Pentiment

 Xbox Series X
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 410 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 294 out of 410
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 410
  3. Negative: 89 out of 410

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  1. VonSeux
    Nov 20, 2022
    7
    Fans of classic point & click games have plenty to be excited about in 2022 with the return of Monkey Island in style and an unexpected novelty from studio Obsidian, responsible for hardcore rpgs like Fallout, Outer Worlds and Pillars of Eternity.
    In Pentiment the player finds an adventure of mystery in the middle of the Catholic medieval Germany. The game does not fall into easy traps of    Fans of classic point & click games have plenty to be excited about in 2022 with the return of Monkey Island in style and an unexpected novelty from studio Obsidian, responsible for hardcore rpgs like Fallout, Outer Worlds and Pillars of Eternity.
    In Pentiment the player finds an adventure of mystery in the middle of the Catholic medieval Germany. The game does not fall into easy traps of criticizing the church and its script, on the contrary, shows deep knowledge in the matter and it can teach a lot of real theology for those interested. The translation into different languages was done with care, all the liturgical references I found are accurate and the text flows very clearly.

    In the game, you are forced to make several decisions that define your character's behaviour, from a skill tree to choosing which npc to talk to, which can open up different paths through the game.

    All this looks excellent, and the execution of the ideas leaves nothing to be desired, so it's difficult to point out faults with the game. The only problem here is trying to find the player profile that is willing and interested in wading through a lot of text, a lot of Christian imagery, and very little action.

    Despite all the qualities, the too slow pace and total dependence on unfriendly reading makes Pentiment a niche game difficult to recommend for your friend who enjoys competitive games or those with high production value.    … Expand
  2. Jonny5784
    Nov 18, 2022
    5
    Not for me this game, but alot seem to like it, tried to get into it 3 times and I just can’t, far from the worst game you will ever play, theres a lot of reading involved and unfortunately I just don’t find reading fun personally, I no a lot of people who do however, so can fully understand why some people like it,but like I said just not for me unfortunately.
  3. foxxfondue
    Nov 20, 2022
    5
    I didn't think I would enjoy the game much after trying out the first hour or so, as I didn't understand it at first. But as I gave it more of a chance, I really started to care about the story, about the characters' stories, and about the choices I was making.

    I'm sincerely glad I gave this game a real chance. Pentiment is not a game I'll be forgetting any time soon.
  4. GhostKill
    Nov 27, 2022
    5
    If I wanted to read a book- I wouldn't be playing a video game. People actually think this is a GOTY contender? I just don't get it. Opinions will vary but I'm glad I didn't actually have to pay for this game. Thanks Gamepass! Another Gamepass fodder game confirmed.
  5. Dreaddone
    Nov 19, 2022
    7
    I like this game, very well designed. Not a masterpiece, but is good. The Design, the charachters and the story is very well written.
  6. Awanka
    Jul 15, 2023
    7
    A narratively-brilliant, excellent, and original medieval adventure game with a unique art style and extremely deep choice and dialog reactivity. There's a good amount of the Persona games here with Pentiment's time management system, where you only have certain amount of time segments in a day, and have to pick and choose what to do with each one. You also build up relationships byA narratively-brilliant, excellent, and original medieval adventure game with a unique art style and extremely deep choice and dialog reactivity. There's a good amount of the Persona games here with Pentiment's time management system, where you only have certain amount of time segments in a day, and have to pick and choose what to do with each one. You also build up relationships by talking to people and saying the right things, which ultimately helps you achieve your goals. Pentiment also reminded of Frogwares' Sherlock games because you spend most of your time investigating and following up on clues, usually to solve a murder.

