Here are **short and simple** recommendations for modern games like *High Seas Trader*—focusing on trading, sailing, and adventure:
---
### Top Picks
* **Port Royale 4**
Deep trading mechanics, ship battles, and a beautiful 17th‑century Caribbean setting ([The Perfect Swing Trainer][1], [TechSpot][2]).
* **Naval Action**
Ultra-realistic naval combat with ship building, trading, and an open world ([Viravira Blog][3], [TechSpot][2]).
* **Windward**
A procedurally generated naval sandbox where you explore, upgrade ships, and trade freely ([Viravira Blog][3]).
* **Sailwind**
A realistic sailing simulator with trading. Great for solo exploration ([Reddit][4], [Viravira Blog][3]).
---
### Other Strong Options
* **Skull and Bones** (2024)
Focuses on naval warfare and piracy in an open‑world setting ([Wikipedia][5], [cambridgejournal.co.uk][6]).
* **Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii** (2025)
Combines beat‑’em‑up combat, ship upgrades, and open‑sea exploration ([Wikipedia][7], [PCGamesN][8]).
* **Captain Blood** (2025)
Historical pirate adventure based on Rafael Sabatini’s novel, with action-adventure gameplay ([Wikipedia][9]).
* **Ahoy** (upcoming)
Authentic Age of Sail experience with open‑world navigation, crew management, and naval combat; slated for early access starting Q1 2026 ([GamesRadar+][10]).
---
### Community Suggestions
> “Maybe, Sid Meier’s Pirates. … Sailwind might also fit the bill.”
> —TechSpot forum user ([TechSpot][2])
> “Don’t think there is combat but you might like Sailwind.”
> —Reddit user ([Reddit][11])
---
### Quick Comparison Table
| Game | Standout Feature |
| -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **Port Royale 4** | Trading depth + Caribbean naval combat |
| **Naval Action** | Realistic ship combat and construction |
| **Windward** | Procedural exploration and customizable ships |
| **Sailwind** | Solo sailing simulator with trading focus |
| **Skull and Bones** | Open-world naval warfare and piracy |
| **Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza** | Action & ship upgrades in a quirky pirate story |
| **Captain Blood** | Historical pirate adventure |
| **Ahoy** (upcoming) | Realistic Age of Sail sandbox with deep systems |
---
Let me know if you'd like help narrowing these down based on gameplay or platform preferences!
[1]:
https://theperfectswingtrainer.com/arti ... hatgpt.com "Best Pirate Games 2024 [Ultimate List] - GamingScan (2024)"
[2]:
https://www.techspot.com/community/topi ... hatgpt.com "Looking for a game like the old High Seas Trader | TechSpot Forums"
[3]:
https://blog.viravira.co/7-sailing-game ... hatgpt.com "7 Sailing Games That Bring the High Seas to Your Desktop"
[4]:
https://www.reddit.com/r/gamingsuggesti ... hatgpt.com "Are there any games where you are a pirate on the seas, where you are a freelancer/privateer, that also involve dealing with economy stuff"
[5]:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skull_and ... hatgpt.com "Skull and Bones (video game)"
[6]:
https://cambridgejournal.co.uk/pirates- ... hatgpt.com "Exploring the Pirates Game: Pirate-Themed Gaming in 2025 - cambridgejournal.co.uk"
[7]:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Like_a_Dr ... hatgpt.com "Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii"
[8]:
https://www.pcgamesn.com/best-pirate-ga ... hatgpt.com "The best pirate games on PC 2025"
[9]:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_B ... hatgpt.com "Captain Blood (2025 video game)"
[10]:
https://www.gamesradar.com/games/open-w ... hatgpt.com "$700,000 in Kickstarter booty says Sid Meier's Pirates! sickos are fully on board with this first-person, open world, and \"most importantly - authentic\" take on nautical history that's lacking in Sea of Thieves and Black Flag"
[11]:
https://www.reddit.com/r/gamingsuggesti ... hatgpt.com "Looking for modern version of High Seas Trader..."