5 Pirate Games You Need to Play with Friends

There are few things as freeing as sailing the high seas with a group of friends, singing some shanties and dancing a hearty jig. If this is the atmosphere you’re interested in, then chances are you’ve already tried Sea of Thieves; if you haven’t, that should be your first port of call. However, if you’re in need of a new horizon, consider looking for treasure amongst these games.

Atlas

Have you ever sat and played ARK: Survival Evolved and thought to yourself, “You know what this needs? Pirate ships.” If so, boy, have I got news for you. Yes, it is just a reskin of ARK where they took all the cool dinos out, but what it lacks in dinosaurs, it makes up for in gameplay. Where ARK was mostly aimless, Atlas gives you a lot more direction. Building and customising your own ships from scratch, free reign to choose what weaponry, defences, and sails to “bedeck” your tub with. Go with friends to find where X marks the spot on your treasure map, defeat hordes of the undead, sink and loot other ships and take on the Kraken if you have more than fish guts.

Blackwake

Maybe treasure and travel aren’t your thing; maybe you want the experience of being onboard during a naval battle. In Blackwake you become part of a fleet that goes head to head in PvP with either pirates or the military, based on which side you fall on. Fire cannons and sink ships, or board them and cut your foes down with good old steel and gunpowder. Take control of a ship with friends and let your captain guide you to glory and riches.

Raft

This is a bit adrift from the main pirate theme but a bit of imagination never hurt anyone. Stranded in the middle of the ocean on a few planks, you need to scavenge resources from the surrounding water to build and survive. There may not be any epic battles but there is some modern-day treasure hunting with a metal detector, islands to explore, and giant swells to make sure you’re properly seasick. Many hands make light work, and with enough friends, you’ll be living the good life on the high seas.

Tempest: Pirate Action RPG

If you’re still finding your sea legs and not quite confident enough to head into PvP but still want more of a focus on ship battles, then set sail in Tempest: Pirate Action RPG. Play co-op with up to three players and plunder merchant ships, fight other pirates, and deal with a mysterious cult. You will also contend with sea creatures such as the Leviathan but luckily you can eventually call on your own large octopus friend to come to your aid.

Windward

The world is your oyster in this procedurally generated co-op game, Windward is a sandbox with actual sand, well, virtual sand. Spend your time exploring, trading with various towns, completing quests and of course battling other ships. Enemies will try to relieve you of the riches you accumulate, but send enough of their ships to rest on the ocean floor and you will earn their fear and respect. Build up the towns to unlock more quests and ship upgrades to make your own man-o-war.

I might have gone overboard with the wordplay and puns, if you make me walk the plank for it then I’ll happily swim with the sharks, just don’t keelhaul me. Gather your crew and follow your compass wherever it might lead you. Just remember there’s no room on board for cowards, savvy?