Sea of Thieves: 2025 Edition

Developer: Rare Ltd
Release: Jun 3rd 2020
Platforms:
Action
Adventure
Immersive
Cooperative
Beautiful
Cheating
Toxic
Sea of Thieves: 2025 Edition Poster

" Immersive action-adventure pirate game with dynamic multiplayer and rich storytelling but rampant cheating issues "

Sea of Thieves: 2025 Edition Review

Sea of Thieves: 2025 Edition remains a visually stunning pirate adventure with a vast open world and immersive gameplay mechanics that emphasize cooperative play. Players enjoy sailing, treasure hunting, engaging in ship battles, and the dynamic emergent experiences that arise from player interactions. The game excels when played with friends or a coordinated crew, offering memorable moments of chaos and camaraderie.

However, the game suffers from persistent issues, notably rampant hacking and cheating that severely disrupt gameplay, especially in competitive modes. The anti-cheat measures and developer responses are widely criticized as insufficient. Additionally, solo players face significant challenges due to unbalanced PvP encounters and lack of solo-specific matchmaking, which diminishes the experience for casual or solo gamers. The community is described as toxic by many, with frequent griefing and harassment. Technical problems such as crashes, bugs, and poor optimization further impact player enjoyment. Despite continued content updates, many feel the game’s core experience is marred by these ongoing problems.

Highlights

Players highly praise the game's immersive sailing mechanics, beautiful art style, and the freedom to create unique pirate adventures. The cooperative multiplayer experience, especially with friends, is often described as unparalleled and chaotic fun. The world events, tall tale storylines, and dynamic PvP encounters provide depth and excitement. The game’s sandbox nature allows for varied playstyles, from fishing to intense ship battles, making each session unique. Visuals and atmospheric design receive consistent commendation, adding to the game’s charm and allure.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the prevalence of hackers and cheats that disrupt fair play, with ineffective developer intervention. Solo players struggle due to unbalanced PvP and lack of solo-queue options, leading to frustrating experiences. The community is often toxic, with griefing and harassment common, impacting enjoyment. Technical issues such as frequent crashes, corrupted files, and server instability are reported. The grind-heavy progression and repetitive content reduce long-term engagement. Additionally, microtransactions and monetization practices are viewed negatively by some players.

Pros

  • Immersive sailing mechanics make you feel like a true pirate on the high seas.
  • Beautiful art style and atmospheric world design enhance the pirate adventure vibe.
  • Cooperative multiplayer with friends offers chaotic and unforgettable gameplay moments.
  • Varied activities including treasure hunting, fishing, and ship battles keep gameplay fresh.
  • Dynamic emergent player interactions create unique and memorable experiences.
  • Engaging tall tale storylines and world events add depth to the sandbox.
  • Freedom to play solo or with a crew allows for flexible playstyles.

Cons

  • Rampant hacking and cheating severely disrupt competitive gameplay experiences.
  • Lack of solo-queue or balanced matchmaking frustrates solo and casual players.
  • Toxic player community leads to griefing, harassment, and negative interactions.
  • Technical issues such as crashes, corrupted files, and server instability persist.
  • Progression can be grind-heavy and repetitive, reducing long-term engagement.
  • Microtransactions and monetization practices are viewed as excessive by some.
  • Poor anti-cheat enforcement fails to adequately address cheating problems.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

Sea of Thieves is a smash-hit pirate adventure game, offering the quintessential pirate experience of plundering lost treasures, intense battles, vanquishing sea monsters and more. Dive in with this revised edition of the game, which includes access to digital bonus media.

Release Date Jun 3rd 2020
Publisher Xbox Game Studios
Developer Rare Ltd
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (138,408)
90% Positive 10% Negative