Microsoft; PS5 (reviewed version), Xbox, PC; Developer Rare Embark on pirate adventures across the ocean, battling sea creatures and hunting for treasure while indulging in musical shenanigans.
Launched initially on Xbox in 2018, ‘Ocean of Rogues’ promised a grand shared adventure, but initially, it felt a bit lacking in depth. Early explorers found themselves in a vast multiplayer world with limited quests and sparse emergent gameplay. You’d follow instructions from quest givers, find treasure, and occasionally engage in skirmishes with rival crews.
Since then, developer Rare has expanded the game considerably, adding everything from pets and fireworks to expansive quests called Legendary Tales, which are standalone adventures featuring crossovers with icons like ‘The Secret of Monkey Island’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean‘. The game world is now filled with adventures at every turn—in sunken ships, hidden caves, and beyond—making it feel like a piratical version of ‘Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom‘.
The PS5 version marks another milestone, bringing this enriched experience from Microsoft’s camp to Sony’s platform. This iteration perfectly mirrors the Xbox version with its impressive water physics, vibrant sunsets, and lush tropical islands. Veterans can link their Xbox accounts seamlessly, and there’s smooth cross-play between consoles and PC. Players choose their vessel type at the game’s outset, form a crew with friends or through Rare’s community boards, and dive into their voyage.
The essence of the game remains—gather loot, gain prestige with various guilds, and engage in high seas thievery. However, the world brims with new details and joys. My kids and I reveled in hurling buckets of sick at each other at Dagger Tooth outpost, and the photo mode became a treasure trove of memories, especially after one notable shipwreck incident they insisted on documenting.
Solo adventurers can sail in a sloop in a safer, private server mode, free from the threat of other pirates. For newcomers overwhelmed by the game’s breadth, Rare offers an introductory tutorial that eases players into the basics. The UI and mission selection have been refined to provide clearer information, including estimated mission durations—handy for brief gaming sessions with friends. Soon, PS5 buccaneers will be joining their Xbox brethren in whimsical, high-seas antics.
While lacking the complexity of traditional RPGs—no weapon or ship upgrades here—the game offers a fresh role-playing experience, a mix of dramatic play and childlike pretend. Whether on PS5, Xbox, or PC, ‘Ocean of Rogues’ in 2024 invites players to a freeform fantasy world. You’ll laugh, you’ll sail, you’ll swig grog until you topple. Dive into this vibrant, playful sandbox—a treasure in its own right.
By Andrej Kovacevic
Updated on 4th May 2024