A Decade for a Disappointment

Skull and Bones has had a troubled development history, originally starting as Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag DLC. After 10 years, the game’s final version did not meet the expectations of many people.

As the development dragged on, an ex-developer reflected on the chaos: “No one knew what the [heck] they were doing.” Mismanagement and lack of direction impacted the game’s development.

Skull and Bones is Not a Gritty Pirate Game

Skull and Bones fell short of delivering the gritty and realistic pirate game that was promised. The combat system and gameplay mechanics did not align with the theme that Ubisoft intended to establish. The sailing experience felt boring, and the combat allowed for “consumable-spam,” contradicting the game’s intended realism.

A Bad Pirate Game, but a Good Seafaring Game?

Despite disappointing expectations, Skull and Bones can be enjoyable if approached as a casual ship-battling game rather than a hardcore pirate experience. The different weapons and combat strategies provide some fun elements to the game, but the novelty can wear off quickly.

Skull and Bones is Unrewarding

The game’s endgame consists of tasks that sound fun initially, but the repetitive nature of these activities makes the overall experience feel stale and unrewarding. The constant need to gather resources and unlock different ships feels like an unnecessary hindrance.

Is Skull and Bones for You?

If you are looking for a game that offers the thrill of exploring islands for treasure and engaging in intense battles, Skull and Bones might not meet your expectations. The lack of on-foot exploration and limited settlement interactions make it necessary to approach the game with modest expectations.

Considering its shortcomings, you’ll need to approach Skull and Bones as a casual looter shooter with piratical themes to find some enjoyment in it.