign is a solo voyage.
Which pirate games are open world?
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Sea of Thieves are the two large open-world options, the first sailed solo and the second shared with rival crews. Sailing Era and Sail Forth are also open, built around trade routes and wind rather than combat.
Are there pirate games for younger players?
Two are rated ESRB Everyone 10+. Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a short, forgiving platformer with speedrun time targets, and Sail Forth is a low-stress sailing sandbox about wind and trim rather than cannons. Most of the rest are rated Teen, and the Assassin's Creed and Like a Dragon entries are Mature.
Why is Skull and Bones not on this list?
Skull and Bones is in the Game-Scout catalogue but it is the lowest rated of the major pirate releases in it, so it was left off in favour of games players rate highly. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag remains the stronger Ubisoft pirate game and the better place to start.

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