Pillars of Eternity Critic Reviews

It's the best new, isometric RPG to come out in years.

Obsidian had a daunting task before them: to make a spiritual successor to a series of games that are inextricably tangled up in nostalgia, over a decade after the height of those games’ popularity. This is not the Baldur’s Gate of 2015, it’s Baldur’s Gate, Planescape: Torment, Icewind Dale, the best parts of the lot of them wrapped up in something new and brilliant.

As a spiritual successor to some of my favourite RPGs of all time, Pillars of Eternity does those games justice with its ultra-traditional story, presentation and mechanics. But I recommend other people check it out as well, as it offers a sprawling world to explore, and a fantastic cast of companions to interact with, making it the perfect example of a retro genre done right.

Pillars of Eternity is a masterclass in role-playing game development, recapturing the essence of the genre's past triumphs and repackaging them for a universal audience.

Pillars of Eternity demonstrates that a great RPG is as much in our own heads and hearts as it is a developer's vision relayed through a monitor. A must-play for fans of the genre, old and new.

This combination of beauty, highly detailed tactical combat, and expansive game world is something that you rarely see nowadays. In many respects, you haven’t seen it since Baldurs Gate II, which means that some of us have been waiting for this game for sixteen years.

Is it even possible to return to the roots of isometric RPG, and not only find them healthy but create such a wonderful game from them? Obsidian has proved they could do miracles when their hands are not tied.

Despite drawing obvious inspiration from the Infinity Engine games, Pillars of Eternity manages to be so much more than a simple tribute. Carving out its own unique identity as a masterfully created RPG, it is sure to be remembered as a Role-Playing masterpiece of our times.

Obsidian has targeted a very specific audience for this game. It's aimed at someone like me - a fan of Baldur's Gate and Planescape Torment. Someone who loves long documents, tactical battles, complex mechanics and stylish graphics. Pillars of Eternity isn't just a tribute - it's definitely more than that. It's a new, unique thing that sometimes surpasses the great cRPGs from the past.

A game that will go down in history as once did the classics like Baldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment.

The best RPG Obsidian has ever made. Just be ready to read.

Renaming the game to "Baldur’s Torment" may be the easiest way to describe the triumph of spirit, design and scope of this masterpiece made lovingly by Obsidian.

A masterpiece that looks like it came straight from the golden era of RPGs with isometric view. Pillars of Eternity is a worthy heir of the games from the Infinity Engine.

It's a fantastic return to the roots of RPGing on PC. Incredibly deep, to the point where discovering every outcome of the story will require hundreds of hours. It's fun and engaging to play. Everyone with a sweet tooth for fantasy and roleplay should consider this game, as it's a true masterpiece from Obsidian.

An extraordinary master class on how to recover an abandoned style of making RPGs, showing all its strengths. A superb story, plenty of role-pay possibilities and a beautiful trip. Hopefully, just the first stop of it.

It has so many moving parts that work so incredibly well together with an unbelievably rich history and mythology.

Players who have been waiting for a deep, true role-playing epic are virtually guaranteed to fall in love. Obsidian should have no shortage of fans cheering for another installment, and I’ll be among them.

A superb RPG, great history and a funny battle system. A tribute to the best titles of the genre.

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.

A deep, rich, and wonderfully written RPG that lives up to the towering legacy of the games that inspired it.