12 Best Pirate Board Games to Play in 2025
We tested tons of pirate board games. These pirate picks will help new players find the best sea adventure for their table.
Ready yer sea legs, mates! We’ve played enough pirate board games to almost start speaking like a parrot. Choosing the best pirate adventures for our list wasn’t easy, but we focused on games full of swashbuckling fun, easy rules for new players, and the kind of chaos that makes every group game night one to remember. Whether you want to loot, sail, scheme, or just shout ‘Arrr!’ over cardboard waters, we’ve got you covered. So grab your treasure map, keep one eye out for mutiny, and let’s see which pirate games put wind in your sails!
On this list:
12 Jamaica
Jamaica is the board game we pull out when we want a pirate race with a twist. It’s basically Mario Kart, but with eye patches and gold coins instead of red shells. The rules are easy for new pirates (and forgetful old ones) to pick up. There are plenty of chances to bump, block, and ransack each other’s ships, which always leads to epic groans and evil laughs. You get to roll dice, hoard treasure, and try not to run out of food—just like real pirates! And the artwork is so nice it almost makes you want to eat the cards. It’s a good fit for families, casual groups, and anyone who wants to feel the thrill of the pirate life.
11 Merchants & Marauders
Merchants & Marauders is our pick for those who want an open-ended pirate adventure. Half the table will be buying sugar and selling bananas, while the other half chases them around and tries to sink their ships. You can play safe, get rich, and retire in glory—unless your friends decide you look too smug. There are ship upgrades, hidden rumors, and so many random events that we once got attacked by a ghost ship and a hurricane at the same time. The experience is epic, and you never know what will happen next. This one’s for game nights where everyone wants to stay up late, speak in pirate voices, and hold grudges for years.
10 Forgotten Waters
Forgotten Waters is like a choose-your-own-adventure book got mixed up with the silliest pirate movie you’ve ever seen. You make decisions together, fill out your pirate’s weird life story, and read out loud from an app that guides the adventure. Half the fun comes from trying to pick the most ridiculous actions and hearing your friends’ pirates try to outdo each other. We still laugh about the time we accidentally made a deal with a haunted pineapple. This game grabs you with fun writing, funny art, and clever choices. It’s perfect for groups who want more story and less staring at spreadsheets.
9 Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest
Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest is a pirate game about outsmarting your sneaky friends. Each round, everyone secretly picks a crew card, and then you all reveal what you picked. The highest card gets the best loot, but watch out! The lowest card often gets to mess things up for everyone else. The mix of bluffing, timing, and backstabbing leads to lots of big laughs and “Nooo!” moments. The new Galecrest version brings fancy components and smoother rules, so newbies and pros have a blast. It hits that sweet spot where everyone feels clever and no one walks the plank empty-handed.
8 Skull King
Skull King is a trick-taking card game packed with pirate swagger. It’s easy to teach—you only need a few rounds before even grandma starts shouting “Yarr!” Players bet how many tricks they’ll win, but pirates, mermaids, and the titular Skull King all mix things up in delightful ways. We love how the game sneaks up on you, with quiet plotting turning into loud table-smacking by round three. It’s simple, fast, and has more surprises than a barrel of monkeys on a pirate ship. Great for families and fans of card games who want a dash of pirate chaos.
7 Dead Men Tell No Tales
Dead Men Tell No Tales is for pirate fans who love teamwork and solving problems, but also want to feel like the ship is about to explode at any second. It’s a cooperative game where you sneak through a burning ship, fight off skeleton pirates, and try to snatch treasure before everything goes up in smoke. The tension builds with every turn, but when you pull off a daring escape, it feels amazing. We’ve lost count of the number of times our whole crew got trapped and then barely escaped with the loot. If you want pirates, puzzles, and panic, grab this one.
6 Dark Seas
Dark Seas is like building your own pirate theme park—complete with islands, pirate ships, and all sorts of questionable business. Each player adds tiles to their archipelago, sending their ship sailing around to grab loot and fight monsters. The dice add a bit of chaos, but you still get to do lots of clever planning. We enjoyed trying different pirate tactics—from turbo-charging our ship to just loading up on gold and pretending to be nonthreatening. With simple rules and quick turns, it’s easy for new players to get right in on the fun.
5 Black Fleet
Black Fleet is what you get when you throw pirates, merchants, and royal navy ships into the same sea and tell them to go wild. Every player gets a fleet to boss around, and you get points for robbing, delivering, and sabotaging your friends. The board is big and colorful, and the rules are easy enough to pick up in a few minutes. We love the way the action cards mess with everyone’s plans, and there’s nothing like seeing your merchant ship survive a pirate attack by the skin of its teeth. Lots of laughs, lots of pirate nonsense.
4 Pirate’s Cove
Pirate’s Cove is a classic pirate board game with all the fixings: ship upgrades, buried treasure, and dramatic battles. Every round, you and your friends secretly choose which island to attack, then squabble over who gets the best treasure. The fun comes from reading your opponent’s mind and bluffing your way to riches. We love how every session ends with someone shouting, “You traitor!” as their best mate backstabs them for gold. The rules are easy for new players, and it’s just the right blend of luck, planning, and pirate shenanigans.
3 Sea of Clouds
Sea of Clouds makes you the captain of a slightly tipsy pirate airship in search of treasure, crew, and maybe the occasional cursed relic. The game uses a very clever drafting system where you can peek at loot piles and decide if you want to risk taking them. The art on the cards is so charming we almost wanted to skip the game and just look at it. Turns go fast, and there’s just enough sneaky tactics to let you feel clever. Plus, you get to loot, fight, and drink rum in the clouds. What more do you want?
2 Maracaibo
Maracaibo takes the pirate life and mixes it with heavy eurogame goodness. Sail your ship around the Caribbean, grab quests, battle, and upgrade everything. Sure, it’s a bit more thinky than most swashbuckling games, but the pirate vibe is strong and the choices are endless. We enjoyed plotting out our routes, racing for secret goals, and sneaking ahead of our rivals. If you want pirates and you also want your brain to get a workout, Maracaibo is a great pick. But be ready to explain the rules a few times!
1 Rattle, Battle, Grab the Loot
We picked this pirate board game because it’s all about playing as a pirate crew, sailing the seas, and chucking handfuls of dice to fight and plunder. It’s got the wild chaos we love, teamwork, and enough loot to fill your imaginary peg leg with gold coins. Plus, nobody has to save the world from disease.
