Best Open-World Games With Ship Combat, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Engaging naval combat in open-world pirate games immerses players in the golden age of seafaring, offering flexible ship combat possibilities.
• Many titles provide a wide range of gameplay elements, from trading and exploration to exciting naval battles or boarding enemy ships.
• Some of the standout modern games for ship combat enthusiasts include
  Sea of Thieves
  ,
  Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
  ,
  Naval Action
  ,
  Skull and Bones
  , and
  Tempest
  .

The allure of commanding your own ship and exploring the seas is undeniably unique, captivating fans of games and movies that offer an adventurous escape into maritime exploration. Among the most iconic settings for these experiences are piracy-themed titles, which bring to life the golden age of seafaring during the 1600s-1700s. These games allow players to navigate vast oceans, reliving the excitement of a period filled with exploration, danger, and adventure.

To truly capture the essence of a seasoned sea dog, a detailed and expansive open-world map is key. Such worlds immerse players in this fascinating era, offering diverse gameplay options such as trading, naval combat, piracy, treasure hunting, and ship customization. These elements combine to create a compelling experience that keeps players engaged. This list dives into some of the best open-world games that shine in the naval combat department, delivering thrilling ship battles that satisfy any aspiring captain.

10 Port Royale 4

A Choice For Strategy Lovers Who Don’t Mind Some Turn-Based Naval Combat

• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
• Released: September 25, 2020
• Developer: Gaming Minds

Port Royale 4 focuses heavily on trading and economic strategy while also incorporating engaging naval battles. Set in the vibrant 17th-century Caribbean, players align with one of four colonial powers — Spain, England, France, or the Netherlands — in a quest for dominance over this rich and contested region. The game offers a sprawling, persistent map of the Caribbean, allowing players to freely explore, trade goods, establish settlements, and take on rivals in naval combat.

For the first time in the series, Port Royale 4 introduces turn-based naval battles. Up to eight ships can engage in tactical skirmishes, where strategic positioning and captain maneuvers can dramatically shift the odds, turning even dire situations into glorious victories.

9 Naval Action

The Most Realistic And Hardcore Take On Naval Warfare

• Platforms: PC
• Released: June 13, 2019
• Developer: Game-Labs

Naval Action is a free-to-play game that delivers one of the most realistic and hardcore naval warfare experiences available, set within a stunningly recreated open-world map of the Caribbean during the Age of Sail. Known for its dedication to historical accuracy, the game provides an unparalleled naval combat sandbox, and as the developers claim, no other game has come closer to replicating the era when majestic sailing ships dominated the seas.

Players can take command of over 50 faithfully detailed ships, ranging from nimble sloops to massive ships-of-the-line, with every vessel featuring intricately designed hulls, sail plans, and weapon systems. These ships are modeled with historical accuracy, including their speed and maneuverability based on real-life trials. The game offers a mix of open-world PvP exploration, naval skirmishes, and large-scale battles inspired by historical events. In addition to its focus on combat, Naval Action incorporates trading and exploration elements as well, allowing players to expand their experience beyond the battlefield.

8 Atlas

A Survival Seafaring MMO In A Giant World With A Dedicated Single-Player Mode

• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Released: December 22, 2018 (early access)
• Developer: Grapeshot Games, Instinct Games

Atlas is a multiplayer survival MMO that offers players an expansive open-world adventure, covering over 700 landmasses across a massive 45,000 square kilometers. Designed as the ultimate pirate adventure, the game provides a rich variety of activities, including shipbuilding, naval battles, and island exploration. Players can raid land-based strongholds, swing aboard enemy vessels using grappling hooks, or unleash devastating cannon fire in naval skirmishes, fully immersing themselves in the world of piracy.

Probably the best thing about Atlas is its variety of modes, catering to different playstyles. Whether engaging in PvP combat, exploring in PvE, or enjoying a more traditional single-player mode with progression, Atlas has something for everyone. The naval gameplay is particularly engaging, allowing players to either captain large warships on their own or coordinate with a crew to divide responsibilities and maximize efficiency during battles. However, potential players should be aware that Atlas has been in early access for nearly six years, and a full release date has yet to be confirmed.

7 Tempest: Pirate Action RPG

Not Trying To Shy Away From Fantasy Elements In A Pirate Backdrop

• Platforms: PC
• Released: August 22, 2016
• Developer: HeroCraft

Tempest: Pirate Action RPG is a lesser-known title that deserves more recognition among pirate-themed single-player game enthusiasts. According to the team, the sea battles were their main focus, capturing the thrilling essence of pirate life. Players can deeply customize their ships before engaging in naval combat, exploration, and trading. The game’s world is expansive, featuring three large regions, numerous islands, and hundreds of quests to undertake, ensuring there’s no shortage of activities for players to enjoy.

What truly sets Tempest apart, however, is its incorporation of fantasy elements. Players aren’t limited to traditional piracy; they can hunt legendary sea monsters like the Kraken or Leviathan and harness mystical crystals to gain powerful abilities. These supernatural powers add an exciting twist to naval combat, allowing players to summon meteor showers or even call forth a giant octopus to aid them in battle.

6 Skull And Bones

Overshadowed By Earlier Assassin’s Creed Games But Not Without Promise

Skull and Bones, despite its turbulent development and mixed initial reception, stands as a commendable attempt to craft a massive open-world pirate adventure. Set against the lush and exotic backdrop of East Africa and Southeast Asia during the late 17th century — coinciding with the Golden Age of Piracy — the game offers an engaging environment for fans of pirate-themed escapades. While some aspects, particularly the naval combat, have drawn mixed comparisons to Ubisoft’s earlier Assassin’s Creed titles, Skull & Bones manages to carve its own niche with unique features and mechanics.

