Sea of thieves is a game of piracy

There are two main types of players; The Treasure Hunter and the Treasure hunter... hunter...
The game simply doesn't work without one or the other. Also, everyone is on the same level when it comes to ship, guns and whatnot. The game doesn't give you any upgrades that provide an upper hand for newer players. Only the better understanding of the game makes more experienced players scary.

In my playtime I've noticed that there is an incredible feeling of excitement even when doing the most mundane tasks (like bringing something from a to b) because there can always be someone lurking in the horizon. This excitement borders anxiety and there is a crucial balancing act in mental fortitude to not let you and your crew succumb to this feeling.

During my playtime I've praised this game for a lot of its small intricacies. The surface of the game is very simple to understand and have fun with but there is a big layer of amazing small mechanics that you can utilise on your voyages.

If the lack of mechanical//systemic progression makes you hold back from this title, which is very understandable, I'm going to give you one argument why the game is still worthwhile to play. You don't progress within in-game numbers or ship sizes but you do progress in your skills en knowledge of the game. This especially is true in sea of thieves since there are so many small mechanics and big mechanics that you can utilise in so many different ways.

The game is a true sandbox and can feel a bit shallow from time to time. I'm not saying the game is never boring to play. I also need to add that the game is most rewarding when you sacrifice an entire evening (Or day) playing it, there is no such thing as quick voyages. If you don't have a lot of time on your hands I would not recommend this game.

To conclude:
This game is very unique in my experience, there are a lot of things that subvert modern game design principles (The lack of any hud besides your health/ammo for example). The experience alone is worth trying out this game since I haven't played another game who scratches this specific itch.