The other day, I ran into a subreddit lampooning a famous gamer’s review of Sea of Thieves.
The reviewer said they had no clue what the point of the game was. Redditors tore into this vapid comment and, in doing so, articulated something I felt but never had the words for.
In true pirate spirit, the game developers of Sea of Thieves have rattled their swords at the trend of game progress systems where you can buy your way to being unbeatable. Not in Sea of Thieves. Whether you’re playing on day 1 or day 500, you have the same physical capabilities and pretty much the same weaponry as anyone. It’s what you know of the game, the environment, your multiplayer friends, and your ships that gives you strength. ย Buy Sea of thieves at the cheapest prices
And that is what makes Sea of Thieves a classic.
But that’s not all. There’s so much more that makes this game a true icon of the ocean action gaming niche.
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Freedom and Sandbox Appeal
Every game player is different, and every game developer claims they understand this. But only a few can deliver something that works differently for each player.
Sea of Thieves’ open-world freedom and sandbox appeal are proven to be nearly impossible to copy. In Sea of Thieves, you can explore the world at your own pace. If you want to loot ships, do that. If you want to just lay back and sing shanties with your mates, do that. You’re the pirate, and you decide your gameplay. The game world itself has a lot to offer when you least expect it. You’ll find storms and mythical sea creatures putting the fear of God into you.
I also need to put in a strong word for the visual design, which makes the gameplay very immersive. Even doing the most mundane things, like travelling from one island to another, is very engaging because you need to show Olympic-level camaraderie with your teammates just to control your ship and keep her sailing. The main missions in the game are called Tall Tales, but such is the level of chill that you don’t need to focus on them and can go on side quests that interest you. You’ll naturally stumble upon these missions as you navigate your world. Overall, you’ll find a sense of freedom and chill in everything you do, and I suppose that’s how pirates like it, whether it’s sailing, steering, or blasting cannonballs at the first ship you see.
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Teamwork and Shared Experiences
I briefly mentioned teamwork, but there’s so much more to it.
Sailing a ship in Sea of Thieves is not a matter of pressing a button and keeping it pressed. Everybody on the ship has specific roles, and everyone has to perform those roles to keep the ship moving.
Whether you’re steering the ship, adjusting the sails, or repairing damage, teamwork will see you through. This makes voyages a shared experience, and just like on a road trip, traveling long distances becomes a bonding exercise when you’re playing Sea of Thieves with friends. But note that the game doesn’t have to be played in multiplayer mode for you to enjoy it. For instance, Sea of Thieves works based on sessions, which means every time you log in, you start afresh. The part of the ocean you’re in, the ship you’re on, the resources you have – everything is different. This makes you feel like you’re in the middle of an adventure right from the first second of gameplay.
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Innovative Reputation System
I’ve never seen the idea of reputations implemented as innovatively as the developers of Sea of Thieves have done in this game. You increase your reputation by working for five different companies and completing tasks of different natures. You need to open certain ranks with at least three of the five companies to attain the status of a Pirate Legend. Each of these companies has different focuses, for example, treasure hunting, bounty hunting, or fishing.
This is so much better than a system where progression can give you access to advanced tools and weapons. This system makes the gameplay fair and keeps it fair always. It motivates you to improve your gameplay skill rather than focus on earning or buying better gear. There are microtransactions allowed, but all of them are cosmetic. So I have a lot of respect for the philosophy that the game developers of Sea of Thieves have adopted.
I could go on and on about the pirate adventures, the vast oceans, the intriguing islands, supernatural creatures, skeleton enemies, ship-to-ship battles, treasure hunts, fishing expeditions, and whatnot. But all this is easy to copy. What’s uncopiable is the perfect blend of freedom, teamwork, and light-hearted fun that the gameplay delivers. That’s what makes Sea of Thieves an icon of oceanic action gaming.
