Sea of Thieves is an online pirate sandbox from Rare where crews of one to four sail, hunt treasure and fight. There is no overall finish: you win a session by selling your loot before rivals sink you, and you win battles in Hourglass or Last Ship Standing by sinking enemy ships. It is in Season 21.
What is Sea of Thieves?
Sea of Thieves is an online pirate adventure made by Rare, the British studio owned by Microsoft. You and your crew sail a ship across a shared ocean, dig up treasure, fight skeletons and sea monsters, and decide whether other crews you meet are friends or targets. Nobody plays a fixed class: everyone can steer, patch holes, fire cannons or read the map.
The game first launched on Xbox One and Windows in March 2018, came to Steam in June 2020 and reached PS5 in April 2024. It is updated in seasons. As of October 2026 it is in Season 21, which began on September 17, 2026 with a new season pass, more Custom Seas tools and a run of live events. Our Season 21 guide covers it in detail.
| Fact | Sea of Thieves (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Developer | Rare |
| Publisher on Steam | Xbox Game Studios |
| First release | March 2018 (Xbox One and Windows) |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Steam, PS5, with cross-platform play |
| Price model | Paid game; the Steam 2026 Edition lists at $39.99 |
| Genre | Shared-world pirate sandbox with PvE and PvP |
| Current season | Season 21, started September 17, 2026 |
| Ships | Sloop (1–2), Brigantine (3), Galleon (4) |
Want to compare it with other games? See every game explained.
What is the objective of Sea of Thieves?
There is no story ending that finishes the game. The long-term aim is to build your pirate's reputation with the trading companies, such as the Gold Hoarders, Order of Souls and Merchant Alliance, and earn gold and titles along the way. The best-known milestone is Pirate Legend, which needs reputation level 50 with any three trading companies.
A single session is simpler. You pick a voyage or chase a world event, collect loot, then sail it back to an outpost and hand it in. Loot only pays out once you sell it, so the real test is getting it home before another crew, a storm or a sea monster takes it from you.
How do you win in Sea of Thieves?
On the open High Seas there is no scoreboard, so a "win" is a session where you sell your haul and grow your reputation. The game also has structured fights with clear winners. The table shows the main ways to play as of October 2026.
| Mode | Crew size | How you win |
|---|---|---|
| High Seas adventure | 1–4 per ship | Complete voyages and sell your loot before you lose it; there is no fixed end |
| Hourglass Faction Battles | Brigantine or galleon crew vs one rival ship | Sink the rival crew's ship to win the battle and raise your allegiance |
| Last Ship Standing | Solo or duo sloops, up to 6 ships | Be the last ship afloat as the battle area shrinks |
| Safer Seas | 1–4, your crew only | No PvP; finish voyages to learn the game, with reputation capped |
| Tall Tales | 1–4 | Finish the story quest from start to end |
Hourglass battles let you pledge to the Guardians of Fortune or the Servants of the Flame. Last Ship Standing, which returned for Season 21, is the closest thing to a battle royale: only sloops take part, and finishing higher pays more allegiance.
How does progression work?
Progress is tracked through trading company reputation levels, the season pass and Hourglass allegiance. Each trading company has its own level, and reaching 50 with three of them makes you a Pirate Legend, which opens the Athena's Fortune company and the Tavern of Legends. Safer Seas is good for learning, but reputation there stops at level 25 for the companies you can earn, so Pirate Legend is only possible on the High Seas. Our Pirate Legend guide explains the fastest route, and every article lives in the Sea of Thieves guides hub.
Beginner tips to win more
- Start on a sloop. It is the easiest ship to run solo or with one friend.
- Sell often. Loot is only safe once it is handed in, so cash out before you get greedy.
- Carry spare planks and cannonballs. Restock at every outpost so you can patch leaks fast.
- Watch the horizon. Check behind you regularly; most lost hauls come from ships you never saw coming.
- Learn to bail and repair. Fixing holes and bailing water keeps you alive longer than winning cannon duels.
- Try Safer Seas first. Use it to learn sailing and navigation without other crews, then move to the High Seas.
