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. socokid
    Mar 27, 2015
    10
    An incredibly fun game, great story, interesting characters and it screams Baldur's Gate 3 2015.

    I will let dorklies discuss how it deserves a zero because they feel the need to change each character's choices every second. (Your companions obviously DO come with AI, no one is actually changing what each of their companions is doing each blow... that would be insane). People can talk    An incredibly fun game, great story, interesting characters and it screams Baldur's Gate 3 2015.

    I will let dorklies discuss how it deserves a zero because they feel the need to change each character's choices every second. (Your companions obviously DO come with AI, no one is actually changing what each of their companions is doing each blow... that would be insane).

    People can talk about kickstarter games and not enough "studio" to produce a AAA monoliths with every bell and whistle, but as far as having fun... the literal point, games like PoE grab you by the heart and do not let go.

    For newcomers to this sort of game... Take it slow, save OFTEN. Relax! You are going to find things you will have to come back to, puzzles that you cannot currently solve, weirdness you will not immediately understand... etc... There is no linear hand holding here. A great thing.

    Enjoy!    … Expand
  2. rodericrinehart
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    It might not be the RPG of the year (we still need to see The Witcher 3 and Zelda), but I think it will be right there with those two games as RPGs you will love and remember.

    This game is a love letter to old school RPG fans and features a deep and moving story with both voiced dialogue and LOT of text (which I find great). The combat cannot be facerolled like Dragon Age Inquisition (a    It might not be the RPG of the year (we still need to see The Witcher 3 and Zelda), but I think it will be right there with those two games as RPGs you will love and remember.

    This game is a love letter to old school RPG fans and features a deep and moving story with both voiced dialogue and LOT of text (which I find great). The combat cannot be facerolled like Dragon Age Inquisition (a game I loved as well), and is as tactical and punishing as Divinity: Original Sin.

    This is a fabulous game and shining example of all that is right with Kickstarter.    … Expand
  3. jadeia
    Mar 27, 2015
    10
    I've been waiting for this game for over 10 years and Obsidian delivered beyond my expectations. When I realised I'd spent 40 minutes on the character creation screen alone, I knew I had "found my game". Been a long time since that's happened.
  4. roachtbp
    Jul 15, 2016
    10
    Feels like you are playing an old school, classic RPG like Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale, minus the D&D rules, plus modern conveniences and better graphics. Great party-based, tactical combat reminiscent of Baldur's Gate, with characters and a story that also is pretty good and well-written. I welcome an RPG such as this that harkens back to the masterpieces of old. I love this game inFeels like you are playing an old school, classic RPG like Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale, minus the D&D rules, plus modern conveniences and better graphics. Great party-based, tactical combat reminiscent of Baldur's Gate, with characters and a story that also is pretty good and well-written. I welcome an RPG such as this that harkens back to the masterpieces of old. I love this game in every way.… Expand
  5. Freesoul
    Mar 28, 2015
    10
    The game we've been waiting for more than a decade !!! and so far it looks like a masterpiece,
    Oldschool gameplay with nowaday tech :)
    Thank you Obsidian !!!
  6. Gratson
    Apr 14, 2015
    10
    Finally an RPG that feels like the old classics, with storyling and dialogue that is interesting and well written. The mechanics are close to Baldur's Gate, albeit without all of the fancy-smanshy Dragon Age graphics. If you enjoy classic RPGs like me, and don't require top of the art graphics to enjoy the experience, this is a definite buy.
  7. dricks
    Mar 27, 2015
    10
    I recently finished the Baldur's gate Enhanced Edition, and then comes Pillars of Eternity.
    It's SO GOOD, i can't believe someone dit it : a game as good as Baldur's gate 2, with a real story and stunning gameplay.
    Thank you Obsidian for making my dream come true !
  8. Esett
    Mar 30, 2015
    10
    Pillars of eternity is a masterpiece. An amazing game filled with beautiful graphics, great writing and awesome music. But the greatest aspect of the game is its game play. It is challenging, quick and deliberate. It is filled with all the pleasures and complexities of turn based D&D combat while at the same time it is refreshing, new and believe it or not logical. You will rarely seePillars of eternity is a masterpiece. An amazing game filled with beautiful graphics, great writing and awesome music. But the greatest aspect of the game is its game play. It is challenging, quick and deliberate. It is filled with all the pleasures and complexities of turn based D&D combat while at the same time it is refreshing, new and believe it or not logical. You will rarely see point blank misses in this game.

    The story is very well told, the characters are interesting, and the choices are there for you to make. You also have a metric ton of options to tweak the experience how you see fit.

