Do what you want ‘cause a pirate is free!
Yarr harr fiddle dee dee. Being a pirate always seemed like an exciting prospect as a young boy. Sailing the seas on pirate ships flying a jolly roger, visiting exotic locations, pillaging and looting with your comrades with a parrot on your shoulder and a patch over your eye.
Although the lifestyle has been glamorized over the years by various movies and TV shows, the reality of pirate life is very different. Knowing the truth as an adult, I’ll take a boring middle-class life over the risk of scurvy and other maladies any day.
There are, however, ways to experience aspects of pirate life vicariously without having to put up with all the negatives it brings with it.
Experience Pirate Life Through Modern Games
In this modern age, we have the luxury of experiencing the way people used to live in the past through various mediums. There have been movies and TV shows that have shown us what being a pirate was like for years, but more recently, there have been plenty of pirate board games (video and board) that have let us experience firsthand what living as a pirate used to really be like.
There are many pirate board games out there that show us different aspects of pirate life and give us the chance to play as pirate, captain, or crew all at once. Being part of a crew in a board game certainly seems more fun (and safe) than in real life.
Below are a selection of some of the best pirate-themed board games we would recommend that give you a taste of what living on the high seas was really like.
What are the Best Pirate Board Games?
Maracaibo
Players: 1-4
Time: 30-120 minutes
Age: 12+
Sail your ship on a round course through 17th century Caribbean islands. By completing various acts across the different islands, players expand their influence, and at the end of the game, whoever has amassed the most victory points wins.
The game can be played as a one-off or part of a campaign which expands the use of rules and opens up more possibilities for future gaming sessions. The game consists of players moving their ships to various locations on the map and carrying out different actions, including delivering goods, engaging in combat, exploring, and fulfilling quests, offering many opportunities for player interaction and strategic decisions.
Each of these will reward the player with victory points, influence, and other bonuses. Whoever has the most victory points at the end of four rounds is the winner. After each game, the story cards will instruct you on how to add various legacy tiles to the game for future sessions that will affect future playthroughs and create a campaign-type experience.
Maracaibo is an excellent game that offers plenty of ways to play and has a great replay factor. With the option to drop in and out, play a campaign over multiple playthroughs, or just play a solo variant, the game has you covered.
Skull King
Players: 2-8
Time: 30 minutes
Age: 8+
A fast-paced trick-taking game featuring mermaids, pirates, whales, the kraken, and the skull king. Players bid each round on how many tricks they’ll win. If they bid correctly, they’ll gain points. Bet wrong, and it’s Davy Jones’ locker!
Each round players make bets about whether they have the highest-rated card of a certain suit. They then take turns to lay down a card, the one with the highest value being the winner. After the first player lays down their card, each subsequent card must match the suit or its owner loses, even if the value is higher.
Conversely, if a player has a trump suit, regardless of that card’s value it beats out the other player’s cards. After each round the scores are calculated, the deck is shuffled, and a new hand is dealt. Whoever has the highest score after ten rounds is the winner.
Skull King is a great game that’s easy to learn and anyone can play. The rules are straightforward and while not requiring a lot of strategy, there are some special cards included in the game that throw curve balls for the other players that can put a wrinkle in their plans.
Forgotten Waters
Players: 3-7
Time: 120-240 minutes
Age: 14+
Work together as part of a senior pirate crew and embark on a shared adventure with dead men and high-seas danger. Everyone will work together to fulfill their captain’s orders, but each player will also have their own personal goals to try and complete along the way.
Used in conjunction with a gaming app, players select a scenario to play through and a role to play as, each of which is unique and has a specific job aboard the ship. Players will work together to complete a common goal, initially planning out actions for the round and then performing them.
Players will work their way around the map, engaging in ship combat, scouting different locations, and gaining treasure and infamy. Players will improve their skills along the way, making it easier to perform certain checks, and see their ship’s stats change too. Winning is based on completing that mission’s objective, but if players can’t maintain the integrity of the hull or choose to mutiny, the players lose.
A great RPG-style game where players see their characters and ship evolve over time, Forgotten Waters offers a great cooperative experience where everyone has a unique and specific role to play. Like most Plaid Hat games, it offers a fun campaign-style adventure.
Catan Junior
Players: 2-4
Time: 30 minutes
Age: 6+
Explore the islands of Catan as a brave pirate and find all kinds of goods and treasures. Avoid the spooky ghost captain and build pirate lairs and ships to expand your influence. Catan Junior takes the original Catan and modifies it for a younger audience with simplified rules and a new theme.
Each turn players will collect resources or trade them with the marketplace in order to build ships or lairs. A dice is rolled that corresponds to one of the islands and if a player owns a lair adjacent to it they can collect that resource. The more lairs, the greater chance of collecting resources each turn.
Coco the parrot tiles can also be purchased that will grant players a random benefit, such as automatically building lairs, collecting resources, or moving the ghost pirate, which will prevent resources from being generated by the island he occupies. Whoever can build seven lairs first is the winner.
