Sea of Thieves may be my favorite Xbox game ever.

My favorite memories on Xbox or gaming in general have always been centered around the community. The introduction of Xbox Live, which opened millions of digital portals into people's homes and gaming setups, has fundamentally changed the way games are currently being created. Transitioning from playing games alone in my room as a child to having a constant social network of people over night is something I'll forever cherish. Being able to connect, albeit for a little while, to hundreds of thousands of people at the press of a button is probably something most of us take for granted and as a part of every day life, but back then it was magic. Personally, I've met lifelong friends across the country that I've met in person and attended wrestling events together; I've met and played with people in Australia during their wildfires in 2019 for months while their communities were burning and hearing first-hand stories; I've met casual friends that I played with or kept in touch with for maybe a few weeks but spent countless hours with them. As time has passed, the online communities have changed; lobbies aren't as active, people aren't talking as much, and things have progressively turned more competitive and less friendly. This is where Sea of Thieves comes in—a game that's brought back so many memories of the 360 days. Random people coming together and socializing to complete tasks or just sail the seas on a friendly voyage—it's an experience I return to frequently.

For context, Rare has been one of my favorite developers since I've been gaming. From Banjo-Kazooie to Viva Pinata to R.C. Pro-AM, I've spent thousands of hours in Rare's crafted worlds and have the tattoos to prove it. Sea of Thieves, in many ways, is something Rare has wanted to create for decades, going back to the 1990 title "Dream: Land of Giants". Originally a fairy-themed isometric title featuring main character Edson, the project would eventually turn development to the N64 and turn into a more 3D RPG, gaining a pirate-themed aesthetic. This would ultimately become Banjo Kazooie, with only the "Treasure Trove Cove" level remaining as remnants of this pirate dream. Fast forward to 2015, where we get our first introduction to Sea of Thieves. I was immediately hooked shortly after joining the closed alpha testing once it was available and fully immersing myself in the world they've created, living out my pirate dreams while helping many others achieve their own.

I'll admit, like many around the launch, I was at the very least underwhelmed by the offerings. I remember launch night pulling an all-nighter with my friend in Michigan, expecting to have the time of our lives sailing the seas, but came out the other end indifferent. This was when I slowly began realizing the draw of Sea of Thieves wasn't the content but the community around it. Playing mostly solo from the start and logging in daily was almost like playing Russian roulette at times. Some days you'd be partying with seasoned veterans, causing havoc wherever they went; other days you'd be sent out with a group of preteens figuring their way around a ship's deck. With the game being updated throughout the years with new ways to play, it has brought in a wide variety of people. Role-players, combat enthusiasts, ship enthusiasts, casual players, people who are there to experience the story, or if you're like me, experienced fishermen. There really is something for everyone of any skill level to enjoy.

One of the hardest things for live-service games is keeping up with content to retain their player base for years to come. Outside of the first few months and this past year, Sea of Thieves has done an arguably great job at this. New voyage types are being added, whole new factions to gain reputation with, the addition of the firey volcano-ridden Devils Roar to the map, a story that's been unfolded through the addition of "Tall Tales," and probably the most memorable collaborations through Tall Tales with a Pirate's of the Caribbean themed set called "A Pirate's Life" and the recent addition "Monkey Island" Tall Tales. The latter being landmark moments for the game, bringing in a surge of new players and life to the seas. The team at Rare has dabbled in a few different ways of releasing content and making new additions to the game, some more successful than others. Last year, they tried their hand at player-decided contests in a way, time-limited events that saw the community pick a side and try and gain more ground over the other by exclusive missions, resulting in the changing of the world. Most notable was the destruction of the Golden Sands outpost and the rebuilding of Port Merrick.

