New Pirate Game on Steam Makes Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag Look Like a Dinghy and Skull & Bones a Sandbox Toy

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There have been a lot of great pirate games released recently, and that trend is continuing. Sea of Thieves is packed with content after years of updates, offering collaborative adventures, islands to discover, and lively interactions with other players. If you’re primarily interested in realistic ship battles, Skull and Bones might be a good fit. Those who enjoy a strong narrative can anticipate the remake of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, which is an open secret in the gaming world. But for players who want a blend of everything – exploration, combat, and storytelling – the upcoming Steam game Sea of Remnants looks promising and could be a standout title in the genre.

Skull and Bones initially received criticism for being repetitive and lacking features players wanted, like ship boarding and extensive land exploration. While Ubisoft has improved the game with updates, fixing bugs and adding new content like a giant kraken, it still appeals to a relatively small audience due to its focus on naval combat, and some players haven’t given it a second look. Black Flag remains a beloved Assassin’s Creed game and a strong candidate for a remake, but its story-driven missions and lore might not appeal to those seeking a purely pirate experience. The lack of cooperative play is also a drawback for some. This is where Sea of Remnants shines – it seems to combine the most enjoyable elements from various pirate games into one thrilling experience.

The Steam page for Sea of Remnants currently says it will be released in 2026. However, since that’s a broad timeframe and the game seems quite complex, a delay is possible.

Sea of Remnants’ Features at a Glance

  • EXPLORE on land or sea, with turn-based combat offering intense battles and character upgrades making for a proper RPG.
  • UNCOVER an interesting story that keeps note of any bonds forged along the way.
  • BUILD and upgrade your own ship, fighting huge sea creatures and sailing a sea impacted by dynamic weather.
  • MEET 300 potential companions and crewmates as well as rival factions.
  • RELAX in an engaging hub area full of fun mini-games.
  • APPRECIATE a punk, comic book aesthetic, with energetic music, flashy animations, and plenty of personality throughout.
  • EMBARK on four-player multiplayer raids.

Sail the adventurous seas, fight bizarre creatures, grow your fleet of ships, team up with over 300 unique characters, and influence the development of the pirate city of Orbtopia with every decision you make.

How Sea of Remnants Outshines Skull and Bones

Sea of Remnants directly tackles the biggest criticism of Skull and Bones: that its realism was boring. However, that’s definitely not a problem with Joker Studio’s game. While its vibrant, punk-inspired style might not appeal to everyone, it’s undeniably striking, and the trailers showcase that energy clearly. The game’s art style is a unique blend – imagine pirates mixed with the characters from League of Legends’ Jinx, Splatoon, and It Takes Two. This creates a visually stunning experience with charming, wooden-style characters, beautiful environments, and a strong, distinct personality. Calling the game a “visual feast” is spot-on; its comic book aesthetic and energetic graffiti-inspired design are truly impressive.

NetEase Games, known for developing the visually stunning game Marvel Rivals, is also publishing Sea of Remnants.

Sea of Remnants not only improves upon the character issues found in Skull and Bones, but it also emphasizes exploration on foot as a core gameplay element. Players can explore detailed islands, encountering and battling enemies like giant crabs in turn-based combat. Naval combat also looks strong, with players able to build and customize their ships with various parts and cannons, and hire a crew from over 300 unique companions to build relationships with. These companions will fight alongside you in turn-based battles and can be trained to unlock new abilities. The game also features epic battles against massive sea creatures and dynamic weather effects like storms and whirlpools. Simply put, Sea of Remnants appears to be expanding on everything Skull and Bones offers, making it more engaging and addressing issues like limited land exploration.

Sea of Remnants’ Story Focus Could Pique The Interest of Assassin’s Creed Fans

Whether Sea of Remnants will deliver a story as compelling as Edward Kenway’s in Black Flag remains to be seen, but fans of Black Flag’s narrative will likely enjoy its attempt at a captivating tale. The game follows a sailor suffering from amnesia, who, with the help of a mysterious girl, tries to recover their lost memories by reaching the Sea of Remnants. Along the way, players will make choices – like whether to kill or spare enemies – that will have consequences later in the game. The relationships you build with characters will be important, as “every bond you form will resurface” by the game’s end. Unlike the rumored Black Flag remake, which aims to streamline its story, Sea of Remnants is a completely new experience, unconnected to the long-running franchise, making it accessible to everyone.

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Sea of Remnants Could Even Be Coming For Sea of Thieves’ Crown

Image via Joker Studio

Beyond its captivating story, appealing visuals, and mix of land and sea battles, Sea of Remnants offers a unique and lively central hub called Orbtopia. Like the popular game Sea of Thieves, Sea of Remnants encourages players to explore and create their own fun. This is evident in the many side activities available, such as mahjong, russian roulette, a drinking game, and races. The game is filled with quirky details – a rooster might steal your items, and the world is populated with cats and even a pirate gorilla! Orbtopia isn’t just a place to restock on supplies and upgrade your ship; it’s a destination brimming with personality and entertainment beyond the main gameplay.

The biggest unknown about Sea of Remnants is how robust its multiplayer will be. While it’s tagged as having MMO and PvP elements on Steam and will feature four-player raids, much of the game might still be a single-player experience. Regardless, Sea of Remnants looks incredibly promising. Even if the online features are limited, it could be a fantastic single-player pirate game, potentially surpassing Black Flag and Skull and Bones in many ways. If its multiplayer is strong, it could even become a major competitor to Sea of Thieves as a fun and engaging co-op game. Anyone interested in pirate adventures should definitely add this 2026 release to their Steam wishlist.

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2026-02-10 17:36