Many kids pretend to be pirates, and it's no wonder. They were the outlaws of their time, taking from the overbearing leadership and making their own fortune. That sensationalized quality holds strong as those kids grow up. That's why many gamers have an appetite for high-seas plunder.
It's an unforgettable thrill to take a ship onto the ocean and battle other vessels for supremacy. As such, numerous developers have attempted to simulate the experience. Several of these ill-fated voyages sink to the depths. However, some games stand out. Both flagship franchises and indie dinghies alike have put in admirable work in capturing ship-to-ship combat.
6 Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
The ship segments in Assassin's Creed 3 may have introduced naval combat to the series, but Black Flag expanded those elements in every conceivable way. Players have a wealth of tools at their disposal. There are light and heavy cannons, swivel guns, fire barrels, mortar rounds, and a ram. What's more is that these all have a purpose in battle, and players can efficiently juggle them thanks to the camera-controlled activation. They also provide plenty of customization and strategy.
The game increases that sense through the environment. Sailors must account for wind, waves, and the occasional storm. These factors can easily determine one's victory. Players who use them to their advantage, though, find each triumph more rewarding as masters of the sea. That's why Black Flag remains the most unabashedly fun pirate romp.
5 Sid Meier's Pirates
This oldie has all the depth of Black Flag, albeit slower and more methodical. This is likely more realistic. Authenticity has always been Sid Meier's strong suit, and Pirates is no exception.
The details make or break the battle. Namely, players must consider the type of ship, how many cannons, and how many crew members to operate them. On top of those are several kinds of projectiles. Chain shots, for instance, are great for taking out sails and decreasing maneuverability. It's a shame that the game lets players gather a fleet while forbidding that fleet from aiding the fight. However, that's a small price to pay for so much booty.
4 Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
Adding a pirate level to a Sly Cooper game may seem out of left field, but pirates were the master thieves of their day. Maybe that's why the Cooper Gang proves itself eminently suited to naval raids. Many mechanics here feel like primordial versions of those seen in later pirate titles. Because of that, these fights may seem basic.
That said, the little touches distinguish Sly's ship warfare through surprising authenticity. As their vessel takes damage, it will sprout holes. Players must plug these up to prevent the ship from sinking. In addition, taking a hit at the wrong angle blows off some of the cannons. Patching a ship and holding it together during combat were real issues that pirates and navy men had to worry about. Sly 3 should be applauded for incorporating those factors without making them overly intrusive.
3 Kingdom Hearts 3
For its return to the Pirates of the Caribbean world, Kingdom Hearts 3 gives Sora and his friends a ship all their own. It sports the same intuitive controls as previous efforts, but it doesn't have the depth of customization of Black Flag or Sid Meier's. Thankfully, the game makes up for that with its characteristic flashiness.
Sora enhances his ship through magic. On top of cannons, he fires homing projectiles of light. He also shoots forward like a speedboat to ram an enemy vessel. Finally, the ship can soar into the air and come crashing down in a colossal dive bomb, destroying anything in the surrounding water. It's ridiculous but certainly entertaining. Not to mention, it helps Kingdom Hearts put a unique stamp on the familiar naval gameplay.
2 Sea Of Thieves
The selling point of Sea of Thieves is experiencing the freedom of a pirate's life with friends, and that's definitely a solid foundation. With a first-person perspective and no HUD, it's possibly the most immersive recreation of nameless sailors trying to make their living through pillage and plunder. Would-be pirates can tackle that challenge alone.
However, Sea of Thieves hangs its hat on multiplayer, where it shines. Players manually steer the ship, fire cannons, use the spyglass, and perform other functions. Bigger ships are more difficult to run alone due to their size and the greater number of components. Having a team working together not only cements the sense of a real pirate crew but ensures things run more smoothly. This leads to victory in most battles and an exhilarating challenge when fighting other player-controlled ships.
1 Windward
This is essentially an updated version of Sid Meier's Pirates. It has the same top-down view of sailing and deals heavily with several cannon types to fulfill certain functions in battle. The main difference is that the whole experience is more personalized.
Windward has great variety in how players fulfill their pirate fantasies. Much of that comes down to a skill tree. What immediately stands out are the diplomacy options. Fight or flight was not always an option for sailors, after all, so it makes sense to incorporate that into enemy interactions. Even the offensive options are unique in that they come from the game's silly sense of humor. One attack lets players throw rotten chum at foes. That blend of realistic and ridiculous should feel unfocused, but it melds well enough to keep pirate fans coming back for more.