Sea of Thieves Season 3 – A Pirate’s Life Review: A Fitting Crossover

The latest season of Sea of Thieves, called A Pirate’s Life, marks Rare’s first-ever crossover with other pirate-themed entertainment and brings Captain Jack Sparrow and other familiar faces from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise to the popular co-op title. Solo pirates and full crews take on five new Tall Tales in new locations, like the Sea of the Damned, Sailor’s Grave, and the Sunken Kingdom, and team up with the legendary Jack Sparrow as an AI crewmate. With Davy Jones’ arrival, the Sea of Thieves and the entire pirate’s life is under attack, and it will be up to the players and Jack to save it.

Though the main story progression for Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life takes place primarily in the Tall Tales, there are still plenty of new experiences for players in the overworld and Adventure mode. Many of the new enemies and items from the Tall Tales will appear in the standard game, including the Trident of Dark Tides and the Ocean Crawlers. Players can find new limited-time and world events taking place as the season progresses and outfit their ship and crew with cosmetics from Pirates of the Caribbean.

At its heart, Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life is also more than a standard crossover like those that have become ubiquitous in popular multiplayer games. Though it includes many elements from the Disney Parks rides and Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, the story of A Pirate’s Life still manages to feel like a Sea of Thieves story. Many of the side quests and puzzles are less about the crossover and more related to the other pirates who have found themselves in the Sea of the Damned for all eternity, or the lore behind the new creatures. Players will feel as though familiar characters have stepped into their pirate co-op world, rather than that they have left Sea of Thieves for Pirates of the Caribbean.

With that said, there are many incredible tributes and callbacks to the Pirates of the Caribbean rides and films that, while subtle, add much to the overall atmosphere of Sea of Thieves‘ third season. The moment players begin A Pirate’s Life, they meet with The Castaway, a new NPC at every outpost who serves as the starting point for the Tall Tales. She feels otherworldly and speaks and acts like Tia Dalma, one of the supporting characters from the movies. When players take their ship through the Gateway and enter the tunnels of the damned, a ghostly voice welcomes them. Fans of the Disney Parks will recognize the voice and the words from the ride. And, as players solve puzzles and climb through a network of tunnels to reach Sailor’s Grave, the first new location in A Pirate’s Life, they repeatedly hear the familiar warning that “Dead men tell no tales.” These touches honor fans of the series without overpowering the classic game.

Jack Sparrow himself is excellent, from mannerisms to voice acting to the quips and banter he has about the world of Sea of Thieves. He especially shines when helping players complete tasks aboard the ship and man defenses as a fully functional, AI member of the crew. This mechanic feels seamless, and it may be a good option for Rare to further implement in future updates.

Completing Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life can be rewarding with a full crew, but it is especially rewarding for solo players. While much about Sea of Thieves is best enjoyed cooperatively, solo players receive a great boost from the aid of the Cursed Captain and Jack Sparrow. Even new players fresh out of the tutorial can dive right in with the expansion and find success. This level of accessibility for solo players, newcomers, and veterans to play almost any way they want is a real highlight of the season.

Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life is by far one of the best additions to Sea of Thieves in recent memory. The crossover with Pirates of the Caribbean is a natural fit, and it feels like the two IPs work together rather than vie for supremacy. The new enemies also feel appropriate, bringing much-needed variety to the lineup of foes players may face both in and outside Tall Tales. The beginning homage to the Disney Parks ride is a subtle and effective touch fans are sure to appreciate, and Jack Sparrow himself is exceptionally crafted. Rare has created something special with Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life, and it will be exciting to see how these new mechanics lead to future growth for the pirate-themed co-op.

Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life is available free with the base game on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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