- Pick three companies early. Focusing on three trading companies makes Pirate Legend a clear goal.
How can Boosting Games help with Sea of Thieves?
Boosting Games sells fixed-price Sea of Thieves services, all listed on the Sea of Thieves services collection. The prices below are starting prices as of October 2026, and the exact price for the option you pick shows before checkout. Not sure how an order runs? Our how it works page walks through every step.
| Service | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sea of Thieves Season 21 Pass Levels | We earn Renown to raise your Season 21 pass level | From $15 |
| Sea of Thieves Trading Company Reputation | We raise reputation with the company you choose | From $25 |
| Sea of Thieves Pirate Legend | We work toward the Pirate Legend title with you | From $159 |
| Sea of Thieves Hourglass Allegiance Levels | We fight Hourglass battles to raise your allegiance | From $39 |
| Sea of Thieves Curse Unlock | We complete the tasks for the curse you pick | From $8 |
| Sea of Thieves Pro Crew Session | Experienced pirates crew your ship | From $25 |
Honest risk note: Sea of Thieves uses a Microsoft account, and Microsoft's terms say you must keep your password private and not hand your account to anyone else. Piloted orders carry the most risk. Crewing with you on your own ship, or any self-play option, keeps your login with you and carries less risk, and coaching carries none. Read our account safety page before you order. We never sell accounts, gold, doubloons, Ancient Coins, cosmetics, cheats or exploits.
Get help with Sea of Thieves
Pick a service and option, see the exact price before you pay, and follow every session on your private order page.
See Sea of Thieves servicesAsk Boost Up AIRelated reading: Sea of Thieves Pirate Legend guide, Sea of Thieves Season 21 guide, and two more survival beginner guides: what is Palworld and what is Dune: Awakening. For services, see our Sea of Thieves boosting page or ask Boost Up AI.
Sea of Thieves FAQ
Is Sea of Thieves free to play?
No. Sea of Thieves is a paid game. On Steam the 2026 Edition lists at $39.99, with Deluxe and Premium editions that add cosmetics, and it is often discounted. It is also sold on the Microsoft Store, Xbox and PS5. There is no monthly fee, and new seasons and events arrive as free updates; an optional premium pass tier adds extra rewards.
Can you play Sea of Thieves solo?
Yes. You can sail a sloop alone on the High Seas or choose Safer Seas, where only your crew is on the server. Solo play is harder because you steer, repair and fight by yourself, so a sloop is the best choice. Last Ship Standing also has a solo bracket where solo sloops only fight other solo sloops.
What is Safer Seas?
Safer Seas is a mode where your crew has the world to itself, so no other players can attack you. It is ideal for learning to sail and complete voyages. The trade-off is limits: reputation stops at level 25 for the companies you can earn, Hourglass battles and some events are off, and you cannot become a Pirate Legend there.
How do you become a Pirate Legend?
Raise your reputation to level 50 with any three trading companies, such as the Gold Hoarders, Order of Souls and Merchant Alliance, while playing on the High Seas. Once you reach it, you claim the promotion and gain access to the Athena's Fortune company and the Tavern of Legends. It takes many hours, so focus on three companies from the start.
What happens in Last Ship Standing?
Last Ship Standing pits up to six sloop crews against each other in one area that shrinks over time. Solo crews fight solo crews, and duos fight duos. You win by being the last ship still afloat, and higher finishes pay more allegiance. You join it through the Hourglass after pledging to a faction. It returned with Season 21.
How big is a Sea of Thieves crew?
A crew holds up to four players. The sloop suits one or two pirates, the brigantine is built for three, and the galleon carries four. Bigger ships hit harder and finish voyages faster but need more teamwork to sail and repair. Everyone on a crew shares the rewards from loot you sell together.
Sources: Steam: Sea of Thieves, Patched.gg: 3.9.0 release notes, MassivelyOP: Season 21 preview, Rare Thief: Last Ship Standing, Rare Thief: Safer Seas, Wikipedia: Sea of Thieves.