
It's always fascinating when a developer, having come up with an engaging idea for a puzzle game, tries to justify the premise after the fact with a storyline. Case in point: Mysterious Treasures by Sky Mill, which spins a simple grid-based strategy game of getting more coins than the CPU into a high-seas pirate adventure. It's a simple little game that makes for big fun.

While zombies are perhaps over-common, and pirates are getting there, casual gaming doesn't have nearly enough zombie-pirates. At least that's the argument given by Pirates of the Undead Sea: Rise of the Ribcage, the new point-and-click adventure game from Pahu Pahu, and, given its quality, its a strong argument indeed. Captain Black Sam has spent years sailing the seven seas plundering and pillaging. After a night of too much rum, he wakes up to find his ship at the bottom of the ocean... and after fifteen years of decaying and trying to figure out why he isn't dead too, a chance mermaid-sighting convinces him the time is nigh to set out on another grand adventure. And so, you're off to seek glory, gold and grog! Mostly grog!

Ahoy ye barnacle-blistered land-lubbers, and welcome about the JayIsGames galleon! Today we be featurin' Frantic Frigates, a top-down action shooter from Berzerk Studio. Thar be rumors of sharks, pirates, and alien ghosts swarming the seas, and they've been leaving folk mighty groggy. Only ye and yer motley crew of constantly firin' cannon firers even stand hope to make the waters still. Those looking for a treasure chest of frenzied fun will find it here, I swear by my tattoo.

Why can't pirates and ninjas get along? Why can't you crazy kids just join hands, or hooks, and sing a little Kumbaya? Why must you alternate through sixty levels of smashing, launching, physics puzzle madness? Your creator ought to be ashamed of you.

Control three different characters to help recover a stolen diamond in this latest charming point-and-click adventure from Pencilkids. What do you get when you cross a ninja, a pirate, and a robot? Aside from some prime sitcom material, you get the greatest little team capable of taking on anything. Provided "anything" means, apparently, Romanian vikings.

Pirates and golf, the unlikeliest pairing since chocolate syrup and trombones. Navigate your way through eight stylishly illustrated holes, including some unique obstacles and moving terrain. It's cute and fun, with good level design and an almost unprecedentedly cheesy story. Kids will definitely enjoy playing it, yet it offers plenty of challenges for adults as well.

An unfortunate fire breaks out in the powder room of Roll Pirate's ship, scattering his treasure across a chain of islands full of hazards and twisting mazes. Now Roll Pirate, the most spherical pirate of them all, must track down his missing gemstones with your help. Rolling, rolling, rolling... keep that pirate rolling...

Arrrrr, it be another one o' dem games where ye be tryin' to fly as far as ye can to the right, matey. Thar be enough loot to make us all very rich pirates. We just need to be gettin' past the open water and the sharks, whales, and mines between us and it. Now go get me gold before I make ye walk the plank! Arrrr!

Look! Off in the horizon! Ships with flags with skulls and crossbones! And tons of peg-legged men hobbling right this way! We've got pirates on our hands, and the need to defend against them! Pirate Defense is Hero Interactive's (Storm Winds, Bubble Tanks) take on tower defense games, with a steep slant toward traps and chain reactions. Give those pirates the worst day of their pillaging life.