Polygon’s hands-on at Summer Game Fest 2026 called Sea of Remnants too messy to challenge Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag in its current state, but the pirate-RPG hook is real. Joker Studio’s open-world pirate adventure runs on PC, PlayStation 5, iOS, and Android when it launches free-to-play later in 2026. Until then, here are seven Sea of Remnants alternatives for desktop that cover the ship building, naval combat, and pirate adventure the closed alpha showed.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Platforms | Price | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea of Thieves | Co-op pirate sandbox | Windows | $39.99 | Crew-based ship combat and emergent quests |
| Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag | Single-player naval epic | Windows | $19.99 | Edward Kenway and Caribbean exploration |
| Skull and Bones | Live-service naval combat | Windows | $59.99 | Pure ship-vs-ship action |
| Sid Meier’s Pirates! | Classic pirate sim | Windows, macOS | $9.99 | Trade, romance, and treasure hunting |
| Empyrion - Galactic Survival | Sci-fi take on ship building | Windows | $19.99 | Build vessels block by block |
| Atlas | Massive pirate MMO | Windows | $19.99 | Persistent pirate world with land empires |
| World of Warships | Free-to-play naval combat | Windows | Free, paid tiers | Modern fleet engagements |
Why play these instead of waiting
Sea of Remnants is in closed alpha as of mid-2026, and the Polygon preview specifically called the build messy. The free-to-play model and the cross-platform launch (PC, PS5, iOS, Android) make it an interesting promise, but it’s months from a polished state.
The combat description in NetEase’s official material (turn-based on-foot combat, action-based naval combat, ship-building, crew management) maps to a few existing games at once, so the alternatives split along those axes.
The stylised pirate-fantasy art direction is closest to Sea of Thieves rather than the realism of Black Flag or Skull and Bones.
For naval combat alone, World of Warships and Skull and Bones both cover the ship-vs-ship hook today.
The alternatives
Sea of Thieves, best for co-op pirate sandbox
Sea of Thieves is the closest stylistic match. The cartoonish art direction, the crew-based ship combat, and the emergent encounters between crews all overlap with what NetEase is pitching for Sea of Remnants. Tall Tales add narrative beats, and Hourglass PvP gives competitive players a reason to log in.
Where it falls short: solo play is possible but the game is designed around a crew. Quest variety is decent but repeats over hundreds of hours.
Pricing: $39.99 on Steam, often discounted.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Sea of Thieves if you have a crew of 2-4 people and you want the closest stylistic match for Sea of Remnants.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, best for single-player naval epic
Black Flag is still the gold standard the Polygon piece anchored its review against. Edward Kenway, the Jackdaw, the Caribbean exploration, and the ship-upgrade loop all hold up 13 years later.
Where it falls short: the on-foot Assassin’s Creed combat shows its age. The 2026 remake announced by Ubisoft is not out yet.
Pricing: $19.99 on Steam, often $4.99 on sale.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Black Flag for the single-player benchmark that every pirate game gets compared to.
Skull and Bones, best for live-service naval combat
Skull and Bones finally launched after its long development cycle. The naval combat is the strongest part. Land combat is minimal, and the live-service seasons keep adding ships and contracts.
Where it falls short: the on-foot exploration is shallow. The seasonal model doesn’t suit players who want a complete experience at purchase.
Pricing: $59.99 on Steam, plus seasonal Battle Pass.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Skull and Bones if pure ship-vs-ship action is the point and the live-service model fits.
Sid Meier’s Pirates!, best for classic pirate sim
Sid Meier’s Pirates! is the 2004 classic. The trade, the courting, the treasure hunting, and the sword duels all carry their original charm. It runs on basically any PC, and it costs nothing to keep coming back to.
Where it falls short: graphics and UI show their age. The systems are simple by 2026 standards.
Pricing: $9.99 on GOG. Frequently discounted.
Download: GOG
Bottom line: Pick Sid Meier’s Pirates! for the classic pirate sim experience at $10.
Empyrion - Galactic Survival, best for sci-fi take on ship building
Empyrion trades pirate-galleon for space-ships, but the ship-building loop is the closest analogue to what Sea of Remnants promises in fantasy form. Build a vessel block by block, equip it, crew it, and fight other ships and creatures.
Where it falls short: the setting is sci-fi rather than pirate. The crew-management depth is lighter than Sea of Remnants pitches.
Pricing: $19.99 on Steam.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Empyrion when block-by-block ship building is what draws you to Sea of Remnants.
Atlas, best for massive pirate MMO
Atlas takes the Ark engine and turns it into a pirate-MMO experience. Build a galleon, recruit a crew, and stake claims on islands across a persistent world. The PvP can be brutal.
Where it falls short: the launch was famously rough. Performance and balance have improved, but the population is smaller than at launch.
Pricing: $19.99 on Steam.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Atlas if you want a persistent pirate MMO and you can accept the rougher edges.
World of Warships, best for free-to-play naval combat
World of Warships is free, ship-vs-ship, and runs on PC at a stable 60fps. The setting is 20th-century rather than pirate-era, but the naval-combat itch is what matters.
Where it falls short: the monetisation is aggressive. Premium ships and Commander training are the upsells.
Pricing: Free, with paid ships and Battle Passes.
Download: worldofwarships.com
Bottom line: Pick World of Warships if you only care about ship combat and zero entry cost matters.
How to choose
Pick Sea of Thieves for the closest co-op pirate experience available now.
Pick Black Flag for the single-player benchmark.
Pick Sid Meier’s Pirates! at $9.99 if a classic pirate sim is what you want.
Pick Skull and Bones for live-service naval combat.
Pick World of Warships if free-to-play naval combat is the draw and you can wait on Sea of Remnants.
Skip these and wait for Sea of Remnants if the cross-platform play (PC, PS5, iOS, Android) and the free-to-play model are non-negotiable. The closed alpha is reportedly active for sign-ups.
FAQ
When does Sea of Remnants release?
NetEase has said 2026 without a confirmed month as of June 2026. A closed alpha is active.
Is Sea of Remnants free to play?
Yes. NetEase has confirmed Sea of Remnants is free-to-play on PC (Steam), PS5, iOS, and Android.
How does Sea of Remnants compare to Sea of Thieves?
Stylistically, very close. The crew, ship-building, and cartoon-fantasy art direction overlap. Sea of Remnants adds turn-based on-foot combat and a single-player narrative path, which Sea of Thieves does not.
Is Black Flag still worth playing in 2026?
Yes. The Ubisoft remake was announced but has no release date. The original holds up for setting and naval gameplay.
Will Sea of Remnants have cross-play between PC and mobile?
NetEase has confirmed cross-platform play across PC, PS5, iOS, and Android. The technical details on matchmaking are still light.
What pirate game has the best ship-building?
Atlas and Empyrion both let you build vessels block by block. Sea of Thieves uses fixed ship classes. Sea of Remnants promises a middle ground with customizable but class-based ships.
