In ‘Pirate’s Life,’ a captivating 2D strategy and city-building game with an isometric perspective, you step into the boots of a shipwrecked pirate captain marooned on a deserted island. Managing your crew’s needs for food and ale is crucial to prevent mutinies. Begin with basic structures and gradually unlock advanced buildings and resources to cater to your increasingly demanding crew. Progress allows you to construct ships and raid settlements or trade routes for essential resources and new crew members, though each raid elevates your wanted level, drawing the attention of the Royal Navy. Can you transform your modest fishing village into a feared pirate stronghold? The game offers three technology levels, 18 buildings, and 24 resources. Modes include Standard (amass gold before the Royal Navy finds you), Endless (play indefinitely, avoiding mutiny), and Custom (choose from various objectives).
Should I play Pirate’s Life in 2024?
The good
Some players appreciate the simplicity of “Pirate’s Life.” It’s an easy-to-learn strategy-simulation game with straightforward mechanics. The game offers unique features like raiding ships and obtaining new settlers through successful raids, adding an interesting twist to the genre. Additionally, for a budget-friendly game, some find its offerings decent, with the potential for future improvements and mod support.
The bad
Unfortunately, there’s a lot that “Pirate’s Life” falls short on. The graphics and animations are extremely outdated, reminiscent of the 1990s. The game has significant technical issues, including crashes and poor translations, which hamper the overall experience. The gameplay is repetitive and linear, quickly reaching a point where it no longer requires player engagement. Additionally, the lack of map variety, objectives, and robust resource management makes it a poor comparison to other city-building games like Tropico 2 or the Anno series.
Verdict
Should you still buy or play this game in 2024? Based on the reviews, “Pirate’s Life” doesn’t seem to hold up well against contemporary standards, even for a budget title. With outdated graphics, repetitive gameplay, and numerous technical issues, it’s hard to recommend this game. If you’re a die-hard fan of pirate-themed games and don’t mind its flaws, maybe wait for a significant discount or future mod updates. Otherwise, consider other, more polished titles in the genre. 🏴☠️👎
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In-game Screenshot
Top image is not real in-game screenshots. Fan-art made by Gamer.se. Some game metadata is coming from RAWG
