Skull and Bones is a pirate adventure game that has its moments but ultimately falls short. It begins with a promising battle setup, but the long grind of XP accrual and resource gathering feels more like a grocery delivery driver than a pirate. The acquisition loop, though, tries to add variety with different combat scenarios and resource gathering methods.
Ship-to-ship combat is a highlight, a frenetic and visually appealing chaos that makes up for its limited depth with cinematic panache. However, it leans too heavily on this combat system, which lacks tactical depth and isn’t robust enough to offset the game’s other flaws.
The world Ubisoft has created is visually stunning, with vibrant tropical vistas and detailed environments. But for the most part, players are confined to their boats and only a few outposts offer the opportunity to disembark. These outposts, while beautiful, are largely empty and lack meaningful utility.
Traversal in Skull and Bones is a major disappointment. Sailing is dull and uninspired, with little sense of weight or presence. The streamlined approach means players often feel like spectators rather than active participants. The vast oceanic map also leads to tedious and unengaging traversal.
Despite its occasional charms, such as exciting combat moments and nice views, Skull and Bones is too often boring. It’s not an inherently bad game, but it fails to be a truly interesting and engaging pirate adventure. There are moments of greatness, but they are too few and far between, and the overall experience is one of mediocrity. A copy of the game was provided for review by Ubisoft.
