Cutthroats: Terror on the High Seas

Cutthroats: Terror on the High Seas (1999)

Genres:Strategy, Simulator
Story:The game is set in the 17th century in the Caribbean and unlike most pirate games, it is mostly historically accurate. The game world is covered with settlements according to the time period the player picks at the start (and evolves accordingly as the game progresses) and each settlement is ruled by one of the five new world powers, Spain, England, France, The Netherlands and Denmark. Also some settlements are ruled at certain times by independent rulers, e.g. Tortuga and Belize. These settlements can be attacked by the player, meaning his crew, with weapons the player chose, will land at the town and can then be controlled to burn and pillage it. Other than this the player controls a ship unit upon a map of the Spanish Main and can plot courses to pins which represent towns; however, if an NPC ship is close enough to the player (these ships spawn at the settlements with goals such as trade between towns or to find pirates), the player will be alerted and go into a smaller bird's-eye map in which they can raise flags to either enter diplomacy with the ship such as asking for information, raise nation flags to avoid them, or obviously raise the Jolly Roger to attack them. Ship combat is worked much as town combat with the player controlling his ship(s) with advanced controls such as where to aim cannon, and what type of shot, right down to scuttling the ship or setting it ablaze.Show more
user avatarAdded by @Miljac
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.
1 141
Stories about this game (11)
What’s your memory of Cutthroats: Terror on the High Seas?Share your favorite moments and see what others remember about this game.
user avatar@placeholder

Make sure to follow our Guidelines when adding new Stories.

