Divine Divinity

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,549 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Divine Divinity Game Cover
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In Divine Divinity, a critically acclaimed RPG, you are the Chosen One destined to unite the seven races of Rivellon and prevent the birth of the Lord of Chaos. With a classless character development system, explore an expansive world, battle Chaos, and enjoy enhanced graphics in this re-mastered version. Over 100 hours of hack-and-slash action and non-linear quests await in this epic adventure.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,549 reviews
story240 positive mentions
grinding61 negative mentions
  • Engaging and humorous storyline with plenty of side quests and character interactions.
  • Open class system allows for diverse character builds and playstyles.
  • Richly detailed world with a lot of secrets and lore to discover.
  • Frequent crashes and bugs, including game-breaking quest issues.
  • Clunky controls and outdated UI that can be frustrating to navigate.
  • Difficulty spikes and unbalanced gameplay, especially in the early game.
  • story814 mentions

    The story of "Divine Divinity" is characterized by a blend of traditional RPG elements and humor, featuring a linear main quest that is often overshadowed by engaging and quirky side quests. While the main narrative follows a familiar "chosen one" trope, it is enriched by well-written dialogue and a vast world filled with interesting characters and lore. However, players should be cautious of quest-breaking bugs that can hinder progress, making guides essential for navigating the game's complex quest structure.

    • “Divine Divinity is an incredibly captivating RPG that offers a perfect blend of exploration, storytelling, and combat.”
    • “The story, the combat, the graphics, the sounds, and music are all decent for the time and still hold up today.”
    • “The quests are abundant and fun, and there is always a focus on humor which may set it apart from some of the drier RPGs of the time.”
    • “The main story itself is linear, so not much replayability outside of if you want to try another build.”
    • “The story is very generic. It doesn't have twists or turns, and even if the game is filled with silly interactions and doesn't take itself too seriously, the main quest is played completely straight, which is a shame.”
    • “A very weak story about a chosen one fighting ancient evil; silly humor in the dialogues that doesn’t mesh well with the epic tone of the plot; large, boring dungeons and main locations; quests that can be easily broken if you talk to characters in the wrong order; pathfinding issues for your character; and bugs.”
  • gameplay296 mentions

    The gameplay of "Divine Divinity" is a blend of action RPG and classic CRPG mechanics, offering a mix of engaging character development and exploration within a richly detailed world. While many players appreciate its nostalgic charm and depth, they also note that the mechanics can feel clunky and dated, with issues such as unbalanced difficulty and a lack of quality-of-life features. Overall, the game provides a rewarding experience for fans of older RPGs, despite its technical shortcomings and sometimes frustrating gameplay elements.

    • “This game stands out as a solid and enjoyable experience, with an engaging core gameplay loop that keeps you coming back for more.”
    • “The gameplay, while clunky, is very satisfying, building your character up from essentially a weak nothing to an extremely powerful protagonist.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics were surprisingly deep for a game from the early 2000s.”
    • “The gameplay is clunky, especially compared to modern RPGs.”
    • “The user interface is clunky, the gameplay is janky, the plot is generic fantasy, and everything seems uninspired.”
    • “Overall, I do not recommend Divine Divinity; it is below average with too many moments of bland story, terrible jokes, and boring gameplay, dotted with clunky code and bugs that can even stop the game from working.”
  • graphics236 mentions

    The graphics of "Divine Divinity" are often described as charming yet dated, reflecting its 2002 release. While some players appreciate the nostalgic 2D isometric art style and find it visually appealing, others note that it struggles to compete with modern titles, particularly in terms of resolution and clarity. Overall, the visuals are considered acceptable for their time, with many reviewers emphasizing that the engaging gameplay and story can overshadow the outdated graphics.

    • “The graphics are simply beautiful and have held up very well.”
    • “The art style is beautiful, the maps are huge, and the hidden secrets are aplenty.”
    • “The power of nostalgia is incredible in this one, although after all these years it still holds up with its stunning 2D visuals and probably one of the most memorable soundtracks ever created for a video game.”
    • “The graphics are simply buggy on modern systems - even with the most successful settings, dark areas tend to just turn completely black or get bizarre rainbow lighting.”
    • “The game has aged quite well but for a modern audience expecting top-of-the-line graphics you will be sorely disappointed.”
    • “Unfortunately, it's hard for me to play it in 2018 due to retro graphics.”
  • music220 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the exceptional compositions by Kirill Pokrovsky. Players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the fantasy setting, with a variety of styles that evoke strong emotions and memories, making it one of the standout features of the game. Overall, the music is described as beautiful, memorable, and integral to the gaming experience, often elevating the gameplay and storytelling.

