Pillars of Eternity

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2683 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,104 out of 2683
  2. Mixed: 308 out of 2683
  3. Negative: 271 out of 2683
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  1. zexxx
    Aug 28, 2023
    0
    A deep and thoughtful RPG with strong story elements. this is, to me, an improvement on the big RPGs of old. The narrative is engaging and there's a lot of encounters sprinkled throughout the game that you'll never feel like any skill or ability is "just there".

    the fact it's real-time with pause is a something I've missed since BG. This game packs a lot into it. you manage a party    A deep and thoughtful RPG with strong story elements. this is, to me, an improvement on the big RPGs of old. The narrative is engaging and there's a lot of encounters sprinkled throughout the game that you'll never feel like any skill or ability is "just there".

    the fact it's real-time with pause is a something I've missed since BG.

    This game packs a lot into it. you manage a party (if you choose), you manage a castle! you're exploring the world and under your castle! there's a lot to see and do and many ways to solve encounters.

    there are layers of mechanics in this game but fear not, you don't have to go too deep if that's not your cup of tea as different difficulty levels will allow you to play the way you like.

    I can't stress enough how much I love the art and the style of this game. it's very reminiscent of RPGs of old and yet completely new and improved.

    This one is a *must* for any RPG fan. this is digital D&D at its finest!    … Expand
  2. Keron_Heruman
    Aug 24, 2023
    9
    New world, new lore, new game mechanics... with all the essence of the Baldur's gate saga. Very well rounded cRPG plenty of options with a deep history and an immense quantity of (very well written) text. Some punctual strange decisions, as some illogical relation attributes/abilities or the stronghold management, impede the 10/10
  3. apokalipto
    Aug 23, 2023
    9
    Very good game. I enjoyed playing this game a lot. I strongly recommend this.
  4. gracjanski
    Aug 16, 2023
    10
    Many good improvements to the already great Baldurs Gate & Co. gameplay. So yes, here you can build up many characters, not just one and yes, it is complex :) Finally the inventory is big enough and the graphic looks well. Only the manual should have been bigger (definitive edition)
    The story is good, especially there are a lot of details to discover, for example the story of the world.    Many good improvements to the already great Baldurs Gate & Co. gameplay. So yes, here you can build up many characters, not just one and yes, it is complex :) Finally the inventory is big enough and the graphic looks well. Only the manual should have been bigger (definitive edition)
    The story is good, especially there are a lot of details to discover, for example the story of the world. Sound/Music are perfect.

    But there should be less text to read. And some cinematics to improve the presentation of the story could be great also.    … Expand
  5. bigbigtimeboy
    Jul 18, 2023
    10
    These guys had a VISION. Awesome birds eye isometric RPG - cool story in a world rich with lore and side quests - all kinds of NPCs to interact with and impact your decisions/endings. Great character customization, some crafting and base building tossed in. And the UI for the combat/spell system is super easy to learn. Just the right amount of depth!! I played The White March pt 1 andThese guys had a VISION. Awesome birds eye isometric RPG - cool story in a world rich with lore and side quests - all kinds of NPCs to interact with and impact your decisions/endings. Great character customization, some crafting and base building tossed in. And the UI for the combat/spell system is super easy to learn. Just the right amount of depth!! I played The White March pt 1 and 2 (both add-ons) and they really added to the storyline.… Expand
  6. Woolee
    Jul 11, 2023
    7
    ivinity looks better but lacks the writing, both are my most recent favorite RPGs in recent memory. This will go down as the game that broug
  7. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    6
    Overall a miss for me. Too reliant on dense lore exposition, a setting that is dreary and not particularly interesting, and a story that is overall forgettable.
  8. Magical_Viktor
    Apr 30, 2023
    9
    Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»
  9. Hyperfailure
    Apr 29, 2023
    8
    A well made tRPG with a gripping story and characters (most anyway). Combat felt fair and interesting, character classes well balanced and certain builds kicking arse hard.
  10. Barrage
    Apr 24, 2023
    6
    An homage to Baldur's Gate. I liked the ending, but the characters in the game are completely unmemorable.
  11. ErayTellezi
    Apr 5, 2023
    7
    40 saatin sonunda bitti. Divinity Original Sin serisini büyük keyifle oynamış birisi olarak bunu pek beğenmedim. Tam anlamıyla sıra tabanlı olmaması, kendimizin durdurmak, turları ve süreleri takip etmek zorunda olmamız, ekranda oluşan kaos nedeniyle combat'ı takip etmeyi zorlaştırıyor. 6 tane parti üyesini, üzerinde durum etkileri, canları vesaire takip etmek çok zor.

