REVIEW – Swords, pistols, skeletons, and a cheeky parrot: Pirates VR: Jolly Roger does not hold back, throwing you straight into Caribbean madness from the very first minute. Making confident use of the technical capabilities of PSVR2 in both visuals and atmosphere, this pirate adventure delivers exploration, combat, and brain-teasing puzzles at the same time. The only question is how much of the experience stays with you once the headset comes off.

Pirates VR: Jolly Roger is an ambitious VR adventure that transports players to a cursed Caribbean island, where exploration, close-quarters combat, and logic-based puzzles constantly alternate. Playing on PSVR2, it is immediately clear that the developers took the creation of atmosphere seriously: the combination of spatial audio, dynamic lighting, and water surfaces delivers a particularly strong sense of presence. The gameplay is varied, although this diversity does not always come with genuine depth.

Rope, Ladder, Sea – The Path Is Not Always Smooth

Movement relies on analog stick locomotion, with adjustable turning speed and crouching, and no teleportation option. This may cause discomfort for some VR players. Climbing and swimming are present, but they often feel clunky, which becomes especially frustrating during sections that require precise movements. Controls generally respond well, although during combat you may occasionally encounter imprecise inputs.

The combat system is built around pistols, swords, and magical relics, with enemies consisting mainly of cursed skeletons and wild creatures. Sword strikes and firing a flintlock pistol feel genuinely enjoyable in VR at first, but due to the limited variety of enemy types and the simple artificial intelligence, encounters become repetitive relatively quickly. Physical reloading is a clever idea, though it can be cumbersome at times.

Exploration is one of the game’s strongest pillars. Traversing jungles, caves, and submerged sea grottos, the environments are richly detailed and consistently encourage curiosity. Secrets and collectible items reward attentive players, although texture pop-in and occasional blurriness can sometimes break the illusion.

The puzzles present a mixed picture. Some provide a pleasant change of pace between combat encounters, while others rely more on trial and error and pixel hunting, which can disrupt the flow. Not every puzzle fits organically into the narrative, so at times they feel more like mandatory obstacles.

Visuals, Atmosphere, And A Parrot That Talks Too Much

From a visual standpoint, the game performs strongly on PSVR2. Lighting and water reflections are particularly impressive, while the sound design effectively reinforces the atmosphere. The parrot companion’s humorous remarks are entertaining at first, but over longer sessions they can become somewhat tiring.

Accessibility options include adjusting movement speed and player height, but the lack of teleportation may be a deal-breaker for many. Controls are mostly intuitive, though climbing and swimming would benefit from further refinement. The menu system is functional, but slightly awkward.

The story is lighthearted, offering a curse-breaking narrative supported by competent voice acting. It is not a deep character drama, but rather a framework for exploration and tasks. The game is aimed primarily at players looking for a compact, atmospheric VR pirate adventure, rather than a lengthy epic.

Overall – Short, Atmospheric, But Not Flawless

Overall, Pirates VR: Jolly Roger is a likable VR adventure with strong atmosphere and visual presentation, held back by shallower combat, uneven puzzles, and a few technical shortcomings. Its short playtime prevents it from becoming a long-term experience, but for VR players drawn to pirate romance, it remains an enjoyable journey.

-Herpai Gergely “BadSector”-

Publisher: Split Light Studio
Developer: Split Light Studio
Genre: VR adventure game
Release: May 15, 2025.