Can you play Sea of Thieves solo?

One of the most appealing things about any MMO like Sea of Thieves is that the game world is filled to the brim with other real people to play alongside. But sometimes, you just want to go it alone for a session or two.

The massive open seafaring world of Sea of Thieves feels fantastic not only because of the amazing water graphics and physics but also because you’re often doing so alongside a group of other players. Each session brings with it the potential to encounter another group on its own ship that you’ll need to battle for supremacy over the seas. However, the game is also perfect for spending hours out at sea alone if that’s what you want to do.

Can you play Sea of Thieves solo?

Yes, you can play Sea of Thieves solo. To do this, you need to pick which mode to play in, I always opt for High Seas over Safer Sease because the loot is better, then pick your ship from your collection or by chartering one, and finally, select the Closed Crew option. This option will make it so that only your friends can play with you.

Once you get into the game world, you just need to let your friends know that you want a solo session or refuse them when they attempt to join your game. It might sound a bit harsh, but this always works for me. It also helps you avoid matchmaking up with randoms who don’t want to do the activity you’re aiming to complete.

Why should you play Sea of Thieves solo?

While you don’t ever have to, I like playing Sea of Thieves solo sometimes because it lets me go at my own pace. I can pick the quests I want to complete for whichever faction or Tall Tale I want to earn a reputation with and progress.

I find that in groups, players tend to want to jump into the most productive content. The quests that will earn the crew the most loot and the latest Tall Tale. I’ve not completed everything the game has to offer, so I quite enjoy playing solo and building up my reputation or tackling a Tall Tale without any interruptions.

This is particularly useful at the start of a new season, such as Season 12, when so many new players are joining the game or lapsed players are returning for the Plunder Pass. It can be difficult to do what you want when there are so many players just trying to be as optimal as possible.