    Oyundaki    40 saatin sonunda bitti. Divinity Original Sin serisini büyük keyifle oynamış birisi olarak bunu pek beğenmedim. Tam anlamıyla sıra tabanlı olmaması, kendimizin durdurmak, turları ve süreleri takip etmek zorunda olmamız, ekranda oluşan kaos nedeniyle combat'ı takip etmeyi zorlaştırıyor. 6 tane parti üyesini, üzerinde durum etkileri, canları vesaire takip etmek çok zor.

    Oyundaki yetenekleriniz tekrar yapabilme açısından ikiye ayrılıyor, çatışmadan sonra yenilenenler, dinlenmeden (kampta veya handa uyuma) sonra yenilenenler. Yeteneklerin büyük çoğunluğu dinlenmeden sonra tekrar kullanılabilir hale geliyor. Hal böyle olunca bu yetenekleri kullanırken iki kez düşünüyorsunuz. Bu da savaşlarda tüm gücünüzü kullanmamanıza ve bu nedenle kısır ve keyifsiz bir oyun tecrübesine neden oluyor. Bir de ben oyunlarda ekstra cimri birisiyimdir. Aman belki sonra ihtiyacım olur diye güçlü şeylerimi kolay kolay kullanmam. Bu oyun bu yüzden mahvetti beni. Lan yeni büyü edinmişim, dağı taşı oynatacağım, sonra kullanayım diyorum. Şu mekanik olmasa oyundan aldığım keyif iki katına çıkardı.

    Dinlenme mekaniği bence çok saçma olmuş. Adamlarınız zamanla yaralanıyor, canları azalıyor vesaire. Bunları gidermek için ya ebesinin nikahına gidip bir handa uyuyacaksınız ya da yanınızdaki kamp ateşiyle hemen oracıkta dinlenebileceksiniz. Daha da saçma yanı kamp ateşinden maksimum 4 tane taşıyabiliyorsunuz yanınızda. Bu da uzun zindanlarda daha stratejik oynamanız demek oluyor. Kısacası oyun sizi bir türlü salmıyor. Kendi ayağına sıkarak, kendine bu kadar zarar veren bir oyun daha oynamadım.

    Oyunda ilk sıkılmaya başladığım yer şehre geldiğimiz kısımdı. Saatlerce full diyalogla, neredeyse hiç savaşmadan oynuyorsunuz. Oraya git ona bir şey de, şuraya git ondan bir şey al. İki dakika salın da beni bir yerler keşfedeyim, yok maalesef. Oyunun hikayesinden falan orada koptum zaten.

    Çoğu yan görevi yaptım. Ama sonlara doğru sıkıldığım için bir kaç tanesini salıp direkt ana göreve daldım.

    Neticede comat'ı karmaşık ve kısıtlayıcı olduğu için sevemediğim bir oyun oldu. Dos serisi gibi adam akıllı sıra tabanlı olsa daha çok keyif alırdım. Bu konuda çok eleştiri gelmiş olacak ki ikinci oyunu isterseniz bu modla oynayabiliyorsunuz. Belki bir ara bakarım.    … Expand
  12. TianLong1
    Mar 31, 2023
    9
    My first time playing a Baldur's gate-like game, and it made me fall in love with the genre, making me hungry for more games like this. Lots of customization and the possibility to create your own characters to join your party. Great RPG game.
  13. FKAsavage
    Mar 30, 2023
    4
    I really wanted to like this game, as a fan of Obsidian and the CRPG genre, but after 3 attempts this game feels a bit lifeless. I would say I held some hope for it after the intro sequence, where some interesting things do happen. Unfortunately this is not representative of the adventure that follows it.

