How to Play Solo in Sea of Thieves

A large pirate ship from Sea of Thieves docked at a tropical island at sunset.
Credit: Rare/Microsoft.


A large pirate ship from Sea of Thieves docked at a tropical island at sunset.
Credit: Rare/Microsoft.

The pirate’s life may be for you, but dealing with other people isn’t for everyone. In this guide, we’ll go over all the Sea of Thieves solo details you need to know in case you prefer some alone time while sailing the high seas.

Playing Sea of Thieves will take you on a thrilling adventure full of encounters with the undead, battles with other pirates, and searches for long-lost treasure. The journey was designed to be experienced in the company of other players, but not everyone thrives in a team setting.

When you’re done checking to see if you can play Sea of Thieves solo, you can read more about the seafaring adventure game by checking out some of our other guides. We can show you how to do Tall Tales in order or share some beginner tips and tricks if you’re new to the game.

Can You Play Sea of Thieves Solo?

While the game doesn’t have a dedicated single-player mode, it is possible to play Sea of Thieves by yourself if you work around its limitations. After all, it is designed as a co-op experience. All you need to do is adjust a few of your settings and you won’t have to worry about random players joining your crew.

If you’re worried about other players taking advantage of their numbers against you, you can always opt to play in Safer Seas mode rather than in High Seas.

Sea of Thieves player aiming a harpoon
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How to play Sea of Thieves solo

To ensure a solo experience while playing Sea of Thieves, go into your My Crew menu and toggle the Closed Crew option. This will prevent random players from joining you while you play the game.

I would also suggest opting to queue for Safer Seas when looking to play Sea of Thieves solo. This eliminates the threat of other players coming in and taking advantage of your solo status by placing you in a private server.

Safer Seas is a relatively new feature in Sea of Thieves that was added to the game during Season 10. It’s ideal for a more traditional single-player experience if all you want to do is experience the game’s story in peace.

But if you’re looking to play the game solo as part of a challenge, you also have the option of playing in High Seas mode. Just make sure you’re prepared to take on entire enemy crews by yourself.

The Pirate Emporium NPC inside his shop with his arms crossed and elbows on the counter.
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Credit: Rare/Microsoft

How Good is Sea of Thieves Solo?

Playing Sea of Thieves solo is great for those who want to go through the game at their own pace. You can start and stop your next session whenever you please and tackle the content you want to experience.

Playing with friends usually means having to set up a time that allows all of you to play together while grouping up with random players tends to end up with taking on the most recent bits of content. That being said, you may be better off joining a group if you find yourself stuck on a certain part of the game. Playing with others is undoubtedly easier.

You also have a better chance at surviving High Seas mode if you form a crew with others. High Seas has better loot compared to Safer Seas, giving players an incentive to play in the game’s more dangerous mode.

Sea of Thieves Solo Tips

If you’re set on playing Sea of Thieves without the benefit of having a crew, here are some tips that may help you get through the game by yourself.

Keep Supplies in Stock

Always make sure you have more than enough supplies before setting out on your next voyage. You never know when you might need to use up some extra resources. And since you’ll have to restock these resources yourself, going on an unplanned supply run may have a serious impact on your progress.

Take Advantage of the Sloop

The Sloop is the smallest ship in Sea of Thieves, making it ideal for a one-man crew. It requires less upkeep and can move faster than the larger vessels in the game, making it easier to navigate the waters and evade enemy ships.

Play Defensively in Battle

If you’ve decided to brave High Seas mode as a solo player, you’re bound to come across a group looking to take advantage of their numbers. When confronted by such a group, it’s better to aim for a quick getaway rather than a victory in battle.

Plan Ahead

Looking up what type of content you’ll be taking on before setting out will go a long way. If you see that the quest you’re planning to do requires a lot of combat, you may want to consider forming a crew instead of entering a fight alone.

And that’ll do it for your guide on playing Sea of Thieves solo. For more on the nautical adventure game, check out our guides on how to get Ancient Coins and how to get the Chest of Fortune.

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