If you love Sea of Thieves but not the stress, try Sail Forth for bright sailing and island charting, Tchia for a sunny archipelago to roam in your own little boat, and Raft on Peaceful mode for co-op at sea without the shark. You can also make Sea of Thieves itself calmer with Safer Seas. We checked every game on October 29, 2026.
At a glance
| Game | Best for | Length | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sail Forth | Sea of Thieves fans who loved the sailing most | About 16 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| Tchia | Players who want to sail to islands and then go ashore and climb | About 7.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X |
| Raft | Friends who want to share the work on the water | About 36.5 hours in co-op (HowLongToBeat) | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X |
| Sailwind | Players who want the sailing to feel real | Open-ended | PC |
| A Short Sail | Players who want calm sailing with friends and no pirates to fight | Not shared yet | PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck |
| Spiritfarer | Players who want a long, kind voyage | About 25.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, mobile |
| Summer in Mara | Players who want a home island and a boat to visit others | About 20.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One |
| Windbound | Players who want to build their own boat and set out | About 13.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One |
| Becalm | Anyone who needs five quiet minutes on the water | About 5 minutes per trip | PC, Mac, Linux |
Sea of Thieves gets the sea right. The waves are huge, the light is gorgeous, and sailing a ship with friends feels amazing. But many players bounce off the rest: another crew sinks you on the way home and takes an hour of loot. If you want the sea without that, this list is for you.
We looked for the parts of Sea of Thieves that cozy players love (open water, a boat you steer yourself, islands to explore, a little treasure) and left out player-versus-player fights. Lengths come from HowLongToBeat, and Steam Deck status comes from each Steam page, checked on 29 October 2026.
First: make Sea of Thieves itself calmer
Before you buy anything new, try Safer Seas. Rare added it in December 2023. It puts your crew in a private world with no other players, so nobody can steal your loot. Skeletons, sharks and sea monsters still attack, and some progress is limited there, so check the current rules in the game. Sailing with only friends is calmer too: a sloop holds one or two players, and a galleon up to four.
Developer: Rare | Year: 2018 (Steam 2020) | Platforms: PC, Xbox, PS5 | Length: open-ended | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Our picks
- Closest cozy pick: Sail Forth
- Best island world to explore: Tchia
- Best with friends: Raft (Peaceful mode)
- Best for real sailing: Sailwind
- Best story: Spiritfarer
- Calmest of all: Becalm (free)
- Our own game: A Short Sail (in development, with gentle sea battles against storms and living waves)
Sail and explore
Sail Forth
Who it is for: Sea of Thieves fans who loved the sailing most.
You command a fleet of small, colorful boats across a big ocean of island regions. The wind matters: you tack and trim, but it stays easy to learn. You meet fishfolk crews, crack giant clams and loot shipwrecks. There is a free-sail mode for pure cruising.
The downside: it is single-player. You fight pirate ships with cannons, so it is not combat-free, and some players find the story thin.
Developer: Festive Vector | Year: 2022 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 16 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Tchia
Who it is for: players who want to sail to islands and then go ashore and climb.
You sail a small boat around a tropical archipelago inspired by New Caledonia. You climb, glide and swim, and you can jump into animals and objects. You play a real ukulele. The sailing is simple and joyful.
The downside: some story parts have light combat against cloth soldiers. Sailing is one part of the game, not the whole of it.
Developer: Awaceb | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S | Length: about 7.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Sailwind
Who it is for: players who want the sailing to feel real.
Sailwind is a sailing sim in a big open world. You trim the sails by hand, navigate with real tools, run cargo between ports, fish and cook. A calm day sail and a long ocean crossing are both possible.
The downside: it takes patience to learn, it is single-player, and it is still in Early Access. There is no treasure hunting like Sea of Thieves.
Developer: Raw Lion Workshop | Year: 2021 (Early Access) | Platforms: PC | Length: open-ended | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
A Short Sail
Who it is for: players who want calm sailing with friends and no pirates to fight.
