Highlights

• Exclusivity is a recurring frustration for gamers, especially in the ninth generation of home consoles with Microsoft acquiring Bethesda and Sony acquiring Bungie.
• Sea of Thieves is an exceptional pirate sandbox game, and while it's not available on PlayStation consoles, there are other great games like Absolver, No Man's Sky, and Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag to scratch that itch.
• Subnautica, Abzu, Maneater, Windbound, Stranded Deep, and Beyond Blue are all ocean-themed games that offer unique gameplay experiences and exploration opportunities.

Exclusivity is a frequent annoyance for gamers that doesn't seem to be dying down anytime soon. In fact, exclusive titles may be even more common during the ninth generation of home consoles than ever before, with Microsoft acquiring Bethesda and being in the process of acquiring Activision, while Sony announced that they had acquired Halo-creators Bungie earlier this year.

One popular game that is eluding PlayStation owners at the moment is Rare's Sea of Thieves, which has only been released on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S thus far. The game offers an online open world where players can set sail on adventures and battle other players online. While there aren't many carbon copies of Sea of Thieves on PlayStation, there are a handful of great games that let players sail the seas or explore its depths.

Updated November 16, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: Sea of Thieves is one of the most unique and engaging pirate sandboxes that fans can get lost in. The game took a while to get going, but is now one of the best live-service games available to players. There aren't many games that scratch this particular itch, but players can diversify. If they wish to enjoy more gameplay loops similar to that present in Sea of Thieves, or simply enjoy a nautical setting, these titles are worth a try.

11 Absolver

Seamless Multiplayer Where Players Can Be Friends Or Enemies

One of the best action-focused live-service games currently available is Absolver. The combat in this title is engaging and tough to master, but players who spend a lot of time perfecting their game will be more than pleased by their growth.

Just like Sea of Thieves, players can drop into the game and encounter other fighters who can either join them or fight against them. These memorable online encounters are what makes Absolver such a great title, even if its updates may not be coming as fast as some players would like.

10 No Man’s Sky

A Massive World To Explore, Meeting Other Players Along The Way

There was a time when Sean Murray and Hello Games were among the biggest punching bags in the gaming landscape, after the botched launch of No Man's Sky. Although it promised to be one of the greatest space exploration games of all time, the title ended up being a colossal disappointment.

However, over time, a steady stream of updates and new content helped No Man's Sky become popular again. It's one of the better titles players can check out to enjoy a robust sense of space exploration. And multiplayer makes it a great time to explore planets with friends.

9 King Of Seas

A Seafaring Action-RPG

King of Seas is the game that most closely resembles Sea of Thieves on this list. The action RPG's gameplay centers around completing quests, fighting other players and enormous monsters, and customizing ships. The game also forces players to think on their feet with hazardous weather conditions frequently occurring and tasks them with being business savvy by buying low and selling high between settlements.

King of Seas struggled to impress critics, exemplified by its 63 Metascore on PlayStation 4, but it's still the best option available on PlayStation consoles for those wanting an experience that is as close to Sea of Thieves as possible.

8 World Of Warships

Tactical Naval Combat

World of Warships was originally released in September 2015 on PC and has since come to a wide range of systems, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and iOS. The game was published by Wargaming, who are also responsible for World of Warplanes and the immensely popular World of Tanks.

World of Warships differentiates itself from Sea of Thieves with its modern warships and slow, tactical combat. The game also differentiates itself by being free-to-play, so it's certainly worth giving the game a try.

7 Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag

Pirates and Sailing the High Seas

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag originally released in October 2013 and took the iconic series in a new direction with its pirate theme, open seas, and naval combat. The shift in focus was initially divisive, though complaints were soon silenced when players got their hands on the game, and it was soon regarded as one of the franchise's best entries.

Black Flag does a great job of engrossing players in its pirate world, with meticulously designed ports, sea shanties to pass the time, and plenty of treasure to find. In traditional Ubisoft fashion, the game's map is filled with icons indicating quests and collectibles. This style of open-world gameplay has been a hot topic recently, particularly since the release of Elden Ring, which offers a vastly different approach to the genre.

Still, Black Flag is ready to offer many hours of entertainment for those who just want to sink their teeth into a world that can be casually explored and completed.

6 Subnautica

This Action-Adventure Survival Game Isn't For Players With Thalassophobia

Subnautica has significant differences from Sea of Thieves, but it's one of the best ocean-themed games ever released, so it's hard to look past it. Unknown Worlds Entertainment's survival title wastes little time in getting started, as the game kicks off with the player crash landing on an alien planet. Players must then explore the alien ocean to find ways of surviving, with the ultimate aim being to return home. Subnautica's ocean is wonderfully well-designed, and there is plenty to do with bases to build, vehicles to construct, and ocean creatures to study. However, as players delve deeper into Planet 4546B's ocean, they will soon realize that some creatures are better left alone.

Subnautica was a hit with fans and critics, exemplified by its 87 critic score and 8.6 user score on Metacritic. The game also collected a handful of awards, including PC Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2018. Subnautica originally suffered from awful levels of texture pop-in that made the game completely unplayable for some, though this technical issue, among others, was fixed in May 2021 when the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch versions were released.

5 Abzu

A Serene Game Focused On Ocean Exploration

If Subnautica sounds too scary, then Abzu may be a better bet. Abzu was developed by the aptly named Giant Squid Studios and lets players freely explore a visually stunning ocean. The game also features a mesmerizing soundtrack by Austin Wintory, who is best known to gamers for his work on the modern classic Journey.

Abzu was a hit with critics and received Metascores that ranged from 78 on PlayStation 4 to 83 on PC.

4 Maneater

Players Control A Shark

When sharks appear in a video game, chances are that they will be a dangerous enemy that needs to be avoided at all costs. Maneater flips the script, however, by putting players in control of a terrifying shark and letting them attack humans, fish, and much, much more.

Tripwire Interactive's action RPG doesn't take itself too seriously and can be genuinely hilarious at times. The game takes place in an open world that is great fun to just swim around and explore.

3 Windbound

A Survival Game With Seafaring Elements

5 Lives Studios' Windbound is a survival game that, like many games from the survival genre, kicks off with the players crashing on an island. It is then up to the players to explore the island and its surrounding sea, craft weapons and tools, and hunt the island's dangerous wildlife. The gameplay is intertwined with an intriguing story that is full of mystery and encourages the players to search for answers.

Windbound only managed to reach a 64 score on Metacritic, but it has plenty of heart and is worth a try at a sale price.

2 Stranded Deep

A Survival Game Set In A Procedurally-Generated Pacific Ocean

Stranded Deep has a similar premise to Subantucia, as the game also begins with players crash landing into an ocean. However, Stranded Deep drops players into Earth's Pacific Ocean, giving players a better sense of what dangers they may come up against. The game also differentiates itself from Subnautica with its procedurally generated world, which encourages repeat playthroughs and ensures that players won't know the ocean layout prior to exploring it.

The player's goal is initially the same as Subnautica; they must find ways to ensure their immediate survival while ultimately working towards an escape plan.

1 Beyond Blue

Edutainment For Gamers Wanting To Know About Ocean Life

Beyond Blue was developed by E-Line Media and was first released exclusively on Apple Arcade in April 2020 before arriving on PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One in the months and years that followed. The game is ideal for those wanting to learn about what lies below Earth's waters, as Beyond Blue is an educational game that intends to teach players about ocean life.

Beyond Blue is somewhat reminiscent of the Nintendo Wii series Endless Ocean, with its gorgeous visuals and soothing soundtrack giving the game a dream-like element.