    • “The music is genuinely great, which keeps the enjoyment for exploration high.”
    • “The soundtrack of Divine Divinity is amazing; it dominates the soundscape, with its instrumentals and vocals creating an atmosphere that can be beautiful, fantastical, and even haunting.”
    • “The music is one of the best parts about this game, beautiful, haunting, atmospheric, and memorable.”
    • “The music and sounds aren't anything special.”
    • “The limited voice acting and repetitive (sometimes uninspiring) music should be mentioned as the disadvantages of this classic RPG.”
    • “Not all bad, but beyond the early game and music, it's mostly bad.”
  • humor141 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, characterized by witty dialogue, quirky side quests, and absurd situations that evoke laughter. Players appreciate Larian's signature comedic style, which blends lightheartedness with clever writing, making the game feel engaging and entertaining despite its flaws. While some humor may not resonate with everyone, the overall consensus is that it significantly enhances the gaming experience, providing memorable moments and a charming atmosphere.

    • “Whether it’s choosing sides in a bizarre conflict between warring wasps and bees, helping a cook with an unexpected dishwashing problem, or encountering an elf who is hilariously bewildered by the hero’s sudden declaration of love, the game delivers a variety of quirky, humorous, and often absurd situations.”
    • “The humor and charm of this game is everything I love about Larian, and it's comforting to know that they had the charm they do now back in the 2000s.”
    • “There is a lot of humor interspersed throughout the whole game and it is really fitting and genuinely funny; I loved it a lot and it really adds to the atmosphere and nature of the game (i.e. skeletons debating their existence, goofy items & easter eggs, and obviously dwarves are the highlight of every game).”
  • grinding64 mentions

    Grinding in the game is a prominent aspect, often described as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the endgame where it can feel excessive and frustrating. While some players appreciate the balance between grinding and engaging quests, many find the constant need to repeat tasks for leveling and resource gathering to be exhausting, especially with long dungeons and limited fast travel options. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who appreciate the genre, but it may deter players who dislike grind-heavy gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Unlike a hack game, when you kill your enemies, they stay dead, meaning that there is no grinding for experience or equipment. Once you clear the map, you just have a huge, and I truly mean huge, empty map that you need to run around and quickly find the teleporting pads (and each activator item); otherwise, you will have a miserable time going back and forth on empty plains.”
    • “No grinding for better gear; you just have to keep looking in new places if you don't find what you want.”
    • “The constant clicking around to move does get tedious, but if you're a fan of something like RuneScape, that shouldn't be a problem.”
    • “Something quite annoying, however, is how long it takes to beat some of the dungeons. Some of them can take up to 2 hours or more to beat, making it a tedious and repetitive process.”
    • “The final nail in the coffin was how tedious the game itself got.”
  • stability58 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many players reporting a variety of bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay, including game-breaking issues with questlines and audio problems. While some users find the charm and humor of the game redeeming, the overall experience is marred by its outdated mechanics and frequent technical issues, making it challenging to enjoy fully. Players are often advised to consult guides to navigate the numerous bugs effectively.

    • “The game isn't as buggy as people make it out to be; it has some bugs that occasionally occur, such as closing the game when trying to read a manuscript or a book. However, during my 70+ hours of gameplay, this happened only about 5 times.”
    • “Runs great on Windows 10.”
    • “Is it bug-free?”
    • “Too clunky to be enjoyable in 2024; my experience may be influenced by the fact that it had broken sound, needed troubleshooting to even launch, and the fact I picked a mage, which has weird scaling.”
    • “The crashes are occasional, but the worst are the glitches that break questlines or that cause items to disappear.”
    • “I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of genre, and I had tons of fun with it... until it was cut short. I had game-breaking bugs I couldn't fix which caused all the graphics to go rainbow and black. Reinstalling, restarting my PC, closing all other applications, nothing worked in the end. I took a big plunge when none of the forums could help me or tell me a fix, so I deleted everything, my 21-hour save included, and did a full fresh install, and nothing... it was still buggy no matter what I did.”
  • atmosphere54 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining dated isometric visuals with a captivating soundtrack that enhances the fantasy setting. Players appreciate the rich, detailed world filled with vibrant colors, humor, and meaningful content, creating a cozy yet haunting experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as timeless and engaging, making exploration and interaction within the game a delight.

