Sea of Thieves is one of the better examples of a game that respects player agency—no manipulative monetization, no loot boxes, just a big ocean and the freedom to be whatever kind of pirate you want. The cartoonish violence and silly grog-drinking keep it from being too mature, but the PvP element is real: other players will sink you, steal your stuff, and sometimes be jerks about it.
The magic happens when you're crewing with friends or family—coordinating during a storm, laughing when someone falls off the ship, celebrating when you finally take down that galleon that's been chasing you. Solo play is lonelier and the grind more apparent. Younger kids (under 10) might find the sea monsters genuinely frightening and the loss of treasure too crushing.
It's not perfect—the core loop can feel samey after a while, and you need to be okay with the fact that 'pirate game' means sometimes you're the one getting robbed. But for kids who love the fantasy and can handle the occasional frustration, it's a genuinely imaginative sandbox with real teamwork baked in.









