Eight Most Famous Pirates In Videogame History

Disclaimer: For this list I will only be considering pirates made famous by videogames. Characters originating from other genres and migrating to videogames do not qualify. Don’t expect to see Jack Sparrow or Monkey D. Luffy on this list. 

8. Sir Francis Drake (Uncharted)

Taking the eighth spot on our list is Sir Francis Drake, from developer Naughty Dog’s Uncharted series. Sir Francis is long dead by the time of the first game having lived during the 16th century. But he is heavily referenced in the first instalment of the series Uncharted: Drake's Fortune as well as the third instalment Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. Sir Francis Drake was a renowned English explorer in the game’s lore, having received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth I. He notably faked his death in a venture to seek out the fabled treasure of El Dorado. He may not have done much (or any) pillaging but he certainly had a knack for sniffing out treasure. 

7. Serafen (Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire)

Art Credit: Meiaushzz

Obsidian Entertainment brought us a fun list of companions in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, but none were more scrappy than the Orlan known as Serafen. A member of the Príncipi sen Patrena (Princes without a Homeland), Serafen grew up a slave fighting in pits for sport. Eventually, while aboard a slave ship, pirates attacked, and Serafen took the opportunity to get revenge on his captors. The pirate captain known as Remaro took him in and he began his life at the high seas. Overtime Serafen starts to think of Captain Remaro as a father figure to replace the one he’d never known. Serafen is regarded as one of the most accomplished ship hunters in the Deadfire archipelago. 

6. Ridley (Metroid)

Considered the archenemy of Samus Aran, Ridley is a recurring villain in the Metroid series. The creature itself is of an unknown species, taking the form of what some would call a “space dragon”. Regardless of their appearance they are considered a high-ranking member of the Space Pirate faction. Ridley is said to be extremely vicious and enjoys violence on a massive scale, having once wiped out an entire colony. 

5. Vaas Montenegro (Far Cry 3)

While he may only be the secondary antagonist for Far Cry 3, Vaas Montenegro was the poster child for the game and was featured on all of the promotional material and box art. Vaas started out as a tribal warrior for the Rakyat, an indigenous island people. However, after being abducted by Hoyt Volker’s drug and human trafficking ring — Vaas would eventually rise to become Hoyt’s right hand man. His duties include kidnapping, selling native inhabitants, and the general mayhem of death and destruction. 

4. Isabela (Dragon Age II)

Though we first meet this saucy and bad-mouthed captain in Dragon Age: Origins, it is not until Dragon Age II that she becomes a full-fledged character and companion for the Champion of Kirkwall. Isabela is the former captain of the Siren’s Call, which at the time of the game sits at the bottom of the bay near Kirkwall. For her part Captain Isabela is one of the best characters Bioware has designed for the Dragon Age series. Having a morally grey personality she is always up for chaos and fun, not to mention her fantastic side story that hooks into the main arc of the game. Before you ask, yes she is an available romance option for both male and female characters. 

3. King/Kaptain K. Rool (Donkey Kong)

Art Credit: Pavlovs-Walrus

Though this overgrown Kremling is mostly known for his crown and flowing red cape, King K. Rool had his beginnings aboard a Kremling Galleon. It was only after the ship became wrecked upon the shore that K. Rool took up the mantle of King. However, in Donkey Kong Country 2 the dastardly devil digs up his roots and dons his pirate attire once more. With his pirate ship and crew, Kaptain K. Rool even managed to kidnap Donkey Kong himself — forcing Diddy and Dixie Kong to stage a rescue. 

2. Edward James Kenway (Assassin's Creed IV: Blackflag)

Number two on our list is Edward James Kenway, the main protagonist of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Having been born in the late 17th century, Edward believed it was at sea that he would find wealth. He first started out as a privateer for the British Royal Navy, however his lust for riches later turned him to a life of crime and piracy. Eventually circumstances lead to Edward stealing a Spanish Brig known as the El Dorado. The newly captained Kenway and his crew re-name the ship the “Jackdaw” and set sail upon the high seas of the West Indies. 

1. Guybrush Ulysses Threepwood (Monkey Island)

 

Taking our number one spot is, of course, the hero of the Missing Profile series. Guybrush Threepwood is a great representation of what every kid thinks a pirate is. When we are first introduced to him it is clear that he has almost no idea how to be a pirate — that it's just something he wants to be rather than something he is good at. Over the course of the game Guybrush learns about the Three Trials that every true pirate must complete, Sword Fighting, Thievery, and Treasure Hunting. This, coupled with many other obstacles, sharpens our hero into a more competent, but no less ridiculous, buccaneer by the time the credits roll.