Previously, I mentioned how game lobbies are almost barren nowadays. In Sea of Thieves, this is entirely different, with so many ways to play and just the nature of maintaining and sailing your ship. Verbal communication is highly encouraged and happens way more consistently and naturally than in other online games. Whenever I log on now, I usually end up randomly queueing in different ship sizes with an open mind to help people with whatever tasks they may be doing or goals they're trying to reach. Nine times out of ten, the ship is full and busy with people talking and joking about it, which brings back memories of the old Halo 3 days. Joining a sloop and sailing from island to island get to be a long journey, and nobody likes awkward silence in-between. This is how I've met most people I've had pleasant experiences with that I think back on fondly even now. While they may not be active now, I can think back to that part of my life and strangers I bonded with over a game being a part of that. Early 2020, when my life was slowly falling apart, I was homeless, jobless, and staying at family's while figuring out what I was going to do. I randomly queued in with Icy (I'll be changing the exact gamertags out of respect for privacy), a tattoo artist down in Arizona, and we instantly hit it off. We'd spend the next 2 months with his son, whom we lovingly referred to as Pizza Rolls, playing nothing but Sea of Thieves, exploring new content we've yet to do, and helping each other complete Tall Tales. There were days I'd wake up at 7 a.m. to get on and see him, and we'd sail till midnight without a care in the world. It was an escape to get my mind off everything happening around me. Getting into wild antics and trolling other ships on the sea brought joy in an otherwise dark time. A few months after this, I ran into HADS in an arena that we were both trying to better ourselves at. We became friends and would dive into the arena headfirst nightly, trying to become PvP masters (which never happened). Over time, I found out he was from Australia, and he'd start telling me about the destruction happening around him from the wildfires they were having. I remember receiving pictures online from him showcasing the damages and a bridge nearby being destroyed. While being on the other side of the globe, thanks to Sea of Thieves, I was getting to experience these world events firsthand from someone there. Currently, I get to share my love of sailing with my girlfriend, helping her understand the ropes. While we play together very sparsely, we've been going through the list of Tall Tales. These being the most secluded and in their own little area, the threat of losing our progress to other players is nonexistent and can be a more enjoyable experience for us as we goof around and enjoy each other's company through the game.

Most people attribute the reasons for their favorite video games being their favorites to their style. A game's art direction, music, and overall ambiance do a lot to carry the emotional experience while playing. Rare has knocked out their art style for decades, releasing countless titles that are truly timeless, looking just as clean and eye-catching as they did when they were released. Sea of Thieves carries this track record with a stylized art style that's a weird blend of blocky Pixar-esque character designs, architecture, and landscaping from a children's novel bursting with color and a beautiful world full of lush foliage and scenic moments that'll stop anyone in their tracks. It feels like a natural evolution of "Grabbed by the Ghoulies," but more smoothed out. An extra special shoutout has to go to the team who worked on the water. The way waves roll across the sea of reflect light while bouncing ships around like play toys is magnificent to experience. Theres a reason the Forza Horizon team went to Rare to help improve their own system. Rare really wanted to showcase subtle differences and overall tone changes by giving each of the initial three regions of the world their own thematic backdrop. The Wilds to the north are a more fierce and intense locale, with the waters tinted a yellowish-green hue. The islands are barren, with the skeletal remains of pirates of the past and unexplained deep sea creatures washed ashore. On the other side of the coin, directly to the west, are the Shores of Plenty, something you would expect to see in a tropical resort. Deep blue skies as far as you can see, with calm waters letting you have a glimpse of the coral-filled depths below. Islands of biting with bright flowers painted across dense green jungles and little hideaways tucked in the more remote locations A few months after launch, Rare turned their attention to the west and introduced the only expansion (so far) to the map with Devil's Roar. Islands formed from constantly erupting volcanoes, the sky and seas tinted red from fires, and molten magma running across islands into the bubbling sea—it truly feels like sailing to a different planet at times with how diverse the team has made the experience. Normally, I'm not someone who dives into photo modes or tries to take dynamic photos during my play session, but in Sea of Thieves, it's almost second nature at this point. Every single time I play, I find myself stopping and taking in the game's natural beauty and wanting to capture every second of it. At this point, we could have a Sea of Thieves art museum or fan-made art book with hundreds of thousands of different pieces.

Sea of Thieves has held a special place in my heart and has been in constant rotation for me for the past 6 years. Every day setting sail brings back that childlike wonder we had as kids where anything was possible and you never quite knew what was on the horizon, and Rare captures that idea perfectly with a living world thats always changing and expanding in some way. Countless hours of joy, exploration, and Rare's unique charm made it my personal game of the year 2018, even with its initial flaws. As time goes on and no matter what new titles are released, I always find myself coming back to the seas for a daring adventure or helping new players get their bearings. At his point, I'd honestly say Sea of Thieves was my game of the generation for the Xbox One console cycle, and at this point, it still has those titles a few years in with the "Series" line. Simply put, thank you to everyone who's put their hard work and hours into this project. Myself and the countless other players have had a blast in your world and can't wait for the next step.