Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag Arguably The Best Pirate Game To Date

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has gone through various iterations and changes over the years. However, ten years ago, Ubisoft delivered Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag, which still stands out as the most different game in the series.

Unlike its predecessor, Assassin’s Creed 4 focused on a narrative about pirates. It featured popular characters like Blackbeard, immersing players in an amalgamation of the Assassin’s Creed franchise with a universe focused on pirate fantasy.

Nearly a decade after the game was released, its rendition of a world filled with pirates and naval combat remains impressive, with many considering it the best pirate game to date.

Why it matters: Pirates and naval combat have been seldom explored in the gaming industry, but Ubisoft delivered a fun and engaging experience set in the golden age of piracy in 2013.

Reminder that Ubisoft somehow made the best and most immersive pirate game back in 2013 and nobody has been able to top it yet pic.twitter.com/9hH4KExSVb

— Rock solid (@ShitpostRock) September 2, 2023

Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag features the story of Edward Kenway, a character who was not a traditional assassin when players were introduced to him.

Unlike his predecessors, Edward Kenway’s goal at the beginning of the game was to seek fame and treasure like any other pirate. This ensured the gameplay and narrative were beautifully tied together for a memorable experience.

While Assassin’s Creed 3 had already featured brief sections of naval combat, this gameplay mechanic was expanded upon in Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag. For starters, the game introduced naval exploration in the open world.

Edward Kenway’s ship, the Jackdaw, was also more versatile and better equipped to deal with enemy pirates across the vast world of the Caribbean, and the game introduced mechanics like the boarding and looting of enemy ships.

Throughout the game, the narrative shifts toward the assassins as Edward Kenway slowly transitions to a part of the brotherhood from his initial role as just another pirate.

Historical figures like Edward Thatch and Benjamin Hornigold are also featured as important characters in the narrative, allowing players to interact with these famous characters from centuries ago.

All of this led to an engaging adventure that even impressed players who were not fond of pirates or the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Unfortunately, Ubisoft has shown little interest in revisiting the formula with recent Assassin’s Creed games.

Not even themselves with their pirate game.

— Ser Winter (@SerWinterGaming) September 3, 2023

Fans on Twitter have noted that even Ubisoft appears to have forgotten about the game.

However, rumors have pointed to the French giant considering a remake for Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag amid the current trend of remakes and remasters for iconic titles.

Ubisoft has also been looking to bring the familiar naval combat from Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag to a multiplayer sandbox with Skull and Bones, but the game has been subject to various development hurdles.