All those who appreciate the pirate lifestyle will enjoy the fact that Sea of Thieves has finally docked on PlayStation 5. This lets you join the vast online world next to Xbox and PC players. But is this pirate life any good? Let’s see what Sea of Thieves offers, its good and bad sides to decide if this treasure chest is worth opening.
Is Sea of Thieves PS5 Edition Worth It?
For players who haven’t had their hands on Sea of Thieves before and want to know if it is worth it, continue reading. If you have played on Xbox or PC and are now thinking of trying on PS5 as well, we have an answer for yee as well.
The PS5 version offers a chance to revisit the familiar with some noteworthy changes. The ability to play with friends on Xbox and PC is a welcome addition, and your hard-earned piratey progress (mostly cosmetics) will follow you across platforms. However, some Xbox-themed cosmetics are currently MIA on PlayStation.
Microtransactions Ho!
What you need to know, before raiding the ships or walking the plank, the game heavily promotes spending real money on a vast array of cosmetic items, pets, and emotes. The Battle Pass is also there with some unique cosmetic goodies, but it is a good thing that you can ignore most of them if gameplay is your main focus and not fashion.
Gameplay and Combat
The good news for lone wolves is that sailing solo seems more viable now. Reviewers reported fewer encounters with other ships while exploring the seas. However, there’s no denying the thrill of coordinating with a crew, especially when tackling a majestic galleon. Teamwork truly makes the dream work (or in this case, the plunder work) on these larger vessels.
To speak more of the gameplay, themed adventures are a thing in Sea of Thieves, with Pirates of the Caribbean standing out. These offer a more focused, story-driven experience compared to the open-ended questing of the past. However, these adventures require dedicated play sessions and can’t be completed in bite-sized chunks.
The core gameplay of sailing, battling other ships, and uncovering buried booty remains largely unchanged. Here’s where the thrill of combat comes in:
- Swordplay and Gunfights: Battles are a mix of sword combat and ranged gunfights. Swordplay relies on quick attacks and you should always remember to use block. Guns come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including a scoped rifle, a blunderbuss for close-range blasts, and a pistol for a quick draw.
- New Weapons: Dual pistols and throwing knives are a new thing and the latest option to bring to the fight. Dual pistols allow for rapid fire at close range, while throwing knives can be used to surprise enemies or finish them off.
- Shiphandling Matters: Remember, naval combat is just as important as personal combat. Maneuvering your ship effectively to gain an advantage on your opponent’s cannons and boarding points is crucial for victory.
Better Graphics and Smoother Running
When you start the Sea of Thieves adventure on PS5, the ocean will feel vast and overwhelming. And the best thing about that is it looks much better than on PC and Xbox. The world around you takes on a whole new level of detail. But the improvements go beyond just aesthetics. The PS5’s power ensures smoother sailing across the board. All things feel more fluid and responsive, but the Kraken might look a bit more terrifying now.
Should You Play Sea of Thieves on PS5?
The PS5 version of Sea of Thieves is a tempting new experience for veteran pirates eager to set sail once more. Luckily, Cross-play will allow you to team up with players from Xbox and PC, and PC and most of your hard-earned cosmetics will journey over to PS5. Unfortunately, Xbox-specific ship customization is missing on the PS5 version and we understand it and you should too.
Taking on quests and engaging in thrilling ship battles remain the heart of the experience. Although there is no overarching narrative here, there are story-based missions, and there is so much content that you will feel overwhelmed, no matter if you’ve played the game before or not.
New players might be afraid of the directionless gameplay, but what you need to know about the Sea of Thieves is that you make your own story here, both in a group or as a solo pirate. There is a vast, beautiful world to explore, cosmetics to grind for, and a battle pass to complete. While there might be slight repetition, seasons are brimming with content, and the decision to set sail for new treasures or walk the plank comes down to what you ask from a game and Sea of Thieves is a thrilling, smooth adventure across the vast seas worth exploring whether you are new or a returning pirate.