    It reads as an inferior Dragon Age Origins, with less engaging characters,    I really wanted to like this game, as a fan of Obsidian and the CRPG genre, but after 3 attempts this game feels a bit lifeless. I would say I held some hope for it after the intro sequence, where some interesting things do happen. Unfortunately this is not representative of the adventure that follows it.

    It reads as an inferior Dragon Age Origins, with less engaging characters, cluttered lore and dry dialogue. It even feels a step back mechanically, which when considering this game is 6 years newer than DAO it's profoundly clear how dated Pillars of Eternity feels.

    I have gripes including, but not limited to:

    Antiquated mechanics and UI/interface
    Excessively long exposition dumps
    Flat, uninspired writing
    Companions that range from dull to obnoxious (Durance), but rarely likable
    Predictable enemy encounters which makes combat feel repetitive
    Complicated mechanics with barebones explanations
    Over rehearsed voice acting that lacks a feeling of authenticity
    Graphically ugly for a game made in 2015

    Despite the above, it is still a serviceable game in the sense that it does evoke the nostalgia + framework of an old school CRPG, and the combat is decent enough - I will admit that I struggle to play original BG1&2 because of how dated they are and this game is just enough of an update to be more playable, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be doing a lot better. Therefore if you enjoy those games and can frame PoE as if it was a early noughties release (along with all the shortcomings that come with that time period), and can see past the plain writing then feel free to disregard this review. I'm writing this however because it has been compared to other contemporary more dynamic, inventive, exciting CRPGs that I have adored, which is why it is disappointing to me that the drop off in quality is so apparent here. Buyer beware!

    Despite all of this, I will be trying PoE2 next, as I have heard that it corrects a lot of the mistakes of the 1st game, has more engaging combat, less monotonous writing and optimisation of its systems. Fingers crossed.    … Expand
  14. Draethorian
    Mar 16, 2023
    0
    all the 10s are overrated so you get a 0 for the act 3 difficulty spike, drove me away from the game...
  15. Pmstz
    Jan 25, 2023
    8
    Just an excellent RPG video game.
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  16. hileger
    Jan 19, 2023
    6
    (оценка графомания) от текста бошка болит какой он скучный никчемный и бессмысленный.
  17. PenetratorGod
    Jan 16, 2023
    3
    It's a game for the tasteless and nostalgia obsessed. It's a terrible copy of Baldur's Gate.
  18. FlamesoFF
    Dec 6, 2022
    6
    Let’s describe it briefly.

    Advantages: Interesting lore, profound character scripts and story. Disadvantages: pretty much everything else. Graphics: was outdated even at its release. Looks like Sacred 1 game with better resolution. Sound: it exists. Nothing special. Music: couple of ambient tracks and very annoying only one single battle music track. Absolutely generic. Controls:    Let’s describe it briefly.

    Advantages: Interesting lore, profound character scripts and story.
    Disadvantages: pretty much everything else.

    Graphics: was outdated even at its release. Looks like Sacred 1 game with better resolution.

    Sound: it exists. Nothing special.

    Music: couple of ambient tracks and very annoying only one single battle music track. Absolutely generic.

    Controls: gamepad controls are terrible. Every time when it’s need to switch from one character to another camera moves to this character. Why it’s so? Super inconvenient. Environment is also difficult to explore due to disappearing pointer. Unable to map commands queues. Basically everything is super primitive.

    UI and interface: poor usability, lack of information, requires lots of repetitive actions to do a simple thing, and some parts are simply ambiguous.