One standout feature is the ability for players to control and customize entire fleets. Unlike the more singular ship-focused pirate games, players here can construct and personalize multiple vessels, outfitting them with powerful weapons and distinctive decorations, leading to naval battles growing into spectacular, large-scale engagements.

Progression is another strength, offering a steady stream of unlockable weapons, ship components, and cosmetic upgrades. With its sprawling, visually stunning open world filled with activities, ongoing content updates, and performance improvements, Skull & Bones continues to evolve. It remains a work in progress, but its growing potential hints at a brighter future, one that may eventually earn it a warmer reception from the pirate gaming community.

5 Pillars Of Eternity 2: Deadfire

Ship Combat Is Just A Tiny Component Of This Sprawling, Party-Based CRPG

In Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, open-world sea exploration and naval battles serve as a compelling enhancement to the core party-based CRPG experience, adding a layer of freshness and immersion to the sequel. While the naval mechanics don’t strive for ultra-realistic combat or cinematic ship engagements, they succeed in evoking the romanticized allure of piracy. The result is a satisfying system that integrates seamlessly into the broader narrative and gameplay.

Naval battles unfold with a tactical, text-based approach, focusing on strategic positioning and resource management rather than flashy action sequences. Players can customize and upgrade their ship, from outfitting weaponry to recruiting crew members. These mechanics strike a balance, being detailed enough to engage players without overwhelming or detracting from the RPG’s main storyline. Exploring the vast Deadfire Archipelago enhances the adventure, with numerous islands, events, and encounters waiting to be discovered.

4 Windward

A Successful Homage To Sid Meier’s Pirates With A Procedural World Map

Windward is essentially an updated version of the classic game, Sid Meier’s Pirates, featuring the recognizable top-down view of sailing and offering similar naval combat mechanics, where players need to choose between several cannon types to fulfill certain functions in battle. The game was primarily designed with co-op in mind, but players can enjoy exploring its large procedurally generated world solo as well.

Beyond the procedurally generated world, Windward boasts other modern improvements and additions to the Pirates established formula — largely thanks to the skill tree with many unique options. To make interactions with enemies more nuanced, players can unlock new talents and abilities, including diplomacy. This system adds flexibility, allowing players to tailor their playstyle, whether they prefer a combative or strategic approach. The game’s AI also deserves praise for its fairness and challenge. Enemy pirates operate under the same rules as the player, requiring them to explore the map to uncover its secrets, ensuring battles feel dynamic and earned.

3 Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag & Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Utilizing Naval Combat And Exploration In An Open-World Action Genre To Great Effect

For fans of ship combat, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey both deserve mention, though not necessarily as separate entries. As expansive open-world action games from the same franchise, both feature substantial ship-focused gameplay, interwoven with the traditional land-based exploration and combat that defines the series. Players spend considerable time commanding their customizable ships between on-land missions.

In terms of naval and ship combat, the mechanics in both games are largely similar, with adjustments tailored to their respective settings. Black Flag offers a more grounded experience, with varied weaponry like chain shots for disabling ships and a balanced approach to naval combat mechanics, including the crew management — deep enough to be engaging without becoming overly complex or simplistic.

Odyssey, on the other hand, leans into a more aggressive, arcade-style naval combat, emphasizing spectacular ship ramming and flamethrower attacks. Set in Ancient Greece, it forgoes cannons in favor of ranged attacks using arrows and javelins, delivered by the crew. The game’s unique setting distinguishes it within the naval battles genre, making up for its mechanical simplifications when compared to Black Flag, and offering a fresh, exciting maritime experience. Ultimately, the choice between Black Flag and Odyssey typically comes down to player preference for setting and story, rather than major differences in their ship combat mechanics.

2 Sid Meier’s Pirates!

A Timeless Classic That Remains As Engaging As It Did 20 Years Ago

Few pirate games can surpass the timeless classic and its remake — this adventure game blends trading, naval combat, boarding, fencing, exploration, treasure hunting, strategic stronghold battles, mini-games, and a lighthearted mood in just about the perfect proportion. True to its name, players can choose who to side with and who to attack at any given moment, shaping their own story while gathering a more powerful fleet under their sails and becoming a true force of the oceans to reckon with.

Over the years, playing Sid Meier’s Pirates! remains a delightful and immersive experience, instantly captivating players with its refined progression systems and near-perfect portrayal of the open-world piracy set in the Caribbean islands of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

1 Sea Of Thieves

A Modern King Of Open-World Pirate Adventure Here To Stay

Few players can remember how underwhelming Sea of Thieves was at launch, especially given how substantially the game has evolved over the years with the exceptional support from Rare studios. Today, Sea of Thieves is the ultimate destination for any pirate fan, delivering unparalleled freedom, deep ship customization and naval combat mechanics, and an adventurous and silly mood, along with probably the most beautiful and lifelike-feeling oceans ever made.

Multiplayer is where the game truly shines, especially through the sense of operating a huge vessel together with friends, delivering the feeling of a real pirate crew at work for a smooth and rewarding raid. Thanks to a wealth of new content being added regularly, few other titles can hope to dethrone Sea of Thieves from its deserving place as the ultimate pirate simulator.