Pirates have historically been very compelling characters. The golden age of piracy is a thrilling era of history filled with huge personalities, political intrigue, and the salty draw of the seven seas. It is no surprise, then, that pirates have also made their mark on the gaming industry.

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Whether the game is about pirates or just features pirates heavily, these swashbuckling privateers make for fantastic characters. Whether they're lightening the mood with bawdy tales and sea shanties or serving as sinister and threatening antagonists, pirates make for brilliant additions to any game that needs a hook.

10 Admiral Razorbeard

Rayman Razorbeard
Admiral Razorbeard from Rayman 2

This rusty pirate makes his entrance into the world of Rayman with the series' second installment where he's the main antagonist. He is the commander of all the robotic enemies in the game and seeks to invade the Glade of Dreams. While he is thwarted by Rayman, it isn't the last time we see Razorbeard.

This piratey villain makes a big impression. He has a big personality and that classic pirate accent made famous by the old Treasure Island movie, so you instantly know what he's about from the word "go."

9 Patty Fleur

Patty using her Summon Friends ability in Tales of Vesperia

Patty was introduced in the PS3 port of Tales of Vesperia and her addition definitely makes a splash. Her story in the game is very classically "pirate" - she's on a search for a famous pirate's legendary treasure and that pirate may very well be her father.

She's quite unique as a character both in that she's a rare female pirate unattached to a male pirate, and is a child at that. She can be very childish and loud, but that's to be expected with her age. As a result, you may find her incredibly annoying or very endearing. Either way, she leaves quite the impression.

8 Fargo

Chrono Cross Fargo
Split image of artwork of Fargo and a shot of him in battle using Pillage, from Chrono Cross

Chrono Cross has a huge cast of characters, from a rock star to a luchador to a scientist and yes, a pirate. Fargo is the captain of the S.S. Invincible and is recruited a fair bit into the game as a Blue-elemental warrior with suitably seafaring skills.

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Thanks to Chrono Cross taking place across two alternate dimensions, there are in fact two Fargos to meet. The one who joins your party has a few choice words for the other, but both have an emotional backstory that involves the death of their wives and their children becoming estranged.

7 Balthier

Final Fantasy 12 Balthier
Balthier gesturing towards the camera in Final Fantasy 12

Balthier is the first of the sky pirates on this list. He's the captain of the Strahl, a Millenium Falcon-esque airship that he uses to travel around Ivalice, stealing valuables with his Viera partner Fran.

With a flair for the dramatic and a past so incredibly far-removed from his chosen occupation, Balthier is the poster boy for compelling characterization. In addition, he makes a great mentor for wannabe-pirate Vaan - something that obviously paid off according to Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings.

6 Vyse And Aika

Skies of Arcadia Screenshot Of Vyse Aika

Skies of Arcadia is a truly underrated title that was released for the Dreamcast. Vyse and Aika, raised on the aptly-named Pirate's Isle, make for great main protagonists for this island-hopping adventure.

They have very positive and infectious personalities, with Aika's headstrong personality bouncing off and encouraging Vyse's passionate and determined outlook. Their friendship is very wholesome thanks to their shared upbringing and it's refreshing to have two very close protagonists who aren't shoved into the overdone "childhood romance" box.

5 Jaster Rogue

Rogue Galaxy Jaster Rogue

In a game full of pirates, Jaster stands out as the protagonist. Rogue Galaxy features a ship full of pirates soaring through space as they search for a legendary treasure - inevitably, they get caught up in something much bigger.

Jaster is a great protagonist. He has a great thirst for adventure and dives in head-first at the first opportunity to do so. As far as the game's mechanics go, he's also one of the most powerful characters and is very easy to use in battle, with his cool oversized swords and neat guns.

4 Rusty Pete

Ratchet and Clank Rusty Pete
Rusty Pete's model from Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart

Pirates are great for comic relief. It's very easy to make puns about them and this is exemplified by Rusty Pete of Ratchet & Clank fame. He's one of the series' oft-recurring characters and makes for a very entertaining antagonist with his squeaky voice and over-the-top personality.

He makes his most recent appearance in Rift Apart, getting a very funny and excruciatingly French dimensional counterpart in Pierre Le Fer (Pierre the Iron in English). Overall, he's a far more fun character than the other pirates of the series and it is no wonder that he's used so often.

3 Edward Kenway

Assassin's Creed 4 Edward Kenway
Edward Kenway from Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag

Hailing from Swansea but working in the West Indies, Edward Kenway makes for a great main assassin in the long-running Assassin's Creed series. Black Flag follows Kenway's journey from a pirate to an assassin which even has him meeting Edward Thatch - better known to history as Blackbeard.

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As an assassin, Kenway sports quite a different set of skills to the other pirates on this list, but still uses blades and guns and his wit to devastate his foes. As a feared captain he commands a great deal of respect and it's really fun to follow his development over the course of the game.

2 Faris Scherwiz

Final Fantasy 5 Faris
Artwork of Faris from Dissidia Opera Omnia and Final Fantasy 5

Faris makes her mark on Final Fantasy 5 as a pirate captain and the fourth member to join your party. While initially she is presented ambiguously, her reveal as a woman is the first big reveal in a game absolutely full to the brim with similar shocking moments. With this, she's an inspiring example of a strong female character in a position of power.

In the old translation for the game's PS1 release, Faris was given a rather iconic piratey vocabulary which made her extremely memorable. This is unfortunately toned down a lot in the newer translations, but she still has her characteristic hot-headed and headstrong personality, making her stand out even among the game's very strong cast.

1 Guybrush Threepwood

A still of Guybrush Threepwood from The Curse of Monkey Island

When you think of video game pirates, it's extremely difficult not to think of Guybrush Threepwood. From the moment he turned up on Melee Island with the words "I wanna be a pirate" he has been a standout amongst protagonists not just from the age of adventure games, but the entire history of gaming.

With his penchant for humor, his deadpan delivery, and his silver tongue, Guybrush is as iconic as it gets when it comes to pirates. He's solved esoteric puzzles, knows his way around a voodoo doll, is married to a governor, and has managed to come back from the dead. Multiple times, even! You don't want to mess with Guybrush Ulysses Threepwood, even if he does have the excited demeanor of a puppy and a regrettable inability to grow a beard.

NEXT: Top Games That Let You Play As A Pirate