    Overall it is a triumph, a masterpiece, living proof that given the right developer Kickstarter can bring quality new franchises to the audience who loves it most. Even if you never loved the original Baldur's Gate, or the other Infinity Engine games, you owe it to yourself as a gamer to try to grasp what it is that fascinates so many people. 10/10.    … Expand
  9. BlackIsle
    Apr 7, 2015
    10
    My expectations were very high and Pillars of Eternity exceeded them. This is the best game I have played in the last 15 years. This score of a "10" was not given to offset the "zero" trolls, this is the actual score I would give this game. The future of PC gaming is bright indeed.
  10. sterle2009
    May 26, 2015
    10
    At last! A game as beautiful as Baldur's Gate series! Well I'm still waiting for Torment but that's another story. I'm loving the new classes, complete freedom to specialise your character however you want it and redefinition of the stats. Makes the game so wonderful to play and there's no good or bad builds.
    Well, even with the great mechanics, if the storyline sucks it wouldn't amount    At last! A game as beautiful as Baldur's Gate series! Well I'm still waiting for Torment but that's another story. I'm loving the new classes, complete freedom to specialise your character however you want it and redefinition of the stats. Makes the game so wonderful to play and there's no good or bad builds.
    Well, even with the great mechanics, if the storyline sucks it wouldn't amount to much right? Great news is there's plenty of ambience and story to keep me occupied and staying up "just one more hour" LOL    … Expand
  11. Raf
    Mar 29, 2015
    10
    Gra to nie tylko powrót do klasyki - to arcydzieło, przeniesienie klimatu z prawdziwych, papierowych RPG na ekran komputera. Magia wylewa się obrazu i otula, zabiera na wspaniałą przygodę. Wszystko w tej grze jest świetne, trzyma najwyższy poziom. To co powoduje, że ta gra jest bardzo groźnym konkurentem dla potężnej produkcji jaką jest Wiedźmin 3, jest narracja i opisy stworzone dłoniąGra to nie tylko powrót do klasyki - to arcydzieło, przeniesienie klimatu z prawdziwych, papierowych RPG na ekran komputera. Magia wylewa się obrazu i otula, zabiera na wspaniałą przygodę. Wszystko w tej grze jest świetne, trzyma najwyższy poziom. To co powoduje, że ta gra jest bardzo groźnym konkurentem dla potężnej produkcji jaką jest Wiedźmin 3, jest narracja i opisy stworzone dłonią prawdziwego artysty. Ogromna część gry rozgrywa się w naszej wyobraźni budując niezapomniany obraz wydarzeń, które tym samym stają się naszym udziałem niczym w doskonałej książce. To najlepsze cRPG od lat i gra. Planescape Torment (produkcja jakże wybitna) może zejść z piedestału, bo oto jego spuścizna, Pillars of Eternity zasiada na tronie wieszcząc zwycięstwo i będąc hołdem dla swego starszego brata !!!… Expand
  12. Zarunil
    Apr 2, 2015
    10
    The best thing to happen to the cRPG genre since Baldur's Gate 2. Beautifully hand-drawn backgrounds, interesting characters with great voice acting, a nice new twist on the classic D&D ruleset, an interesting storyline and much more.
  13. tander
    Apr 8, 2015
    10
    This is the game RPG fans are waiting for years to come,and it delivered.Rich text grabs your attention every so often,the experience is so sucked in. anyway ,recommended for true RPG lover .
  14. Indik47
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    A brilliant adventure and a deep rich atmosphere. Marvellously crafted RPG. One of the best games in years. Any epithets are not enough. If you like deep and rich games - play this one.
  15. divine1976
    Apr 3, 2015
    10
    Only Kick-starter I backed because I'm a fan of Obsidians games and was not disappointed!

    Can only echo previous reviews: Fantastic writing with choice, customisation and a great tactical old school feel.

    If you like old school RPG's like Baldur's Gate, Torment etc, you are probably already playing, but if not, GO AND BUY IT!
  16. Brimsurfer
    Mar 28, 2015
    10
    This is one hell of a game. Definitely one of the best RPGs since BG series ended. It totally blows away crappy RPGs like DA:I. This game totally worths it. If you like the older Infinity Engine titles, then you are going to love this.
  17. Noesis
    Apr 4, 2015
    10
    This game quite simply sets new high standards in the world of computer RPGs.
    If you were into old school cRPGs, you must absolutely play it (old gamer from the times of Ultima VII, Baldur's Gate and Planescape Torment here). But even if you never played one of those games, you should definitely play Pillars of Eternity as well. Because it does much more than just offering an old formula,    This game quite simply sets new high standards in the world of computer RPGs.
    If you were into old school cRPGs, you must absolutely play it (old gamer from the times of Ultima VII, Baldur's Gate and Planescape Torment here). But even if you never played one of those games, you should definitely play Pillars of Eternity as well. Because it does much more than just offering an old formula, it innovates and rethinks an old formula to offer a new modern RPG experience.

