Puzzle Pirates is an online game. Unlike other online environments, the game does not include simulated violence or gore. There are no guns in Puzzle Pirates. Instead, competitive interactions between players are resolved using one of fifteen different interactive puzzles. A player's skill at each puzzle determines how well he or she is likely to do in the game.

Online games can create an enormously fun environment. People are, after all, far more fun to interact with than computers! The challenge comes with making these kinds of interactions a positive experience. Our approach has been to design Puzzle Pirates so that it encourages our community of players to work together. Success in the game comes from learning to work cooperatively: Players are rewarded for forming crews, organizing expeditions, and interacting socially with those around them and not for being abusive or otherwise acting out.