Nintendo Entertainment System · Strategy / Sports
Sid Meier's Pirates!
| System | Nintendo Entertainment System |
|---|---|
| Released | 1991 (originally 1987) |
| Genre | Strategy, Sports |
| Developer | Ultra Games |
| Publisher | MicroProse |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Weekend project (Roughly 6–20 hours) |
| Series | Sid Meier's Pirates |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 6 |
Sid Meier's Pirates! is a strategy game released in 1991 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, developed by Ultra Games and published by MicroProse. Depending on the region, you may also know it as Pirates!. This NES release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1987. It blends strategy and sports elements.
It landed about 6 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1991 include Pac-Man, Battletoads and Yoshi. Among the 36 NES strategy games in our database, it ranks #7 by legacy score.
It is part of the Sid Meier's Pirates series. The series also appears on other systems with Sid Meier's Pirates! (C64).
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
Pick it if…
- you want to think and plan
- you have time for a weekend project (roughly 6–20 hours)
Maybe skip it if…
- you want quick action without planning ahead
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Sid Meier's Pirates! is like
Strategy games reward planning over reflexes: command armies, manage resources and outthink opponents on turn-based or real-time battlefields.
Tip for newcomers: Read the manual or tutorial if one exists: retro strategy games often assume you know their rules. Save between missions.
Sid Meier's Pirates! cheats & codes
26 codes on file (Game Genie, Emulator memory codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:
| Trade With A Merchant For Maximum Gold | AEEEKVAA |
|---|---|
| Have 2560 Cargo Space In Store/When Seizing Goods | OXUAOVOK |
| Enemy Can't Fire Cannons | OXVGNGSX |
| Start Ship-Battles Without Any Damage | UINTVGLA |
Sid Meier's Pirates! walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Sid Meier's Pirates!.
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Playing NES games today
NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.
Sid Meier's Pirates! FAQ
When did Sid Meier's Pirates! come out on the NES?
Sid Meier's Pirates! was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991; the original game dates back to 1987.
Who made Sid Meier's Pirates!?
It was developed by Ultra Games and published by MicroProse.
Is Sid Meier's Pirates! multiplayer?
No. Sid Meier's Pirates! is a single-player game.
How long does Sid Meier's Pirates! take to play?
As a strategy game, Sid Meier's Pirates! typically falls into the "Weekend project" category: roughly 6–20 hours. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Sid Meier's Pirates! on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.