Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition Review: A Treasure Chest Filled with Adventure
A special edition to commemorate five years of piracy, adventure, and camaraderie on the high seas, with an added bonus for seasoned marauders and fresh deckhands alike.
last updated Nov 20, 2023
Sea of Thieves remains the undisputed king of the pirate genre.
Avast, Me Hearties! Gameplay Ahoy!
Jumping aboard the Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition feels like setting sail on a vessel that’s been finely tuned and polished over five years of oceanic escapades. Its gameplay remains as invigorating as ever, now enriched with an embarrassment of riches in the form of content that’s been added since launch. The pirate life is full of variety – be it digging for gold, swashbuckling with skeleton crews, or evading the ever-greedy grasp of fellow pirates – the hours sail by like minutes. Plus, you've got to appreciate the 'rogue requirements' that include an amiable amount of lollygagging such as sleeping or playing merry tunes. But be warned, adventures on the lonely seas can become a bit of a snooze fest; this is a game best enjoyed with your most entertainingly unstable friends or, frankly, any mateys with a robust sense of humor.
Sonic Seashanties and Sounds of the Surf
No pirate's tale would be complete without the creak of timber, the splash against the hull, and the bellow of a tuneless sea shanty, and Sea of Thieves delivers an auditory banquet. The sound design is as deep and fathomless as the ocean itself, with environmental audio that brings the high seas to life. Every wave, gust of wind, and distant cannon fire feels tangible. The music is a star in its own right, creating an atmosphere that alternates between the calm of peaceful navigation and the thundering urgency of battle. Whether you're raising the anchor or racing to repair your battered ship, the soundscape keeps pace, ensuring that your adventures are as audibly immersive as they are visually striking.
A Feast for Ye Old Salt-Dog Eyes
Graphically, Sea of Thieves is a breathtaking panorama, a canvas where every sunset is an Instagram-worthy moment – if pirates had smartphones, that is. The 2023 Edition runs smoother than a well-greased gangplank, even on ye olde potato laptops, maintaining that ever-desirable 30-40 fps sweet spot. Visual splendor aside, what's a glossy sheen if the core is bugged, right? Thankfully, the performance is as solid as the bulwarks of a galleon, ensuring that when you get jumped and someone screams unspeakable things, it's not because the game hiccuped at a crucial moment. Moreover, the game continues to be a finely crafted piece of digital artistry, albeit with a caveat – it's an absolute unit of a download, so make room on your planks or prepare to toss some lesser games overboard.
The Good, the Bad, and the Pirate-y
As with any game that encourages spontaneity and trifling thievery, the community is a mixed bag of parrots. You may encounter the most amazing of allies or the saltiest of sea dogs, the latter capable of turning a session into a salty spittoon of frustrations. While Sea of Thieves encourages friendships, keep your cutlass close – it's 'pirates pirating pirates', after all, and loot isn't yours until it’s safely cashed in. Nevertheless, the adventure is ripe with potential for both chuckles and challenges, be it naming your boat after your bait or getting too immersed in the pirating life and contemplating walking the plank – in-game or IRL.
STEAM RATING
Developer
Rare Ltd
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release Date
June 03, 2020
The Verdict – A Pirate's Life, Indeed!
Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition is a hearty call to all would-be buccaneers to set sail on the high seas. This updated treasure chest is chock-full of lustrous booty, boasting all the old swashbuckling fun and beauty, with the added benefit of half a decade's worth of content. The game encourages shared storytelling and offers a sandbox of maritime wonder. Despite a few barnacles like the possibility of running into unsavory griefers or wanting for more solo content, Sea of Thieves remains the undisputed king of the pirate genre. So grab your compass, rally your crew, and be prepared for laughter, camaraderie, and the occasional urge to keelhaul your neighbors.
