Ubisoft’s long-awaited pirate adventure, Skull and Bones, finally launched on February 16 after several delays. However, despite its anticipated features, the game has faced rough seas in user reviews.
Presently, Skull and Bones holds a modest user score of 2.9 on Metacritic, with over 300 ratings. Critics often draw comparisons to the acclaimed Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, released in 2013, which offered a blend of piracy, naval combat, and stealth gameplay. In contrast, Skull and Bones focuses predominantly on naval battles, delegating boarding actions to AI crews.
Criticism primarily targets pacing issues and a lack of diversity in gameplay. Users describe it as “painfully slow and boring,” with repetitive sea battles and a dearth of endgame content.
While critic reviews on Metacritic average at 64, termed as ‘mixed,’ they generally offer a more positive outlook. PC Gamer, among others, praised the intense ship combat but noted shallow live service elements.
Skull and Bones faced a tumultuous development journey, enduring numerous delays and significant changes in setting and mechanics since its 2017 announcement.
The game is currently accessible on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC via the Ubisoft store.