    The reason I can't rate it higher is that there isn't that much gameplay to speak of. It's almost all clicking on things and choosing dialog options. One of the selling points of the game, the feeling of authenticity, is also a negative, as most NPCs are fairly mundane, and talking to them isn't that interesting. It's a masterfully-crafted adventure game, but I found a lot of it dull, talking to villagers about raising kids or a monk about life in a monastery. I seldom say this, but it could have used some more whackiness and excitement.    … Expand
  7. EricFlisser
    Nov 25, 2022
    6
    It has a great story, great music, great graphics and ambientation. However, the gameplay is NON existent. You basically goes through the dialogs, choose options and thats it. It feels tiresome after some hours.
  8. Bl00dymaria
    Nov 26, 2022
    5
    So, I understand that this game is a little niche, from what i can see the developers also knew this. I'll preface this with the understanding that I have been absolutely fascinated with the medieval period in Europe since I was little. You can really see that this was a passion project and they did they're research well. Maybe it's not for everyone, but I've been waiting for this gameSo, I understand that this game is a little niche, from what i can see the developers also knew this. I'll preface this with the understanding that I have been absolutely fascinated with the medieval period in Europe since I was little. You can really see that this was a passion project and they did they're research well. Maybe it's not for everyone, but I've been waiting for this game for months.… Expand
  9. MaroonMister
    Apr 23, 2023
    7
    I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Pentiment. I heard a lot about the game from Xbox-based podcasts and I decided to give it a chance. The podcasters seemed to really enjoy the game so I decided it was worth checking out; I didn't know anything about it.

    I think the game receives better reception if you think of it like an interactive book akin to those "choose your own    I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Pentiment. I heard a lot about the game from Xbox-based podcasts and I decided to give it a chance. The podcasters seemed to really enjoy the game so I decided it was worth checking out; I didn't know anything about it.

    I think the game receives better reception if you think of it like an interactive book akin to those "choose your own adventure" stories from the 90s. It's not really a game as much as it's an interactive story.

    Yet, this is how the game shines. The murder-mystery storyline is interesting. I found myself actually caring about its characters and the relationships I was building as I played. I think that if you focus on the story that, you, the player, is trying to tell, you'll end up really enjoying it. If you find yourself skipping through dialogue in other games, you'll not enjoy this game. It's 95% reading.

    There are several points in the game that are not interested, however. It's like when you get to a boring section of a book and you read faster just so you can get the interesting part. These segments are typically the dinner sessions, where your character sits down with a bunch of other characters in the game and discuss the plot's recent events. You're given options to say different things and eat different foods, but the choices you make do not impact the story. I found myself rushing through these segments at the game's midpoint.

    I'd also like to say that the game's artwork is as unique as it is phenomenal. There are many times where I would stop playing for a second to admire the artwork in the game. This is especially true for murals, book borders and cloister-area. The medieval artwork feels well-researched and perfectly replicated in the game. It's truly interesting to explore.

    To conclude, if you like reading books and video games; you'll enjoy Pentiment. It's essentially an interactive storybook and that's great for people who are not afraid to play something different. The game is one of kind.

    I would not recommend this game to people who only play hardcore, acton games as Pentiment is the exact opposite of that. If you get bored easily, you probably shouldn't pick this up.

    Regardless, its available on GamePass, so it's worth taking a look, or read, into.    … Expand
  10. BigKidPlays
    Sep 9, 2023
    6
    I was on board and enthralled for much of the first two acts, but the third act was a slog of an experience before a really smart ending. I really loved the discovery and mystery, but the repetition of the third act was too much for me to overcome. Would have been better with a much shorter late game and the early acts are great.
  11. huginodensen
    May 3, 2023
    7
    No me gusto, dialogos muy aburridos, tedioso y con el contexto de juego viejo

Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best Xbox Series X Game of 2022
5
#5 Most Discussed Xbox Series X Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 56 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 56
  3. Negative: 0 out of 56
  1. PCMag
    Mar 24, 2023
    90
    Pentiment is a thrilling, Renaissance-style whodunit that forgoes conventional video game action by focusing on an engaging narrative, branching dialogue options, and character relationships.
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  2. 4P.de
    Dec 1, 2022
    86
    Unique, exciting and clever, Pentiment is a beautiful yet educational adventure - a quiet but valuable gem in Xbox Game Pass.
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  3. TheXboxHub
    Nov 28, 2022
    100
    Pentiment is a superb game that marks an important step forward for its genre. Quiet, contemplative and intelligent, it is a shining example of what happens when a team is allowed to expand their horizons and take risks.
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