Skull and Bones

WeakSkull and Bones header image
60

Top Critic Average

11%

Critics Recommend

Game Rant
2.5 / 5
IGN
7 / 10
Eurogamer
2 / 5
PC Gamer
68 / 100
GamesRadar+
2.5 / 5
Game Informer
7.5 / 10
GameSpot
4 / 10
Hardcore Gamer
4 / 5
Creators: Ubisoft
Release Date: Feb 16, 2024 - PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Skull and Bones Review Summary

WeakCritic Consensus

Repetitive gameplay

Minimal narrative and pirate fantasy

Lack of diverse gameplay activities

Skull and Bones is an open-world pirate-themed naval combat game that focuses on ship-to-ship battles. Critics praised its visually striking world and engaging naval combat, with satisfying ship customization. However, they were less impressed with its repetitive gameplay, lack of depth in pirate-related content beyond sailing, and minimal narrative engagement. The game falls short of delivering a rich pirate fantasy but can still be fun for those who enjoy naval combat in a live service environment.


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Skull and Bones Trailers

Skull and Bones: Launch Trailer thumbnail

Skull and Bones: Launch Trailer

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Skull and Bones: The Game Awards Trailer


Skull and Bones Screenshots

Critic Reviews for Skull and Bones

Skull and Bones is a bloated game that does manage to swim instead of sink, but not without many caveats. In an attempt to separate itself from Black Flag and stand out from the likes of Sea of Thieves, Skulland Bones doesn't so much color outside the lines as much as dogmatically stick to a tired formula while burying its strongest attributes under mountains of redundancy and half-realized concepts. For those who crave a game set during the Golden Age of Piracy, there are definitely things here to enjoy, but get ready to do a lot of digging.

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Skull and Bones is a maritime RPG with a strong foundation, even if it feels like a live-service first draft.

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Ubisoft's long-in-the-works pirate adventure boasts a beautiful world and bombastic ship-to-ship combat, but it sinks amid boring busywork and tedious traversal.

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Combining moody and gratifying ship-on-ship combat with shallow live service trappings, Skull and Bones is great within the claustrophobic parameters of what market forces allow it to be.

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With excellent sailing and naval combat mechanics, it's a shame that Skull and Bones is so hampered by its lack of diversity, odd developmental decisions, and minimal capacity to offer a true pirate fantasy.

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Despite its long and circuitous course to arrive at port, Skull and Bones is the type of game that may change significantly in the coming months. But to evaluate it as it stands, fellow pirate enthusiasts may discover what I did – a flawed but beautifully presented historical fantasy in which one can take to the water and make a fortune, even if absolutely everything about the pirate life isn’t always pretty.

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Skull and Bones strips away everything great about Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, resulting in a dull live-service game that's often a chore.

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With its stunning visuals, immersive gameplay mechanics and richly-detailed world, Skull & Bones is a must-play for any fan of action-adventure games. If you liked Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag's take on ship combat, you'll love this game. So grab your cutlass, raise the black flag and prepare to plunder your way to infamy on the high seas. Fair winds and following seas, matey!

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