    • “It combines a rich, detailed story with classic gameplay, wrapped in a dark, immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack of Divine Divinity is amazing; its instrumentals and vocals combine to create an atmosphere that can be beautiful, fantastical, but also feel haunted, tense, and oppressive.”
    • “The music perfectly fits with the locations and creates an impressive, unique, immersive atmosphere.”
    • “Perhaps it's the bright and open look of the game or its willingness to fall back on lighthearted humor, but Divine Divinity does struggle with atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is dark and creepy without it looking corny like other Diablo clones.”
    • “Good, rage inducing and very particular in terms of atmosphere.”
  • replayability25 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it features a linear main story and limited character options, players appreciate the variety among classes and skills that encourage multiple playthroughs. Some users highlight the potential for over 100 hours of gameplay due to different builds and quest outcomes, while others note that certain quests may become inaccessible, impacting the experience. Despite its limitations, many find the game enjoyable enough to warrant repeated play.

    • “About 18 years later, I am still in awe at this game and its replayability.”
    • “If you like to experience everything a game has to offer, you will find a lot of replayability with the different classes and choices you can make that affect quest outcomes.”
    • “The great variety of the gameplay of each class, combined with the variety of skills available (that all classes can acquire), results in great replayability.”
    • “The main story itself is linear, so there's not much replayability outside of trying another build.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game has a relatively linear main plot line and effectively only a single character, resulting in limited replay value.”
    • “While there is a decent amount of replayability and variety among classes, towards the end of the game, there is a clear set of meta-defining skills.”
  • optimization23 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant stuttering, slow loading times, and poor overall performance, particularly on modern systems. While some users recommend third-party tools like dgvoodoo and specific patches to improve performance, the game is generally considered unplayable in its vanilla state due to these issues. Overall, the lack of effective optimization detracts from the gaming experience, making it frustrating for many players.

    • “I highly recommend using the free software called dgVoodoo, which allows this game to run using modern versions of DirectX: the loading time, saving time, and performance will be incredibly improved, to the point that there is no comparison.”
    • “The loading times, saving times, and performance will be incredibly better, with all the graphic settings on.”
    • “This drastically improved performance for me and many others.”
    • “The game isn't optimized it seems, which is a shame.”
    • “I tried playing but the constant stuttering made it unplayable even with the settings lowered.”
    • “After about 2 hours of gameplay, the cons list just quickly grew including problems such as: a bugged save system, bugged quests that prevent the completion of other unrelated quests, stuttering issues, sound erupting into bursts of static every so often, and exceptionally slow progression.”
  • character development14 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its flexibility and open-ended nature, allowing players to explore various skill selections without being restricted by initial choices. While the character designs are noted to be somewhat repetitive, the overall system provides an engaging experience that enhances immersion and enjoyment. Despite some balance issues and bugs, the freedom in character development stands out as a significant strength of the game.

    • “Overall the whole game itself is really lacking a proper balance and is suffering from some bugs, but I still liked the freedom of the character development, very immersive world building and the good soundtrack that really saved the whole experience for me.”
    • “Another strength of this game is the character development, which offers plenty of flexibility and freedom in terms of skill selection.”
    • “The storyline is interesting, character development is open-ended, and gameplay keeps you interested and entertained.”
    • “Classless character development.”
    • “Other issues I had were with character development.”
    • “It is proof that choosing a class for your character in an RPG doesn't need to limit your further character development.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; some players find it frustrating due to poor design and a lackluster story, leading to feelings of disappointment, while others are deeply moved and nostalgic, enjoying the game's ability to evoke fond memories of classic hack-and-slash RPGs.

    • “After a lot of hours in the game, reaching a point where I am unable to finish is heart-breaking.”
    • “This game is absolutely delicious, touching all my old hack-and-slash isometric RPG fangirl fancies.”
    • “The emotional depth of the story is overshadowed by poor game design and an unengaging narrative.”
    • “The travel system feels clunky and detracts from any emotional connection I could have had with the characters.”
    • “The storyline is tedious and fails to evoke any real feelings, making it hard to care about the characters.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate Larian Studios' approach to monetization, highlighting their commitment to creating enjoyable games rather than focusing on quick profits. This dedication fosters a positive perception among players, distinguishing their offerings from typical cash-grab titles.

    • “This is why I will always support Swen and Larian Studios, because they make games for the enjoyment of people and themselves, not for quick cash grabs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

55hMedian play time
82hAverage play time
30-70hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 26 analyzed playthroughs

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