Pirates of Gravitae is an action roguelike game with fast-paced aerial dogfights, set in a fictional version of the Golden Age of Piracy. The player commands a rocket propelled pirate ship that they can equip with various weapons and abilities, as they fight against a variety of enemies. They can choose from a selection of different bonuses at the end of every battle, to customize their ship as they go. These bonuses expire at the end of a run. They can also unlock new abilities or upgrade crew members, for perks that persist between runs.