Skull and Bones is the clearest verified alternative if you want pirate ship combat that you can play solo. It is a naval action RPG set in a shared ocean, focused on ship battles and progression—not a confirmed one-for-one replacement for Sea of Thieves’ sailing, on-foot exploration, or unpredictable encounters with other crews. If you already own Sea of Thieves and mainly want to avoid hostile players, try its Safer Seas mode first.
At a glance: which option fits?
| Option | What solo play means | Best fit | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skull and Bones | Solo play in a shared ocean; Ubisoft describes sessions in an ocean of up to 20 players. | Ship-to-ship combat, ship builds, contracts, and progression. | Its official descriptions do not establish the same first-person sailing, on-foot exploration, or player-driven adventure as Sea of Thieves. |
| Sea of Thieves: Safer Seas | Solo or with up to three friends on a single-crew server, without other player-controlled crews. | Voyages and story content in the Sea of Thieves world, without rival crews. | Some PvP-oriented activities are excluded, and rewards and reputation progression are reduced or capped. |
Skull and Bones: the strongest alternative for solo naval combat
Ubisoft describes Skull and Bones as a naval action RPG that can be played solo or in an ocean of up to 20 players. The publisher frames the game around ship-to-ship battles, choosing loadouts, ships with different roles, and progression through equipment and seasonal unlocks. Its setting is the Indian Ocean; the overview also describes crafting and sailing ships, completing contracts, gathering resources, and choosing PvE or PvEvP activities.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Sea of Thieves The Board Game: Voyage of Legends | $44.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One | $38.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Sea of Thieves Xbox One (Renewed) | $30.14 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41RiuntPiNL._SL160_.jpg)
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Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One [Digital Code] | $35.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Sea of Thieves - Xbox One/PC - Full Game - Key Card | $57.90 | Buy on Amazon |
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That makes it a good match if your priority is controlling a pirate ship, fighting other vessels, and improving your fleet. It is a different kind of pirate game from Sea of Thieves: the official descriptions emphasize ship combat and progression, and do not establish equivalent first-person sailing, on-foot island exploration, or emergent encounters with rival crews.
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What “solo” means here
Solo does not mean a standalone, offline campaign. Ubisoft’s description places solo play in a shared ocean, so distinguish “I can play without forming a group” from “I will be alone in a self-contained single-player story.” The official material cited here establishes the former, not the latter.
#1 Best Overall
- Welcome, pirates! Have you ever dreamed of being out on the open waves in search of treasure and adventure?
- Well then, the Sea of Thieves is calling!
- Inspired by the hit video game, Sea of Thieves: Voyage of Legends is a competitive seafaring game of piracy for 2-4 players.
- Explore the high seas with your friends in voyages packed with danger and excitement, but don't forget - only one of you can be crowned a Pirate Legend...
- You'll build a fearsome reputation as you compete for that title, battling sea monsters and pilfering plunder as you go.
Platforms and trial
Ubisoft’s official page lists a free trial for Steam, Ubisoft Connect, Epic Games Store, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, and says trial progress and purchases carry over to the full game. Availability can change, so check the current listing for your platform and region before planning around the trial. The US PlayStation listing identifies the game for PS5 and says you can sail alone or team up with two friends.
Try Sea of Thieves Safer Seas if you already own the game
If you like Sea of Thieves’ Voyages and stories but not the threat of rival crews, Safer Seas may be the better first choice than buying another game. In the mode rules described by Xbox Wire on December 7, 2023, you can sail solo or with up to three friends on a single-crew server, with no other player-controlled crews in the world.
Rank #2
- A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
- Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare’s irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends
- A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot. Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
- Xbox One Console exclusive
- Battery: no battery used;Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Crude humor, use of alcohol, violence
What Safer Seas keeps
- Trading Company Voyages, World Events, and Commendations.
- Narrative Tall Tales, including the Monkey Island and A Pirate’s Life crossover stories.
What changes
- PvP-centered activities such as Hourglass faction battles and Skull of Siren Song are not available; Reaper’s Bones is also unavailable.
- Gold and reputation are earned at 30% of the rates awarded in High Seas.
- Trading Company reputation is capped at level 40. Pirate Legend and Athena’s Fortune therefore require High Seas.
These are the rules reported in Xbox Wire’s December 2023 article; check the current mode details in-game or from the publisher in case they have changed.
Choose by the kind of solo experience you want
- Choose Skull and Bones if ship combat, equipment choices, contracts, and building a fleet matter more to you than matching Sea of Thieves feature for feature.
- Choose Safer Seas if you want Sea of Thieves’ existing Voyages and Tall Tales without other player crews, and accept its reduced rewards and content limits.
- Look for a separate single-player campaign if you specifically want a self-contained story. The cited official Skull and Bones descriptions verify solo play in a shared world, not a single-player campaign.
What about Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag?
Black Flag is often suggested for its pirate setting and campaign, but the available evidence for this comparison did not verify current platform availability or those details against an official product page. Treat it as a game to investigate rather than a verified recommendation here, and check the official store listing for your platform before buying.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Sea of Thieves offers the essential pirate experience, from sailing and fighting to exploring and looting – everything you need to live the pirate life and become a legend in your own right.
- Whether you’re voyaging as a group or sailing solo, you’re bound to encounter other crews in this shared-world adventure – but will they be friends or foes, and how will you respond?
Rank #3
- A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
- Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare's irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends!
- A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot
- Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
- Available on the Xbox One family of devices and Windows 10 PCs. Supports Xbox Play Anywhere and cross-platform play** (**Play on one device at a time. PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10).The Hungering Deep, the first major Sea of Thieves content update landing May 2018, brings with it an exciting new threat to the Sea of Thieves world. Work together with other crews on a completely new adventure with gameplay enhancements and unique rewards.The May kick-off of the Sea of Thieves weekly events programme also introduces fun new ways to play with weekly events and rewards.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
