Ubisoft announcedSkull and Bonesyears ago, but fans waiting for more information on the game have not been given much since.Skull and Boneshas been delayed numerous times since its reveal, and it doesn’t have an announced release window beyond Ubisoft acknowledging that it won’t release before 2022 at the earliest. Most recently, a rumor has started circulating thatSkull and Boneshas entirely restarted its development, after years of development issues and problems.
Skull and Bonesis far from the first delayed title from Ubisoft, but it has gathered a following of fans eagerly waiting for more news on the game thanks to its impressive reveal trailer. However, there is no telling just how long players will have to wait to get their hands onSkulls and Bones. However, there are plenty of other great pirate games for players to check out while they wait for more updates on the game’s release.
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Updated Jun 19, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Skull and Bones has been stuck in development for quite a long time, but a release date might not be too far off ifrecent rumors are to be believed. From everything revealed about Ubisoft’s open-world game so far, Skull and Bones looks promising, especially since pirates are hardly a common theme in the industry. To fill the time while waiting for the day when they can finally set sail across the Indian Ocean, players can turn to a handful ofgames about piratesthat will quench their thirst for rum, adventure, and sea shanties. This article has been expanded to include Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire.
Platforms
Many players and critics thought thatSea of Thieveswas too sparse on content when it launched back in 2018, but the game has received numerous updates since then. A 2021 update included anoriginal crossover story withPirates of the Caribbeanfor players to enjoy on their own or with friends.Sea of Thievestasks players with working together to operate their ships and undertake a variety of missions while sailing around the ocean. Missions can include trading different resources between ports, fighting skeleton armies, hunting down buried treasure, and a variety of other objectives. While taking on the missions, players can come across one another and freely attack one another to try and rob other players' ships of whatever loot they have on board.
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Sailing together inSea of Thievesalso allows players to get up to all sorts of pirate shenanigans like shooting one another from cannons, locking fellow players in the brig, and even getting drunk and vomiting on each other below deck. For fans of the pirate genre,Sea of Thievesoffers a co-op experience that is immersive while also not taking itself too seriously, allowing players to have fun. The game also has a little bit of something for every type of player, whether they want to peacefully sail across the seas, engage in high-stakes combat, or hunt down some ofSea of Thieves' intimidating Kraken boss monsters.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagwas Ubisoft’s last foray into the pirate genre, and is responsible for much of the excitement that arose around the announcement ofSkull and Bones. While the game does still put players in control of an assassin, the character of Edward Kenway is not like most assassins in the series and deeply embodies the typical pirate life.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flaglets players engage with every aspect of being a pirate, from exploring diverse ports to swashbuckling on a rocking deck and singing sea shanties with their crew. The game was loved by critics and players alike for its portrayal of the pirate subgenre, and how it incorporated its pirate mechanics into the usualAssassin’s Creedformula. In fact, many fans still considerAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagto be one of the best pirate gamesto ever be released.
The popularity ofAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flaghas many fans hoping thatSkulls and Boneswill take cues fromBlack Flagby the time it finally releases. As for what aspects ofBlack Flagfans hopeSkulls and Boneswill follow up with, players are hopeful that it will capture the spirit of being a pirate that is present inBlack Flag. This is done largely by having a solid cast of characters that players enjoy, while also allowing players to customize their ships, engage with their crews, and get involved in combat both with their boat and with their sword and pistols.
While it may be the oldest title in this list,Sid Meier’s Pirates!is a great game to enjoy while fans wait forSkulls and Bones.Pirates!is accessible thanks to its simple systems, but it does not sacrifice the depth of its experience or what players can get up to throughout the game. Players are able to upgrade their ships, run trade routes, woo the daughters of aristocracy, and take part in plenty of fights.
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Some players may not be able to look past how aged the game is, but there is luckily a sizablelibrary of mods forSid Meier’s Pirates!that can help the game feel much more modern. It does not have the detail of some other games on this list, but its combat is fun in its simplicity and it is a great way to enjoy a pirate-themed game without having to dedicate dozens of hours to it. It also features an emphasis on ship-based combat, which is pretty similar to the limited gameplay players have been shown ofSkulls and Bones.
Platform
Microsoft Windows
For MMO fans,ArcheAgeis one of the biggest pirate games currently available. While it does feature some content that is not explicitly pirate-themed, it also contains a fully open-world that players can navigate in a ship at their leisure, while they come across mythical sea creatures and track down hidden treasures. There area lot of MMO games available nowadays, butArcheAgehas managed to maintain a unique place in the market thanks to how well it allows players to live out their pirate fantasies in its expansive open world.
As for gameplay, players should expectArcheAgeto play relatively similar to other MMO games, with vehicle combat similar to whatplayers are used to inStar Wars: The Old Republic.ArcheAgeis also free-to-play, so any players that are interested in trying the game out can get a group of friends together and jump into the game with little investment.
Tempestis an action RPG that is deeply rooted in the pirate genre, and it has everything that players could want. It has a variety of mythical sea beasts for players to hunt down, multiple hundreds of quests for them to experience, and a lot of customization to make their ships truly their own.Tempestalso features a fully open world that allows players to go around and explore it at their own pace, and they can even largely ignore the game’s story and just enjoy being a pirate if they’d like.
The world’s ports are controlled by different factions, each of which offer unique benefits that can become inaccessible if a player turns the group against them. While the quests can be forgettable, the sheer quantity of content present meansTempestwill keep most people busy for a long time.
After knocking it out of the park withPillars of Eternity, a throwback to classic isometric fantasy RPGs, Obsidian opted to take the next adventure out onto the sea. Continuing the narrative from the first game,Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfirefinds the Watcher enjoying something resembling peace before their home is destroyed by a revived god. Now, the Watcher must put together a crew and set sail to the Deadfire Archipelago.
Similar to its predecessor,Deadfiredrops players in a world rich with colorful characters, deep lore, and immersive detail. This time around, the map is split into islands that can be traveled to and fro using a ship called the Defiant, and the journey can be just as dangerous as the destination. Along with hiring people to man the sails, the Watcher can also customize their ship, upgrading it to hold up better during turn-based battles against pirates and sea creatures.
On land,Deadfirecomes packed with countless stories thatrank among Obsidian’s best. Variety and quality are both on offer, and the RPG is more than happy to allow players to follow their own path rather than forcing them down a linear road.
