File 08 · Co-op adventure review
Sea of Thieves
A pirate sandbox where the ship is the co-op puzzle and every session turns into a story.
Save Point
score
Sea of Thieves gives a crew of up to four a ship, a map and an ocean full of other players. Nothing on the ship is automated. Someone steers, someone trims the sails, someone reads the map below deck and shouts directions, and when things go wrong, everybody bails water. That physical teamwork is the heart of the game and it remains unmatched.
Progress is deliberately flat. There are no stronger cannons or tougher hulls to unlock, only cosmetics and titles, so a first-day crew can out-sail a veteran one through wit alone. Voyages send you digging on islands, escorting cargo or fighting skeleton fleets, while the Tall Tales offer scripted story adventures, including crossovers with famous pirate fiction.
The shared world is both the spice and the challenge. Another sail on the horizon might be friendly, or might want your haul. For crews who prefer peace, Safer Seas provides a private ocean for you and your friends with reduced earnings, which is ideal for learning, for families and for story content.
Solo sailing is possible on the small sloop but demanding, and losing an hour’s haul to another crew stings. New players get little guidance after the tutorial, so a short video or an experienced friend helps enormously. With two or three friends and a free evening, though, it produces the kind of stories you retell for years.
Score breakdown
The Maiden Voyage teaches sailing basics; after that the sea explains very little.
Crewing a ship together is a joy — sails, anchor, map table, cannons, bucket.
Story voyages, world events and seasons, though goals are mostly cosmetic.
Everything sold is cosmetic, and a veteran’s ship is no stronger than yours.
Gorgeous water, solid cross-play, and a private mode for calmer sessions.
Scores are our editorial opinion. How the weighting works.
What stands out, what to weigh up
Stands out
- Hands-on ship teamwork
- Level playing field for new crews
- Private Safer Seas mode
- Stunning sea and weather
Weigh up
- Hard going when playing alone
- Losing a haul can sour a session
- Thin guidance after the tutorial
In-game screenshots
Official images © Xbox Game Studios, shown for the purpose of review.
Your first session: four tips
- Finish the Maiden Voyage
The tutorial island teaches sails, anchor, cannons and repairs, and hides a few easy commendations.
- Start in Safer Seas
A private ocean lets you learn voyages and Tall Tales without other crews nearby.
- Sell often
Treasure only counts once it is handed in. Drop by an outpost between islands rather than stacking the deck.
- Keep planks and cannonballs stocked
Empty the barrels at every outpost before leaving. Supplies decide most encounters.
Our verdict · 8.5 / 10
Bring friends and it is magic. Alone, start in Safer Seas and treat it as a sailing holiday.
Best for: Crews of two to four with a free evening