    Games like this tell you what an incredible experience you can have by investing into amazing writing quality over voiced lines, incredible stories over mainstream movie-like tropes, hand-painted landscapes over flashy 3D and FX, world building and immersion over cheesy entertainment. It's the difference between being amused by something and being fascinated and involved by something. There's nothing wrong in being amused, but you got to try the difference once in a while...

    As a side note: those who reviewed and gave 0s to this masterpiece have just left a record of their absolute incompetence at evaluating games. Everyone has obviously a right to an opinion, but dumb and incompetent opinions speak much more of those who express them than about the subject of their evaluations...    … Expand
  18. sprocket64
    Mar 27, 2015
    10
    I truly don't understand the angry 0 reviews. If you wanted a first-person, kill a dragon with my pinky finger, Skyrim-esque, snore fest...why on Earth did you buy this game?
    In my opinion, this game hit every goal it intended and some! It is about interactive storytelling, memorable characters, deep lore, beautiful 2D backgrounds, and tactical, "I am going to have to think about this or    I truly don't understand the angry 0 reviews. If you wanted a first-person, kill a dragon with my pinky finger, Skyrim-esque, snore fest...why on Earth did you buy this game?
    In my opinion, this game hit every goal it intended and some! It is about interactive storytelling, memorable characters, deep lore, beautiful 2D backgrounds, and tactical, "I am going to have to think about this or I might get killed" combat.
    Ignore the instant gratification crowd! PoE is the best "role playing" game in years.    … Expand
  19. Iskhiaro
    May 1, 2015
    10
    I backed this on kickstarter and had high hopes as I approved of the ideas and design decisions made by Obsidian. They really did deliver on all my expectations. The first true gaming kickstarter success story. Other kickstarted games have been good, some have approached greatness, but this is the first to reach it. Game of the Year 2015!
  20. Desdicado
    Jul 7, 2015
    10
    Folks I have to say this is genuinely the best game I've played in years, took me back to the days of Baldurs Gate etc.
    Totally gripped me, decent combat, good story, not too text heavy, decent graphics, lovely spell animations, good customisation options and great NPCs, frankly I loved it.
    one of those "just one more mission" games. Spectacular and it was about £15!
  21. Schwe1nehund
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    By far one of the best RPGs in years. Personally, Pillars is the cure for a very particular itch. Anyone who grew up with the BGs and Planescapes and Fallouts, or even the Ultimas - you're in for a treat. From the art style, to the (largely) static backgrounds, to the (slightly/intentionally) MIDI-esque music, to the challenging combat (I'm playing on hard), to the stat-heavy role-playingBy far one of the best RPGs in years. Personally, Pillars is the cure for a very particular itch. Anyone who grew up with the BGs and Planescapes and Fallouts, or even the Ultimas - you're in for a treat. From the art style, to the (largely) static backgrounds, to the (slightly/intentionally) MIDI-esque music, to the challenging combat (I'm playing on hard), to the stat-heavy role-playing mechanics - all these facets will wash over older gamers with waves of nostalgia. For anyone who hasn't experienced the joy of a classic crpg experience - this game is a worthy introduction to the genre.

    Thank you Obsidian. In the realm of role-playing developers, you bow to no one.    … Expand
  22. ebo974
    Mar 31, 2015
    10
    A very good game, just like former Black Isle references such BG 1&2... The way to play is old style, probably not suitable for newer players. I'm really happy to see that more and more RPG are like that. The team progression is really cool, and the places to visit are various and classical. Very great work!
  23. Vio
    Mar 27, 2015
    10
    This game is the successor to the old Infinity Engine games, without a doubt. When the combat starts the game screams BG / IWD at you. It just feels right.
  24. kozzy420
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    Best rpg in years! Obsidian have done an amazing job with this game! Amazing writing, great tactical combat and its just a blast to play! Simply amazing, go and buy it now!!!! Godsidian!
  25. Hadrijan
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    Obsidian managed to deliver a stellar game, looks excellent, sounds great and the writing is fantastic.

