pirate standing on the side of a ship next to a barrel
Image via Rare/Xbox Game Studios

How to Play Single Player in Sea of Thieves

Who needs a crew? Sail alone and test your skills.

Sea of Thieves is all about creating your own small pirate crew and working together to find and plunder treasure. However, what if you can’t find a crew or if you want to be a lone pirate on the high seas? Here’s how to play single-player in Sea of Thieves. 

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Sea of Thieves: Can You Play Single Player 

Yes, Sea of Thieves has single player. However, there is a caveat: you’ll still need to be connected to the internet even if you want to play alone. Playing single-player is a great way to get a feel for the game and improve your skills before playing with others. It’s also a great option if you want the challenge of sailing a ship on your own and being a one-man crew. When you select which mode you want to play, you can invite players into your crew or sail alone.

Play the Tutorial 

The tutorial level in Sea of Thieves is a pure single-player experience and a fantastic way to learn how to play the game at your own pace. Although short, You can spend as much time in it as you want until you feel comfortable with all the mechanics. You’ll learn how to wield weapons, solve puzzles, dig up treasure, and the basics of sailing a ship. 

Safer Seas 

If you want a true single-player experience, you can play the Safer Seas mode. This option allows for a single crew to play in a PvE (player versus environment) world. However, since there are no other players besides those in your crew, some features are taken out, and the gold and Reputation you gain are reduced by 30%. 

A giant squid attacks ship in Sea of Thieves.
Image via Xbox Game Studios

Even though this is meant for a single crew, you can easily play in this mode by yourself. This is a great option if you want to get a feel for the game or if you don’t want to deal with other players and want to focus on the adventure in peace. The only downside is that you’ll be limited to using the Sloop ship since it’s the only vessel you can sail alone. 

High Seas

The High Seas mode is a shared world with other players that has PvP and PvE. The gameplay is the same as the Safer Seas mode, but you’ll have to beware of other player pirate crews. If you want to test your skills, you can try to play this mode yourself. Although it can be challenging, it can be just as fun. 

That’s how to play single-player in Sea of Thieves. If you’re looking for more tips and tricks, check out our dedicated Sea of Thieves guides hub. 


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Author
Antonio Samson
Antonio is a Writer at GameSkinny. He obtained his Bachelor's in History at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He's been a lifelong gamer and doesn't remember a time when his life didn't revolve around video games. As a lifelong Nintendo fan, he's spent countless hours playing all of their franchises, mostly Zelda and Xenoblade Chronicles. However, his love for RPGs stands above the rest.