A Short Sail is a cozy sailing game where you are a little tabby cat with a sailboat. You deliver mail, fish by day and by night, dig up treasure with the maps you find, and make friends across the islands. Rain and storms roll in over the sea.
There is no fighting on foot. At sea there are gentle battles against storms and living waves, never people, and there are no timers. You can play alone, or online with friends: host a lobby, chat, ride along in a friend’s boat and play flag tag. The sea battles are single-player only, so nobody can sink your friends. It comes out in Q1 2027, and you can play the free demo in your browser now.
Developer: Yos Riady | Platforms: PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck | Length: not shared yet | Free demo at play.ashortsail.com | Play the demo
Co-op without the griefers
Raft
Who it is for: friends who want to share the work on the water.
You start on a few planks with a hook. Together you grow the raft into a floating base, add sails and steer to story islands. In Peaceful mode, the shark does not bite you or your raft, and other animals are passive. You choose that mode when you make the world.
The downside: it is a survival game first. You still need food and water, and you cannot switch to Peaceful later.
Developer: Redbeet Interactive | Year: 2022 (full release) | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Length: about 36.5 hours in co-op (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
More group picks are in multiplayer sailing games.
Gentle boats with a story
Spiritfarer
Who it is for: players who want a long, kind voyage.
You sail a ferry for spirits. You build rooms on your boat, grow food, fish and cook, and care for your passengers before they move on. A second player can join on the same couch as Daffodil the cat.
The downside: it is about death, so it can make you cry. It is long, and the boat chores can pile up.
Developer: Thunder Lotus | Year: 2020 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, mobile | Length: about 25.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Summer in Mara
Who it is for: players who want a home island and a boat to visit others.
You grow crops on your own island, craft tools, then sail to nearby islands to trade and meet people. The mix of farming and sailing is rare.
The downside: many quests are simple fetch tasks, and reviews are more mixed than others here. Valve marks it Unsupported on Steam Deck.
Developer: Chibig | Year: 2020 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 20.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Unsupported | Steam page
Windbound
Who it is for: players who want to build their own boat and set out.
You wash up on wild islands, gather grass and wood, and build a boat you sail between them. Adding hulls and sails to your boat is the best part. There is an easier Storyteller mode if you do not want harsh survival.
The downside: it is a survival game with hunger and fights against animals. Reviews are mixed, and some players dislike the survival systems.
Developer: 5 Lives Studios | Year: 2020 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 13.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Just the sea
Becalm
Who it is for: anyone who needs five quiet minutes on the water.
You sit in a boat and drift toward a sunset through soft, painted seas. You do not steer. It is free.
The downside: it is a moment, not a game. There is nothing to do but look.
Developer: Colorfiction | Year: 2019 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux | Length: about 5 minutes per trip | Price: free | Steam Deck: not tested | Steam page
Watch out
- Dredge: a fishing boat game with lovely days, but its nights bring horror and sea monsters. See cozy games like Dredge.
- Skull and Bones: big pirate ship battles, but it is all about combat, and reviews are mixed.
- Blazing Sails: quick pirate ship matches against other crews. Fun, but it is player versus player.
Related guides
- Multiplayer sailing games
- Best cozy sailing games
- Open world sailing games
- Treasure hunting games
- Cozy ocean games
- Games like Sail Forth
Questions
Is there a relaxing version of Sea of Thieves?
Yes, sort of. Safer Seas mode puts your crew in a private world with no other players. Skeletons and sea monsters still attack, and some progress is limited there.
What is a cozy game like Sea of Thieves?
Sail Forth is the closest cozy pick. You sail and chart a bright ocean of islands with a real feel for the wind. It is single-player and has some pirate fights.
What is a game like Sea of Thieves but single-player?
Sail Forth, Tchia and Sailwind are all single-player sea games. For a pirate story, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is the classic.
What is a game like Sea of Thieves to play with friends, but calmer?
Raft on Peaceful mode. You build a floating home together, and the shark and other animals leave you alone.
Is Sea of Thieves good for kids?
It has cartoon violence, and other players can attack and swear in voice chat. Safer Seas or a private crew of friends is calmer. Check the age rating in your country.