Catan Junior does a great job of making the original much more accessible for younger gamers. Keeping the same mechanics but simplifying them, it still provides a great strategic experience for all ages without gameplay being too complicated. Additionally, younger kids can enjoy the game with minor adjustments, making it inclusive for a broader age range.
Tiny Epic Pirates
Players: 1-4
Time: 30-60 minutes
Age: 14+
Helm a notorious pirate ship and guide a crew through unforgiving seas to fame and fortune in this exciting new game. Plunder settlements, visit the black market, and avoid the navy on a journey to becoming the most nefarious pirate on the seven seas.
Players sail their ship across map cards, giving orders to crew hands along the way, and may take certain actions like plunder, attack, search, or trade. Along with the ship token each player receives to move across the map, they have a helm mat, which is used to assign orders, and will need repairing if the ship is jostled around too much in a storm.
Progressing through the game, players will gain legend tokens, which are a one-time bonus, such as more gold, a new deck hand, or a sure-fire shot. These can greatly impact the game and turn the proverbial tide in that player’s favor. Using the best crew possible and plenty of cunning, players must sail to different islands and bury three treasures to win the game.
I’m always blown away by how much the Tiny Epic series packs into their games. Pirates is no different and provides a surprisingly in-depth and immersive gaming experience. There’s lots to keep players busy and is highly enjoyable.
Port Royal
Players: 2-5
Time: 20-50 minutes
Age: 8+
Life in the harbor of Port Royal is bustling and merchants look to make their fortunes there every day. Hiring the right people makes all the difference, but just make sure to stay in the Admiral’s good books as well!
The game is made up of two phases: discover, and trade and hire. Discover involves drawing cards from the deck and placing them in the harbor display for all to see. Taking too many however means they forfeit their turn, so it’s very much risk vs reward when drawing.
Trading and hiring is next, and starting with the active player, everyone takes a card from the display. This can be people, ships, expeditions or tax increases. Players can discard ships for coins, which they can in turn use to hire crew to help them. All crew have different symbols on them and will in turn help with selling ships for a good price and completing expeditions. Whoever can gain 12 victory points first wins the game.
Port Royal is a simple card game that’s quick and easy to play. It’s great for all ages, involves minimal set-up, and is easy to take with you anywhere. It’s light and fun.
Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest
Players: 1-6
Time: 45-60 minutes
Age: 14+
Sky pirates set sail on the winds in search of adventure, treasure, and glory. As an admiral of a varied and distinct crew, players hop from island to island to collect loot, avoiding rival crews at the same time.
Played over three voyages, each longer than the last, and use cards that represent diverse crew members to explore an island. Each player goes simultaneously and places a crew member. Each crew member has a rank and an ability that activates during the day, dusk, or night, as well as anchor abilities for those staying on the ship.
Rank dictates whose character goes first and reputation is used in a tie-breaker situation. Players will then gain or lose doubloons during these phases, which they will then add to their score tracker at the end of the game. At the end of each day, all crew and loot is discarded and replaced with a new set. At the end of the third day, whoever is the richest pirate and has scored the most points is the winner.
Libertalia is a fun and interesting game with plenty of well-constructed components and cards with great artwork. It relies on understanding how abilities and loot work and anticipating what your opponents will do. With forty different characters to use in your crew, the game offers an enjoyable and replayable experience.
Conclusion: Set Sail with A Pirate game or A Pirate Theme
So those are just some of the great pirate-themed games out there. As with most kinds of board games, there are just too many to include in one post, so if there’s any you enjoy playing that we’ve not listed here, we’d love to hear about them!
Also Read: Board Games Through The Ages: A Journey of Fun and Strategy
FAQ
What makes a board game “pirate-themed”?
Pirate-themed board games typically feature elements of pirate life, such as sailing ships, treasure hunting, naval battles, and exploration. They often incorporate pirate imagery, characters, and storylines into their gameplay mechanics and components.
Are these games suitable for children?
Many pirate-themed games are family-friendly, but it’s important to check the recommended age range for each game. For example, Catan Junior is designed for ages 6 and up, while more complex games like Maracaibo are better suited for older players (12+).
Can these games be played solo?
Some of the games mentioned, like Maracaibo and Tiny Epic Pirates, offer solo play options. However, most pirate-themed board games are designed for multiple players to enhance the interactive and competitive aspects of pirate life.
How long do these pirate-themed games typically take to play?
Play times vary widely, from quick 30-minute games like Skull King to longer, more immersive experiences like Forgotten Waters, which can take up to 4 hours. Choose a game that fits your available time and group preferences.
Do I need to know a lot about pirates to enjoy these games?
Not at all! Prior knowledge of pirate history isn’t necessary to enjoy these games. The themes and mechanics are designed to be accessible and fun for all players, regardless of their familiarity with pirate lore.