Here is our list of the 10 best Pirate board games. Pirate is a category meaning that all sorts of different games, intensity levels and game mechanics exist within it. There really is something for everyone regardless if you are more of a Captain Jack Sparrow or Captain Hook fan. Elements in the pirate world are dominated by aggressive roving ships with giant sails advertising their intentions, but also elements of swashbuckling and treasure often referred to as “booty”. It was hard to put everything in its place, but this is the list of the best pirate board games out in the world.
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#10 | Treasure Island
Treasure Island makes the list of the best pirate games because it is the perfect opportunity to embrace your inner greedy pirate in this innovative and adventurous treasure hunt. This is a great hand management and secret development game that you are going to want to play over and over again.
Long John Silver’s crew has committed mutiny and has him cornered and tied up! Round after round, they question him about the location of his treasure and explore the island following his directions. Treasure Island is a game of bluffing and adventure in which one player embodies Long John, trying to mislead the others in their search for his treasure. The hunt reaches its climax with Long John’s escape when he will make a final run to get the booty for himself. For 2 – 5 players, games run about 45 minutes.
FOR MORE: Buy Treasure Island on Amazon
#09 | Skull King
Skull King makes the list of the best pirate games because it is a great blend of a pirate adventure and something similar to a classic playing card game. It is about picking up points but set on the high seas. You need to meet your bid to please the Skull King and, of course, have tons of fun.
This is s a trick-taking game with players needing to state how many tricks they think they’ll win each round. A unique element of this game is that bidding takes place simultaneously, leading to rounds that are sometimes over, or under-bid. As players must win the exact number of tricks that they bid to earn points, winning too many tricks is just as bad as winning too few and this leads to intense competition where losing a trick can be as exciting as winning one. For 2 – 6 players, games last about 30 minutes.
FOR MORE: Buy Skull King on Amazon
#08 | Black Fleet
Black Fleet makes the list of the best pirate games because it takes you inside the building of a successful pirate operation. Pirates, merchants, and even the occasional captain of a Navy ship all seek glory and fortune on the Caribbean seas and this game lets players try to capture that journey.
This is a tactical card-driven board game where you’re in command of three different types of ships: your merchant ship earns you doubloons by conveying goods from one port to another, your pirate ship by attacking and stealing goods from merchants and burying them on islands, and the Navy ships by sinking your opponents’ pirate ships. With your money, you’ll improve your ships by buying advancement cards, giving you powerful additional abilities. For 3 – 4 players, games run about 1 hour.
FOR MORE: Buy Black Fleet on Amazon
#07 | Jamaica
Jamaica makes the list of the best pirate games because in brings a very fun racing around a track experience to the pirate world. You are on a quest for booty, you will need to race around Jamaica to claim its spoils while you beware of all the tricks and traps because the fastest doesn’t always win.
This is a pirate-themed tactical race game with player interaction and side goals (e.g. detouring for treasure). The winner is the player who best balances their position in the race with their success at the side goals. The game ends on the turn when at least one player’s ship reaches the finish line, completing one circuit around the island of Jamaica. For 2 – 6 players, games go for about 30 – 60 minutes.
FOR MORE: Jamaica Page | How To Play Jamaica | Games Like Jamaica | Buy Jamaica on Amazon
#06 | Francis Drake
Francis Drake makes the list of the best pirate games because it is a wonderful worker placement and push your luck game set in this world. Play need to be privateers wrangling to fit out in port, and then ready to set sail for adventure in the Caribbean. The game can get pretty intense but is still on the side of being a very accessible property that all can enjoy.
Return to a bustling Plymouth Harbor in 1572 as an aspiring Elizabethan captain making preparations for three exciting voyages in search of fame and fortune! As captains, players will have to plan their missions and provision their ships accordingly to be the first to set sail and reach the Spanish Main. Make decisions about how you will stock your ship, what your crew looks like and what information can you get and use. For 3 – 5 players, games last 90 – 120 minutes.
FOR MORE: Buy Francis Drake on Amazon
#05 | Port Royal
Port Royal makes the list of the best pirate games because it is such a solid economical card drafting game. You will need to hire a crew and loot ships, but don’t get too greedy or you sail away empty handed. If you are looking for the overall pirate experience, there is so much of it in this title.
The merchant players are trying to earn as much as they can out of the Caribbean Sea, but if they set their goals too high, they might take home nothing for the day. On a turn, a player can first draw as many cards as he likes, one at a time from the deck, placing them in the harbor (an area near the deck). These are made up of persons, ships, expeditions and tax increases, all of which determine your path forward. For 2 – 5 players, games last 20 – 50 minutes.
FOR MORE: Buy Port Royal on Amazon
#04 | Libertalia
Libertalia makes the list of the best pirate games because the simultaneous action nature of this set collection and hand management game, make for a high-end pirate skirmish. You will need to thwart the plans of your scurvy “comrades-in-arms”. The most cunning pirate wins.
In the game, you must thwart the plans of competitive pirates over the course of three rounds while using cards that show the same crew members as your piratical comrades-in-arms. Yes, not only do they attack the same ships, but they employ the same type of ravenous scum that you do. For 2 – 6 players, games run 40 – 60 minutes.
FOR MORE: Buy Libertalia on Amazon
#03 | Plunder: A Pirate’s Life
Plunder: A Pirate’s Life makes the list of the best pirate games because it is a fantastic game that brings together the combat of a miniatures game but the resource building of a euro all wrapped up in an accessible package that both kids and hardcore gamers could appreciate.
The goal is to get ten points first which are obtained by conquering islands, sinking enemy ships, and burying treasure. On your turn, draw one Resource card for each island you own. Trade and manage your resources (wood, iron, rum, gold) to build and upgrade your fleet using miniatures and pegs. Ships sail the open map via roll and move. Battle enemy ships and conquer islands via dice combat. For 2 – 6 players, games run roughly 1 – 2 hours.
FOR MORE: Plunder A Pirate’s Life Page | How To Play Plunder A Pirate’s Life | Plunder A Pirate’s Life Review | Games Like Plunder A Pirate’s Life | Buy Plunder A Pirate’s Life on Amazon
#02 | Friday
Friday makes the list of the best pirate games because this is a very highly beloved game, and not just in the pirate space. You man Friday is the only one who can help Robinson Crusoe survive the hazards of this deserted island. Through a deck building skirmish game, you are taking this adventure on and loving every minute of it.
If you don’t you lose life and the conflict gets added to your deck, making things difficult for you. The end showdown will have you facing off two pirate ships in order to gain victory. This is a great 1 player game because it is fun and there is nothing else like it. Whenever you have a game that is built specifically for 1 player, you know the mechanics are going to lend themselves to a fun experience. Games run for about 25 minutes each.
FOR MORE: Games Like Friday | Buy Friday on Amazon
#01 | Merchants & Marauders
Merchants & Marauders takes the top spot on the list of the best pirate games because it really does a great job of deeply submerging you in the world of piratetry. Merchants & Marauders has you very much on the track of living the life of an influential merchant or a dreaded pirate in the Caribbean.
The game lets you live the life of an influential merchant or a dreaded pirate in the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy. Seek your fortune through trade, rumor hunting, missions, and of course, plundering. Modify your ship, buy impressive vessels, load deadly special ammunition, and hire specialist crew members. You are the captain of a small vessel in the Caribbean trying to reach 10 glory first. For 2 – 4 players, games last about 3 hours.
