Look, let's be real for a second. If you’re scouring the web for the next game for pirates, you’re probably feeling a bit of that "black hole" effect that happens in the genre. You’ve likely spent hundreds of hours in Sea of Thieves, or maybe you’re one of the three people still holding out hope for Skull and Bones to turn into the game we were promised ten years ago. It’s a weird time. We’ve got high-fidelity simulations on one side and goofy, physics-based romps on the other, but finding that perfect middle ground—that "next big thing"—is harder than finding a buried chest without a map.
The horizon actually looks a bit crowded, but not in the way you might think. We aren’t just looking for another ship-sailing simulator. We’re looking for the game that captures the "fantasy" better than what we have now.
What is the Next Game for Pirates Actually Going to Be?
People keep asking about Skull and Bones updates, but honestly, the community’s focus has shifted toward the indie scene and specific massive updates to existing giants. Ubisoft's foray into the Golden Age of Piracy was... well, it was a choice. It leaned heavily into the "ship as the character" mechanic, which left a lot of us feeling like we were playing a naval combat game rather than a pirate game. If you want to know what’s coming next that actually matters, you have to look at how Sea of Thieves is evolving and what smaller studios are doing to fill the gaps Ubisoft left behind.
Have you heard about Sea of Thieves Season 14 and beyond? Rare is basically pivoting toward "stealth and mischief." They’re adding things like crouching—finally—and grappling hooks that let you hang off ledges. It’s not a "new" game in the literal sense, but for the millions of players in that ecosystem, the next game for pirates is basically the massive 2025/2026 overhaul of the current king.
Then there’s the dark horse. You’ve got Ahoy.
Ahoy is an upcoming title that’s trying to do what Sea of Thieves won't: realism. It’s set in the late 18th century, and the developers at Capstan Games are going for a level of historical accuracy that makes most other games look like cartoons. We’re talking about actual naval tactics, authentic Caribbean geography, and a world that doesn’t rely on krakens or ghosts to be interesting. It's ambitious. Maybe too ambitious? We've seen "realistic" pirate projects sink before they leave the harbor, but the footage we've seen suggests they're serious about the mechanical depth.
Why Everyone is Talking About Ahoy and Under the Jolly Roger
It’s weirdly specific. Most people just want to swing on a rope and fence someone on a burning deck. Ahoy wants you to worry about wind shear and the actual weight of your broadside.
👉 See also: What Can You Get From Fishing Minecraft: Why It Is More Than Just Cod
If that sounds too intense, you’re probably looking at the more "gamey" side of things. Under the Jolly Roger has been kicking around, but the rumor mill is spinning about a potential sequel or a massive spiritual successor coming from that same vein of open-world RPG piracy. The "next game" doesn't always have to be a AAA blockbuster with a $200 million budget. Sometimes it’s a weird, janky simulator that gets the boarding mechanics just right.
Let's talk about the Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag remake. It’s the worst-kept secret in the industry. Reliable reports from Kotaku and other outlets have confirmed that Ubisoft Singapore—the same studio that spent an eternity on Skull and Bones—is working on bringing Edward Kenway back. For many, the next game for pirates is actually a game from 2013, just made to look like it belongs in 2026. And honestly? Most of us are okay with that. Black Flag had a soul that Skull and Bones lacked. It had the shanties, the character, and the ability to actually get off your ship and stab a templar in a jungle.
The Indie Revolution: Why the Best Pirate Games Aren’t AAA
If you’re tired of the big studios, you need to keep an eye on Forgotten Seas. It’s trying to merge survival mechanics with high-seas exploration. Think Valheim but with more scurvy.
The problem with the big-budget next game for pirates is that they get bogged down in "live service" nonsense. They want you to buy a battle pass for your parrot. The indie scene is different. They’re focusing on the feeling of being a small fish in a very big, very salty pond.
- Ahoy: Historical realism, 1:1 scale ships, complex sailing.
- Black Flag Remake: The nostalgia play, improved lighting, hopefully the same great combat.