    Gameplay: Fight is nothing special, primitive point and click. Loot system is disgusting: exploration is not motivated, because usually all cheats contain random trash, and enemies most of the times don’t drop anything useful. Almost no random quests. Basically your “journey” will look like: read some dialogs - fight, fight, fight tons of similar enemies - repeat.

    In conclusion: Pretty solid CRPG, with lots of unfortunate flaws. Could be way better. But feels like only script writers were motivated, but not the developers of core mechanics.    … Expand
  19. codsworth
    Dec 3, 2022
    7
    Not as good as its predecessor Baldur's Gate, but a strong contender when it comes to updated visuals and gameplay. The narrative is weak and plodding at times, which is problematic in such as story-driven RPG, but there's definitely enough to keep your interest here, especially with the White March expansions.
  20. Elkedacion
    Nov 22, 2022
    9
    Za mne skvělé RPG. Taková klasika.
    Navic se dá do hry stáhnout čeština.
    STEAM + GoG verze - 9/10
    EPIC-Store verze - 1/10 ODPAD!
    Důvod je ten, že Epic úmyslně poškodil soubory hry, aby nemohly být použity modifikace a čeština.
  21. WanderinMelmoth
    Nov 18, 2022
    2
    The game's major flaw is that it's real-time with pause. That coupled with a braindead AI requires micro-managing each of the 6 party members every 2 seconds because if you don't the mages will just run into melee and get themselves killed.
    Real-time with pause was terrible in Baldur's Gate and it's terrible here and it really REALLY needs to die. I love isometric RPG's but only if they    The game's major flaw is that it's real-time with pause. That coupled with a braindead AI requires micro-managing each of the 6 party members every 2 seconds because if you don't the mages will just run into melee and get themselves killed.
    Real-time with pause was terrible in Baldur's Gate and it's terrible here and it really REALLY needs to die. I love isometric RPG's but only if they are done like Divinity Original Sin 1 & 2 or Baldur's Gate 3.

    Another huge downside: it does the same BS that the outdated BG 1 (& 2) did: only a couple of words of some conversations are voiced - and there are a LOT of conversations. Might as well read a novel and don't have to deal with the terrible combat system.

    PoE 2 at least added the option for superior turn-based combat, but that is only a band-aid option as the game is still designed around real-time and it shows.    … Expand
  22. Onemoreartem
    Nov 14, 2022
    9
    Первая CRPG, которую я прошел до конца залпом и не снижая сложность под финал.
  23. Wineneeder
    Sep 2, 2022
    7
    I like it, an Infinity Engine type game updated. The combat is good and the mechanics make sense (a nice change from third edition's THAC0, and other quirks). The paintings and art and design is alright, but the character models aren't great. Jagged, boring, lower quality, even too much so for a PC game from 2015.

    There's also way too much pointless writing... I know some of it is    I like it, an Infinity Engine type game updated. The combat is good and the mechanics make sense (a nice change from third edition's THAC0, and other quirks). The paintings and art and design is alright, but the character models aren't great. Jagged, boring, lower quality, even too much so for a PC game from 2015.

    There's also way too much pointless writing... I know some of it is optional backer reward stuff, but it makes my eyes cross where other RPGs don't. Walls of text, and there's some weird desync in how text is formatted and how the spoken lines come out. I'm not sure I can describe this at the moment, I'll come back when I've finished the game.

    Anyway, I'm not very engaged in the story, but not dead bored and lacking direction, like in Baldur's Gate post mines. The world isn't exactly to my tastes, a bit high fantasy generica, with the big crystals, etc... it's hard for me to be engaged in that kind of setting, if I'm not actively roleplaying. I'm not immersed. A more involved story and mechanics that tie into it might have helped, but perhaps there's time, I'm not very far.

