Pirate Borg RPG Review - Pirates, Dark Magic, Undead, and Rum

Pirates, treasure, dark magic, the undead, and most importantly, rum — that’s what awaits you if you set sail into the dangerous waters of the Dark Caribbean in the Pirate Borg RPG. Published in the Czech translation by Mytago in November 2025, we’re now taking a closer look at it.

Atmosphere and Game System

Pirate Borg is a dark and uncompromising game, but that doesn't mean you won't have a laugh. You play as pirates in an alternate version of the Caribbean, the so-called Dark Caribbean, where plenty of ancient horrors, dark magic, and treasures—which may or may not be cursed—await you. The atmosphere is clearly inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft; unspeakable evil lurks around every corner, and it’s highly likely your character will die. Sooner rather than later. The game is prepared for this; character creation is simple. You just roll for your next character's attributes (and there are plenty of them) and carry on—though it must be said that you have to count on character death.

Despite how dark Pirate Borg is, you can feel that it doesn't take itself too seriously. When someone is wounded, rum heals them—provided they roll high enough; otherwise, the character spends two rounds vomiting. And since every proper pirate needs a hat, the game features several types of headgear that can have various effects on gameplay.

The character creation options are truly vast, and you can play as anything from a hulking pirate brawler to a talking chicken. Somewhere in between, you'll find vampire pirates or pirate wizards. In addition to basic classes and gear, the game includes a large number of traits your character might have. The player rolls a die and simply finds in a table what bad trait their pirate currently has or what is bothering them. The range is wide—from classic pirate wooden legs to supernatural body parts.

It is this combination of a serious setting with not-always-serious details that makes Pirate Borg so interesting. However, if you are looking for a system where you can turn your character into a superman to nurture for the rest of the campaign, you probably won't find it here. In any case, the game places great emphasis on the experience and roleplaying, and much less on complicated mechanics and rules. It is quite easy to immerse yourself in the story and develop interesting plotlines with your fellow players. This is also an advantage for players who may not have much experience with RPGs yet. At the same time, Pirate Borg is ideal for one-shot adventures, although a longer campaign is also possible.

The Rulebook: Graphics and Translation

The Pirate Borg rulebook is gorgeous in every way. The illustrations and graphics are beautiful, and you can tell someone put a lot of effort into them. The manual also feels clear and logical—it's quite easy to find exactly what you're looking for. The book is also in a fairly friendly format, making it easy to handle and work with.

The number of tables in the book is large—as expected—but they are understandable, logically arranged, and easy to navigate. The translation is done very clearly and with a great eye for detail—the localization doesn't break the atmosphere; on the contrary, it supports it. In the same spirit, the names of monsters and locations are translated very creatively and amusingly. This adds to the game's fun and originality.

The book also includes a double-sided map of the Dark Caribbean, which is truly beautifully executed. (The author of this review has a weakness for historical maps ;) ) This is not only a great tool for planning a campaign, but it could easily be framed and displayed. In general, you can tell the book was made with care and enthusiasm, and that applies to both the book itself and the Czech translation.

Impressions from Open Gaming of Pirate Borg

Since the author of this review also participated in an open gaming session at our gaming room, we will take the opportunity to share the impressions of other players. (imago editorial team)

As an inexperienced player of all BORG games, I always have an excellent experience with these simple systems.

A relatively simple system with a quick start (character creation). I would definitely like to try the ship rules, which we didn't get to during the session. I liked it a lot. A fun slasher. :D

Swift and fun character creation. Dark atmosphere yet lighthearted fun. In other words: Laughter at the table doesn't ruin the spirit of the game. The module 'Buried in the Bahamas' can also be used for a closed one-shot. Character creation (3PC): 45 min. The game itself: 3.5 hours.

Rum belongs to the pirate life, and it is an integral part of the game. In our case, beer replaced the rum during play.

Fun fact: In the real life of pirates, it was necessary to disinfect the water supplies on board so the water wouldn't spoil; of course, in ancient times, there was nothing better at hand than alcohol. And since pirates were often at sea longer than "decent" sailors (they weren't welcome in all ports), they diluted the water with a bit more alcohol. After a full day of such hydration, they might have appeared somewhat drunk…

Conclusion

Pirate Borg is a dark, fun adventure that has very simple and at the same time uncompromising rules. It is definitely a game that will guarantee you and your group a lot of fun, provided you don't mind dying every now and then. The Czech localization of the game is very well done, and I can personally recommend Pirate Borg with a clear conscience to both beginners and seasoned players. At the same time, fans of dark fantasy, Lovecraft, and of course—pirates—will find something to love.☠️🖤

author Zero Maarcou