Game Info: Pirates: Tides of Fortune

Developed by: Plarium

Published by: Kabam

Release date: February 12, 2012

Available on: Windows/Mac/Linux

Genre: MMO, Real-time Stategy

Number of players: Online-only

ESRB Rating: Not rated

Price: Free with in-app purchases

Disclaimer: Although we have been offered money in the past to cover this game, we have declined and have not been compensated for this review.

Pirates: Tides of Fortune is a free MMO Real Time Strategy game where you must collect and create resources to build up your pirate empire and conquer the seven seas. Setting up an account is easy enough and you simply need to enter a valid e-mail address (verification will be required to progress in the game) and a password. Be careful as you enter your password as there is not a confirmation field to double check that you haven’t misspelled it on accident.

Once you’re logged in, Captain Anne O’Malley will walk you through the basics of gathering gold, wood, and distilling rum. After you follow her various tutorials you should be up to level 4. After researching the technology tree and upgrading your mills and mines, you should reach the coveted level five where you can set sail and plunder nearby ships and islands.

At the tavern you can recruit pirates to join your crew. The units specialize in offense or defense and if you send the incorrect unit to do the wrong task, the results will be devastating. Fortunately, the game will warn you ahead of time that you’re about to do something stupid. While most units can be acquired with in game resources, many of the veteran and better units require rubies as well, which are available for purchase with real-world money. Rubies can be earned in game but they are in short supply compared to the other resources.