If not sure what to write:
  • What made this game unforgettable?
  • Who did you play this game with?
  • What made it fun or challenging?
  • Why do you want this game on GOG?
user avatar@darkheathuser avatar@darkheath
January 31, 2025
I got my first computer late in 1999. This game came out earlier in the year and I remember checking out the box every time I went into Comp USA and was so glad when I finally had something to play it on. I was excited about another Pirates game similar to Sid Meier's. This game was that. Turns out, it wasn't quite as easy to pick up and play as SM's classic game, but it went a little deeper in trade and land battles. And I liked that extra layer of complexity. I know there aren't many votes yet, but would love to see Cutthroats on GOG some day.
user avatar@Aaasmunduser avatar@Aaasmund
January 31, 2025
Epic soundtrack, keeps you on edge and makes you humm the soundtrack and catchphrases from the game. Still use phrases like "Reloadin cannons" or "Buy som pearls, buy some pearls for your lady, buy some pearls!" with my brother. I really miss this game, it's a shame it's so difficult to get in a functioning format. Balancing what supplies to take, which colonial powers to piss off, which ships to board or which coastal cities to raid and ever evading the pesky spanish pirate hunters is a blast!
user avatar@MrVendettiuser avatar@MrVendetti
February 03, 2025
After I got my first PC, I spent all my pocket money to discounted games, you know, quantity has its own quality, but usually there was a reason, why they were discounted, so usually they were pretty bad deals. But not Cutthroats! The game is pretty simple : get a ship, get a crew, some cannons, swords and rob other people. Man, I enjoyed robbing those people. Especially the Dutch! Summary: all I wanna say: Send them to Davy Jones' locker!
Oh my god, YES PLEASE! I played it for years as a child. Had a hard time to find it because I only knew it under its German title: "Unter schwarzer Flagge". Finally found it here as well. Instabuy for me if it gets releases on GOG. So many fond memories....
user avatar@RyudoTenjinuser avatar@RyudoTenjin
February 06, 2025
Amazing pirate game. Great music, great gameplay. The game's fun, well balanced, got both ship to ship sea combat but also land battles. You gotta manage your supplies, your crew, your ships (You first get one but you can end up having more when you board them). You end up conquering a town? You can appoint one of your crew members as a new governor. It's one of the most fun experiences I ever had with pirate-themed games.
PLEASEEEEE I THINK ABOUT THIS GAME EVERY FEW MONTHS ITS UNHEALTHY SHIP AHOYYYYY I THINK WE SHOULDNT STAY HERE FOR TOO LONG ... THEYRE TRADURRHHHS ! PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPENNNN
user avatar@floflo666user avatar@floflo666
March 23, 2025
I loved the music and the atmosphere of the game - the creaking hull, the lookout for ships to plunder. Still have "reload them cannons !" and "pearls for the missus !" echoes in my ear whenever I think about it. I fondly remember adding an enormous Ship o' The Line with multiple cannon decks to my pirate fleet. If the game hadn't glitched out (it was quite buggy), I swear I would have been King of Tortuga... drinkin' an' whorin' :-)
user avatar@dimatodduser avatar@dimatodd
March 09, 2025
I played this game for ages and ages along with my brother. We've probably got 300+ hours on it combined. I would have been singe-digits old and later in life, I replayed it for hours as well. I love this game and miss it terribly but it seems to have been forgotten. No other game has quite scratched the same itch that Cutthroats did.
Me and my Dad spent years playing this right until i moved out. Funny enough he brought the cd version off amazon thinking he could just install and play but sadly its a no. This game for me is my childhood and would love to be able to sit and chill and play this again.
user avatar@meyaliuser avatar@meyali
April 18, 2025
The first that caught my interest is the pirate-themed game. and then the way it was presented (isometric view). The tactical and strategic depth is quite complex, even for me right now, I guess. The trade vs piracy balance, and how it'd affect people's view on our crew, really got me going back then. I'd really love to play it in high definition display.
Those games also need your vote!
Star Wars: Galaxies - Starter Kit
Star Wars: Galaxies - Starter KitThis is a bundle that includes the original Star Wars: Galaxies game, as well as its expansions "Jump to Light Speed" and "Rage of the Wookies." It is the initial physical release since the dreaded "New Game Experience" updates. Noteworthy changes include a complete redesign of the first 30 character levels, which now serve as both a tutorial and a continuous quest line. Additionally, the number of profession choices has been reduced to nine by merging some characters.
Action
Science fiction
Action
Science fiction
333
1
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals TimeFantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is an RPG life-sim game and the long-awaited sequel to the 3DS classic Fantasy Life. This game will expand on what the original did, blending simulation with traditional action RPG combat mechanics.
Action
Fantasy
Action
Fantasy
149
4
Pandora's Box
Pandora's Box
87
4
Monster Train 2
Monster Train 2It's time to raise Hell in Heaven! Monster Train returns with all new clans, new enemy factions, new challenges, new modes and more! Defend your Pyre in the classic three-tiered, vertical gameplay that made the original roguelike deckbuilder a hit.
Action
Fantasy
Action
Fantasy
72
Island, Sex & Survival
Island, Sex & SurvivalYou began a new life on the mysterious deserted island after drifting there due to a shipwreck, starting from scratch. Building a base, exploring different areas of the island, living alongside various female characters you encounter, and experiencing all sorts of miraculous events.
Erotic
Erotic
28
Overwatch: Game of the Year Edition
Overwatch: Game of the Year EditionREQUIRES XBOX LIVE GOLD. SOLD SEPARATELY. Join us for a FREE weekend of Overwatch beginning November 17! You’ll have access to all of the maps and heroes in a variety of game modes. The Overwatch Free Weekend begins November 17 at 11:00 a.m. PT and ends November 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Any experience or items you earn during this free weekend will transfer over if you decide to purchase Overwatch: Game of the Year Edition; just be sure you purchase the game on the same Xbox Live Gold membership you played with during this free weekend. Clash on the battlefields of tomorrow and choose your hero from a diverse cast of soldiers, scientists, adventurers, and oddities. Bend time, defy physics, and unleash a dizzying array of extraordinary powers and weapons. Engage your enemies in iconic locations from around the globe in the ultimate team-based shooter. The world needs heroes—we hope you can join us!
Action
Comedy
Science fiction
Action
Comedy
Science fiction
31
Overwatch: Collector's Edition
Overwatch: Collector's EditionThe Overwatch Collector’s Edition is packed full of goods to enhance your experience, along with all of the in-game bonuses and Origin Skins bundled in Overwatch: Origins Edition. The Overwatch Collector’s Edition includes everything in Overwatch: Origins Edition, plus: Visual Sourcebook, Soundtrack, and Soldier: 76 Statue
Action
Comedy
Science fiction
Action
Comedy
Science fiction
12
Overwatch: Origins Edition
Overwatch: Origins EditionIn Overwatch, you control one of several heroes in competitive 6-person team shooting matches. Battle over objectives, take down the other team, and achieve victory. In Overwatch, heroes do battle in diverse locations around the world. From the technological marvel of Numbani to the manufacturing powerhouse of Volskaya, each map has a unique layout and specific win conditions that your team must meet in order to secure victory. Origins Edition includes exclusive "Origins" skins for several heroes which harken back to the days when the titular group Overwatch was thriving. Origins Edition was eventually renamed to "Game of the Year Edition" which had even more bonus content added.
Action
Comedy
Science fiction
Action
Comedy
Science fiction
17
NetStorm: Islands At War
NetStorm: Islands At WarWage war on floating islands high in the clouds
Action
Fantasy
Action
Fantasy
1 224
7
Black & White
Black & WhitePlay the role of a deity in a land where the surroundings are yours to shape and its people are yours to lord over. Be an evil, malevolent god and the natives will worship you with fear in their eyes. Play as a kind, benevolent god and they will worship you with love in their hearts. Your actions decide whether you create a heaven or hell for your worshipers. Then select a creature from the land to act as your representative in the world. Raise it to gigantic proportions and teach it to do your bidding--whether the animal grows into an evil colossus of mass destruction or a kind and gentle giant is up to you. Progress through the game's rich storyline performing powerful miracles to battle other deities and become the world's supreme god.
Top
Open world
Sandbox
Top
Open world
Sandbox
92 562
233