Review · Action · PC · PlayStation 5 · Xbox Series S/X
Sea of Thieves
By the LumiKin editors
Reviewed: 01 May 2026
PC · PlayStation 5 · Xbox Series S/X · Xbox One
Rare · 2018
LumiScore
51/100
Good
Sea of Thieves is an adventure game fostering teamwork, communication, and problem-solving through a shared pirate world, but can have social risks.
Growth (BDS)
44
Risk (RIS)
38
Daily limit
60min
Age guidance
7+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.42 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.53 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.35 | |
Sea of Thieves fosters strong teamwork and communication skills in a shared, open-world pirate adventure. Players must collaborate to navigate their ship, complete voyages, and engage in emergent gameplay, promoting creative problem-solving and strategic thinking.
Design risks
| R1 | Dopamine pressure | 0.40 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.13 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.67 | |
The game's open-ended nature and emphasis on player-versus-player interaction can lead to competitive toxicity and negative social experiences. The use of microtransactions for cosmetic items and variable rewards for completing voyages may encourage excessive play.
Heads up
- Monthly spendTypical real-money spend by engaged players: $0–20/mo.