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Skull and Bones is the clearest verified alternative if you want pirate ship combat and official solo play. It is a naval action RPG focused on ship battles, builds, and progression—not a confirmed one-to-one replacement for Sea of Thieves’ first-person sailing, on-foot exploration, and encounters with other crews. If you already own Sea of Thieves and mainly want to avoid rival players, try its Safer Seas mode first; it keeps selected voyages and stories but reduces rewards and limits some content.
Which solo pirate experience are you looking for?
“Solo” can mean a self-contained single-player campaign, or sailing alone in a shared online world where other players may be present. Those are different experiences. Skull and Bones supports solo play within a shared ocean; Ubisoft’s description does not establish a standalone single-player story campaign. Safer Seas, by contrast, is a way to play Sea of Thieves without other player-controlled crews in your world, but it is a restricted mode within the game rather than a separate pirate adventure.
| # | 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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- For ship-to-ship combat and ship progression: start with Skull and Bones.
- For Sea of Thieves voyages and stories without rival crews: try Safer Seas.
- For a fully solo campaign: neither option is confirmed here as the direct answer; check a game’s current official product listing before buying on that basis.
Skull and Bones: the strongest verified alternative
Ubisoft describes Skull and Bones as a naval action RPG set in the Indian Ocean. Its official page says, “Play solo or team up to conquer rival ships and mythical beasts in an ocean of up to 20 players.” That means solo play is supported, but the game takes place in a shared world that can include other players. Ubisoft also describes PvE and PvEvP play, contracts, resource gathering, ship crafting, and progression.
What it emphasizes
The central loop is building and outfitting ships, then fighting at sea. Ubisoft highlights ship-to-ship battles shaped by positioning, timing, and loadouts, with ships offering different roles and strengths. Fleet customization, seasonal equipment, and build progression are part of the appeal. This is a better fit if your favorite part of Sea of Thieves is the naval action and upgrading your ship than if you mainly want to explore islands on foot or follow a first-person narrative. Ubisoft’s game page has the current feature and platform information.
#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 trying it before you buy
Ubisoft’s page lists a free trial on 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 relevant storefront before relying on the offer. The US PlayStation listing is for PS5 and says players can sail alone or team up with two friends; it also describes ship crafting and naval battles. Its accessibility listing includes large text, color alternatives, visual and audio cues, clear subtitles, and pausing for offline play. Feature availability may vary by platform or mode. See the US PlayStation listing for its platform-specific details.
Sea of Thieves Safer Seas: play the original without rival crews
If the problem is hostile encounters rather than Sea of Thieves itself, Safer Seas may be the better first step. Xbox Wire’s description, published December 7, 2023, says you can sail solo or with up to three friends on a single-crew server, with no other player-controlled crews in the world. It retains Trading Company Voyages, World Events, Commendations, and Tall Tales, including the Monkey Island and A Pirate’s Life crossover stories. Read Xbox Wire’s Safer Seas overview.
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 changes in Safer Seas
The mode removes some PvP-focused activities: Hourglass faction battles and Skull of Siren Song are excluded, and Reaper’s Bones is unavailable. Gold and reputation accrue at 30% of the rates awarded in High Seas, and Trading Company reputation is capped at level 40. Xbox Wire notes that Pirate Legend and Athena’s Fortune therefore require High Seas. These rules are from the December 2023 overview; check the current in-game mode description for any later changes.
How to choose between them
| Option | What “solo” means | Main focus | Key trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skull and Bones | Play alone in a shared ocean that Ubisoft describes as supporting up to 20 players | Naval combat, ship builds, crafting, contracts, and progression | Official descriptions support solo play, but do not establish a single-player campaign or a match for Sea of Thieves’ first-person exploration |
| Sea of Thieves: Safer Seas | Sail solo or with up to three friends, without other player-controlled crews in the world, according to Xbox Wire’s December 2023 overview | Selected Voyages, World Events, Commendations, and Tall Tales | Some PvP-linked activities are excluded; gold and reputation are 30% of High Seas rates, and Trading Company reputation caps at level 40 |
Choose Skull and Bones if you want a different pirate game built around ships and naval combat. Choose Safer Seas if what you want is Sea of Thieves’ existing voyage and story content with fewer player-driven interruptions, and you are comfortable with its lower rewards and restrictions.
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.