- Sea of Thieves 2?: Not happening yet, but the "Sea of Thieves 2.0" engine updates are essentially a new game.
- Sail Forth: Already out, but its Maelstrom expansion is the kind of content that keeps the genre alive for the cozy-gaming crowd.
Piracy in gaming is a bit of a cycle. We get a big hit, everyone tries to copy it, they realize making water physics is a nightmare, and then they quit.
The Technical Nightmare of Sailing Games
Why aren't there more pirate games? Seriously. We have fifty thousand "soulslikes" and "hero shooters." Why is the next game for pirates always so far away?
✨ Don't miss: Free games free online: Why we're still obsessed with browser gaming in 2026
Water. That's the answer.
Ask any dev. Syncing wave height across a multiplayer server so that two different players see the same ship-to-ship positioning is a technical headache that makes most programmers want to retire. Sea of Thieves pulled it off brilliantly, and that's why it’s stayed on top for so long. Any "next game" has to clear that bar first. If the ship feels like it's sliding on ice or if the waves are just a flat texture, the immersion dies instantly.
We also have to consider the VR space. Pirates VR: Jolly Roger is one of those titles that could secretly be the most immersive experience of the bunch. There’s something about actually reaching out to grab a flintlock that makes the genre click. It’s niche, sure, but if you want to feel the wood grain under your hand, that’s where the innovation is happening.
What about the "Pirate-Lite" Games?
Sometimes the best pirate game isn't a pirate game. Look at Enshrouded or Ark. They keep adding more maritime stuff. But it’s not the same. You want the hat. You want the code. You want the fear of a Man-o'-War appearing through the fog while you're trying to sell your sugar and rum.
The real "next" experience might actually come from the modding community. Have you seen the Maelstrom mods for Skyrim or the total conversions for Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord? Bannerlord’s engine is practically built for the kind of crew management and boarding actions we crave. There are teams working on total conversion mods that look better than some standalone releases.
Getting Ready for the Next Voyage: Actionable Steps
If you’re itching to get back on the water and you’re tired of your current rotation, here’s how you actually prep for what’s coming. Don't just sit and wait for a trailer.
🔗 Read more: Catching the Blue Marlin in Animal Crossing: Why This Giant Fish Is So Hard to Find
Audit your current library. If you haven't played Sid Meier’s Pirates! in the last five years, go back. It sounds crazy, but the 2004 remake still has better "pirate life" mechanics—like dancing with the governor's daughter or tracking down long-lost family members—than almost any modern game. It’ll remind you what’s missing in today’s market.
Follow the right developers on social media. Stop following the big corporate accounts. Follow the lead designers. For Ahoy, check out their DevLogs on YouTube. They are incredibly transparent about the struggle of making a realistic sailing game. Following the "Sails" channel or the "Pirate Games" subreddit will give you actual leaks rather than polished PR statements.
Optimize your setup for immersion. If the next game for pirates is going to be your main game, consider your hardware. These games are notoriously CPU-heavy because of the physics calculations. If you're still running an old quad-core, your ship is going to stutter the moment a cannonball hits it. Also, get a good pair of open-back headphones. The sound of creaking wood and shifting wind is half the gameplay in a good sailing sim.
Look beyond the "Pirate" label. Sometimes the best "next game" is a naval RTS like Ultimate Admiral: Age of Sail. It’s not "pirate" in the sense of eye patches and parrots, but it gives you that tactical ship control that makes you feel like a real captain.
The reality of the next game for pirates is that it’s not just one title. It’s a split. Half of us are going to stay in the refined, polished world of Sea of Thieves as it enters its "Stealth Era." The other half are going to migrate to Ahoy or the Black Flag Remake for that gritty, historical itch.
Just don't pre-order anything. We've been burned too many times by cinematic trailers that turn into "AAAA" disappointments. Wait for the gameplay. Wait to see how the water moves. If the waves don't look right, the game isn't right. It's as simple as that. Keep your powder dry and your eyes on the indie devs—they’re the ones actually taking the risks these days.