    On the flip side, you couldn't pull me away from Disco Elysium. Anyway, I'll come back to this and surely rewrite it when I'm done.    … Expand
  24. DankNemes
    Jul 25, 2022
    10
    I've read the story of the game in Blood, Sweat and Pixels (great book that you should definitely read) and it shows that the hard work that the developers went through with crafting this game has paid off, good game.
  25. JasonBaro
    Jul 25, 2022
    8
    Love the game and the gameplay, graphics and story. It is a bit difficult when you start, if you don't know the RPG system from before. Once you break the code, you can create some epic characters that will be almost invincible (paired with the right team-mates).
  26. BananaSurf
    Jul 20, 2022
    6
    Some good parts, but the story is very..soulless, ironically enough for a story about souls being stolen. It starts out OK but about halfway through it becomes a bit of a slog.
  27. Tomplexthis
    Jul 7, 2022
    9
    A generally flawless RPG game that has more depth than any single bethesda garbage you will ever chew up and spit back out. Mods keep those games alive, but Pillars of Eternity, stands on its own two feet. especially if you like Baldurs Gate, or any other CRPG, this is pretty much the best one ive played
  28. RevUBrah
    Apr 14, 2022
    6
    The entire reason this game exists is to serve as a spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment, one of the greatest CRPGs of all time, but it greatly falls short of the mark. Tyranny copied its combat system from this and it's just as bland here as it was there, and Chris Avellone was barely involved (even he says the story is too linear and uninspired). A good RPG doesn't need two hoursThe entire reason this game exists is to serve as a spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment, one of the greatest CRPGs of all time, but it greatly falls short of the mark. Tyranny copied its combat system from this and it's just as bland here as it was there, and Chris Avellone was barely involved (even he says the story is too linear and uninspired). A good RPG doesn't need two hours to draw the player into the world, and I can't give this game any more time than that.… Expand
  29. RedDragonSchool
    Apr 9, 2022
    10
    Pillars of Eternity is a rightful successor of Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale series, with fantastic nostalgy vibes (and with some less fantastic oversized lore dumps but that's totally forgivable, considering the overall high quality and amount of quality content in the game). The music - absolutely beautiful - is a perfect marriage of Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate themes.
  30. Wrathzo
    Mar 21, 2022
    7
    Pillars of Eternity is a role-playing video game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Paradox Interactive. The game is a spiritual successor to the Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale series, along with Planescape: Torment. Obsidian started a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for it in September 2012. The game uses the Unity engine. The game takes place in the fantasy worldPillars of Eternity is a role-playing video game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Paradox Interactive. The game is a spiritual successor to the Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale series, along with Planescape: Torment. Obsidian started a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for it in September 2012. The game uses the Unity engine. The game takes place in the fantasy world of Eora, mainly inside the nation of Dyrwood. The infants in the Dyrwood are plagued by a recent phenomenon in which they become "hollowborn" upon birth, meaning they are born with no soul. During the beginning of the game, the protagonist experiences an awakening of power due to a disastrous supernatural event, discovering they are a "Watcher": a person who can see past lives and interact with souls. The objective of the game is to find out what caused their awakening and how to solve the hollowborn problem.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best PC Game of 2015
7
#7 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
25
#25 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 71 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 71
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 71
  3. Negative: 0 out of 71
  1. RPGamer
    Jul 7, 2015
    70
    Pillars is a title that should make old-schoolers happy while still offering a solid core game, story, and a rich setting for new-schoolers.
    Read full review
  2. LevelUp
    May 25, 2015
    93
    Pillars of Eternity stands on its own merits without resorting to nostalgia too much. Truly a CRPG masterpiece, the game offers old school, real-time strategic combat, and a vivid world to explore. Not only do you get an overall well-made experience, but also a challenge you haven't seen since the 90's.
    Read full review
  3. Games Master UK
    May 24, 2015
    82
    A sprawling game in a familiar setting, and a clever tune-up for the cRPG. Just what the backers hoped for. [June 2015, p.74]
See all critic reviews »