Treasure Pirates

Find the map. Take the hoard.

You captain the Sea Dog out of Gullhaven, a pirate port on a sunlit archipelago. Somewhere out there, split into three pieces and buried under red X's, is the map to Skull Mountain -- and the Legendary Hoard sealed inside it.

SAIL. Trim your sails to the wind and run between the islands: jungle-choked Parrot Cay, haunted Bonebrook Isle, the reef where the rum-runners hid their stash. Skeleton ships prowl the lanes; turn broadside and let the cannons talk. Squalls roll in with lightning and a heavy sea. Carry a piece of the map into the deep water and the Kraken comes up to meet you.

DIG. Hold E on an X and the sand flies -- and on the guarded ones the dead claw their way out of the ground to stop you. Cut them down (they don't always stay down), then carry the chest back to your ship, two-handed and slow.

BANK IT. Loot aboard is only yours once Old Salty has banked it at Gullhaven. Sink on the way home and it's Davy Jones's. Spend the rest on an iron-banded hull, swift sails, long guns, a golden shovel, a fine cutlass -- and a new coat of paint.

SKULL MOUNTAIN. Three map pieces open the gate in the skull. Behind it waits the Skeleton Captain.

BANANAS. Chests are heavy, so whistle for the ship's monkey. He comes bounding (or swims in from the Sea Dog), you climb into the saddle, strap the chest on the rack behind you and gallop it home.

Your crew heaves to if you go over the side, and brings the ship to you when you hail her. Dolphins ride your bow wave, gulls wheel over the harbour, and the sharks off Bonebrook don't like swimmers. Send a friend your link and you sail the same sea.

WASD walk and sail · mouse look, fire and fight · E act, hold E to dig · T whistle for Bananas · H hail your ship · M sea chart. On a phone: the stick and the buttons.