For 25$ Republic of Pirates does a good of being inspired by the Anno formula while keeping a unique identity. This game does quite a bit well, however it does have a few flaws.
First graphics are well done for a small team. The visuals and information provided via UI allow you to figure out what buildings in a chain you need to build. In addition, it is easy to access the information on where to build those buildings to further refine your supply chain.
The naval combat has some depth with different types of ships ranging from small schooners to massive galleons. Each with unique abilities, and on top of that different captains you can recruit impart unique bonuses as they level up. This allows you to fine tune your fleet to suit your play style.
The sound while enjoyable for me, could be hit or miss. It is fun music but a lot of sea shanties means while it may be a while before repeats. Eventually you will hear the same sea shanties repeatedly. While I enjoyed it, I can see other people eventually getting annoyed and muting the sound.
The campaign is fun and enjoyable, teaching you the mechanics and basics, however it is always the same map, at least at time of recording and playing. There is a free play mode. The free play mode allows you to fine tune a number of variables and generate a map based on those variables for replay ability.
Where the game does have issues is near the end of a play through. Quite often you are not given enough resources to keep the economy going at full speed when you get into end game. There is no trade system to make up for the lack of supplies. This means quite often I would find myself just walking away and letting the game run for hours while the needed supplies were built. Unlike in similar games where you just buy what you need, in this game you have to just wait it out. It didn’t kill the game, but it was annoying.
In addition, at the time of play through and recording. The AI for hauling supplies around town would often struggle assigning haulers and finding routes. This means quite often even if I had enough through put, the AI would screw things up and slow down the pace.
Again neither of the AI or supply issues were enough to kill the game but I found myself getting annoyed and frustrated. For 25$ if you find main line Anno games to intimidating, the steam world build games too simple, this is a happy medium. If you are interested in these types of games Republic of Pirates is a well done one at a very affordable price.