Image via Golden Hind Games
I don’t hide my love for pirate games. Sailing the seas, engaging in sea combat, and drinking grog are some of my favorite (in-game) pastimes. 2022 was a stellar year for pirate fans, including numerous updates to Sea of ​​Thieves, Return to Monkey Island, and Salt 2: Shores of Gold. But this is nothing compared to the 2023 pirate lineup, possibly making it the Year of the Pirate.
While there are plenty of pirate games coming out in 2023, there are some really flashy ones that have the potential to claim the gold and sail off to the horizon. Of course, I’m talking about titles like Skull and Bones, One Piece Odyssey, Curse of the Sea Rats, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara, Corsairs Legacy, Tortuga: A Pirate’s Tale, and Pirate’s Dynasty. What makes 2023 unique, aside from having several pirate-themed games, is that each one offers a different gameplay perspective on pirate life.
Pirate games have come a long way, but there are still many aspects of the genre that fans love, myself included. Sailing is a big part of being a pirate, as the open sea offers a level of freedom few subjects can match. I often find myself booting up Sea of ​​Thieves to get behind the wheel and sail from island to island. While there are different approaches to navigation, skull and bones it looks like it will recreate the magic of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag with a focus on naval combat. This pirate title takes place almost exclusively at sea, so you’ll need to master sailing if you want to succeed. You can even surf with your friends and battle against other groups of players in a dynamic online world.
Related: The best pirate games to play before Skull and Bones
Another option to navigate, this time for a single player, appears in The Privateer’s Legacy. Here, fans of pirates will enjoy an open world RPG set in the Golden Age of Piracy. This title features a more story-driven narrative where you influence the outcome. Finally, for those looking for something between a single player adventure and an always online world, pirate dynasty offers the best of both worlds. This may be the penultimate pirate sim, but it has plans for both solo and co-op play, allowing you to sail alone or with a small crew at your own pace.
No pirate is complete without a loyal and adventurous crew, something pirate games 2023 have in spades. A title that I am excited to play is one piece odyssey, a non-canon adventure for the Straw Hat Pirates. This JRPG brings together the colorful and eccentric crew of One piece to life and shows off their wild personalities. Secondly, Turtle: A Pirates Tale allows you to create your own narrative by recruiting sailors and giving them control of your pirate fleet. Managing your crew is crucial to becoming a pirate legend, which means you’ll need to manage morale, tactics, and more if you want to avoid sinking to the bottom of the ocean.
Related: Skull and Bones vs Sea of ​​Thieves, compared
Finally, the third pillar of pirate games is exploration. The sea presents great adventure, but pirates must also make a living on land. The hand drawn Metroidvania Curse of the Sea Rats is a promising version of this idea. Players can control four playable characters, solo or in cooperative mode, as they explore the Irish coast, a unique place for pirate games. For a more colorful and light-hearted ride, fans can turn their attention to Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara. This 3D platformer features a lovable protagonist exploring the Mara Archipelago while trying to rescue the land from fearsome pirates.
That’s a lot of loot and piracy to take in, but luckily there’s a full year to enjoy every bit of pirate life. Personally, I can’t wait to set sail and get behind the helm through these exciting pirate titles. 2023 is packed with pirate titles, and there is still time for other pirate games to raise their sails and join in the Year of the Pirate.
For more information on pirate games, see Is One Piece Odyssey canon? and How to Become a Pirate Legend in Sea of ​​Thieves in MyFullGames.