    Best RPG that has come out since the days of old Infinity classics without a shadow of a doubt.
  26. Grumppi
    Mar 28, 2015
    10
    I love this game. The gameplay, pacing, open-world feel, writing, characters, animation, etc. are all excellent. Make no mistake though, nostalgia carries this into the upper stratosphere for me when it comes to dishing out a number rating. Do yourself a favor, if you haven't played the old infinity engine games, but love Western-style RPG's like DA:Origins, get started on building someI love this game. The gameplay, pacing, open-world feel, writing, characters, animation, etc. are all excellent. Make no mistake though, nostalgia carries this into the upper stratosphere for me when it comes to dishing out a number rating. Do yourself a favor, if you haven't played the old infinity engine games, but love Western-style RPG's like DA:Origins, get started on building some nostalgia of your own by playing Pillars of Eternity, and loving every minute of it.… Expand
  27. iamawesome
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    Type of game that i've been waiting for faaaaar too long.

    Rich, immersive, reactive. An actual role-playing game (shocking!). What else needs to be said?
  28. Wulfburk
    Apr 3, 2015
    10
    Best RPG of Obsidian.

    The company has always been shadowed by Bioware and Bethesda, KOTOR 2 to KOTOR 1, NWN2 to NWN1 and New Vegas to Fallout 3 (even though New Vegas is much better than F3) Pillars of Eternity changed the tide. Ever since Mass Effect 2, Bioware has made 4 games, and all 4 of them were utter crap. The atmosphere and the universe, as well as the immersion, of Pillars    Best RPG of Obsidian.

    The company has always been shadowed by Bioware and Bethesda, KOTOR 2 to KOTOR 1, NWN2 to NWN1 and New Vegas to Fallout 3 (even though New Vegas is much better than F3)

    Pillars of Eternity changed the tide. Ever since Mass Effect 2, Bioware has made 4 games, and all 4 of them were utter crap. The atmosphere and the universe, as well as the immersion, of Pillars of Eternity are great and puts Dragon Age to shame.

    The campaign is so great and the universe feels like its been there for a long time, it feels very stabilished. Though different types of games, i felt the same thing when i was playing Mass Effect 1 for the first time. The story unveiling throughout your playthrough improves the game by a lot and you feel very connected to the world and to the plot.    … Expand
  29. ArminW
    Mar 31, 2015
    10
    I backed this on Kickstarter for much more than I ever paid for a game before. I desperately wanted this game to happen and thus had absurdly high expectations. Now, after more than 60 hours into the game (within 5 days ant NOT quitting my day job yet...) I can sincerely say: PoE managed to surpass them all.
    So, I'm, giving a 10 for the first time, not because I want this game to be rated    I backed this on Kickstarter for much more than I ever paid for a game before. I desperately wanted this game to happen and thus had absurdly high expectations. Now, after more than 60 hours into the game (within 5 days ant NOT quitting my day job yet...) I can sincerely say: PoE managed to surpass them all.
    So, I'm, giving a 10 for the first time, not because I want this game to be rated highly, but because I truly think that this game, and Obsidian for making it this way, deserve it. I can find nothing among it's short list of minor issues that would warrant to take down my score by even 1 point.
    The Art is gorgeous, and proof that well-painted. lovingly detailed backgrounds beat High-Res textures and technical gimmicks every time. It's simply fun to explore every single area, just to revel in all the detail.
    The writing is a class of it's own, with a major wall of text hitting me like in Planescape:Torment days, a ton of well-rounded and interesting characters far off the beaten cliches, a fantastic world and a story that made me cut hazardously short the third night of sleep in a row...
    Nothing is simple, nothing is black-and white, and no one is simply a fantasy troupe repeated the umptieth time. The choice feel like they really have weight, and my character, with abilities, background and reputation, has never mattered so much (except, perhaps, the aforementioned PS:T)
    And the RPG system that obsidian came up with is to date, hands down, the best compromise between pen&paper complexity and cRPG ease-of-use mechanics I've encountered. It offers endless choices, tactics and possibilities and makes for interesting, tough but fair battles. With *meaningful* difficulty settings (not just numbers raised on enemies) to boot.
    Really, for me, this game is close to perfection and I openly admit - this 46 year old fart has turned into an enthusiastic fanboy. 10. Thank you Obsidian.    … Expand
  30. Zoso
    Mar 27, 2015
    10
    Brings back all the Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale Memories, but clearly improved from a graphical and sound perspective - and it's huge, but atmospheric nevertheless!
    The Story - as far as I can tell - seems somwhat darker, too, on par with the Witcher or Dragon Age: Origins.
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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

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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 »