Sid Meier's Pirates!

Pirates! simulates the career of a Caribbean buccaneer, where the player's ultimate objective is to secure wealth and status before retirement. Success is measured by accumulated gold, owned land, earned titles, and securing a spouse.

Players begin by defining their character through several choices, including a historical time period, a nationality, and a personal specialty. The path to a prosperous retirement involves naval combat against various ship types, assaults on coastal settlements, and completing specific missions. These missions can involve hunting notorious pirates or rescuing family members from captivity.

Activities such as engaging governors to gain rank and plundering for resources are central to advancement. The included manual provides historical context drawn from research on the era. The experience encompasses both maritime conflicts and sword-based duels.