Divinity: Original Sin

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,332 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Divinity: Original Sin Game Cover
Divinity: Original Sin is one of the deepest and most unforgettable games I've played all year
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In Divinity: Original Sin, play as a Source Hunter and investigate a murder that uncovers a plot threatening the fabric of time. With a friend, explore an open world, discuss decisions, and engage in strategic turn-based combat. The game features extensive freedom, countless gameplay mechanics, and a cooperative mode for a unique RPG experience.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,332 reviews
story628 positive mentions
grinding110 negative mentions
  • Engaging turn-based combat that encourages strategic thinking and creativity with environmental interactions.
  • Rich and humorous storytelling with a vast world to explore, filled with interesting quests and characters.
  • Deep character customization and progression system that allows for diverse playstyles and builds.
  • Steep learning curve and lack of direction can lead to frustration, especially for new players.
  • Inventory management can be cumbersome and tedious, making it difficult to keep track of items and crafting materials.
  • Some quests and puzzles can be overly vague or obscure, requiring external guides to complete.
  • story2,235 mentions

    The story of "Divinity: Original Sin" is characterized by its engaging narrative and rich world-building, drawing players into a complex plot filled with moral choices and character interactions. While many players appreciate the depth and humor woven into the quests, some criticize the lack of clear direction and quest markers, which can lead to confusion and frustration. Overall, the game offers a blend of traditional RPG storytelling with modern mechanics, allowing for multiple approaches to quests and a sense of agency in shaping the narrative.

    • “With its engaging story, imaginative world, and intricate mechanics, it offers an extraordinary experience that will keep you invested from start to finish.”
    • “The choices you make throughout the game affect the story's outcome, offering a sense of agency and making your playthrough feel unique and personal.”
    • “Its captivating story, deep mechanics, and emphasis on exploration and creativity make it a must-play for any RPG fan.”
    • “I have never in my life played a game that is so full of text that has no meaning whatsoever, from recipe books that have no reason for existing to journal entries that provide zero helpful hints or knowledge. Divinity: Original Sin feels like a game that was meant to be played by people who already know the story, have spent hours reading wiki pages, and know what all of the traits/talents/skills do in order to exploit the game's systems.”
    • “You can't follow along in-game because it doesn't differentiate between quest types, so unless you know the quest names or have them written down sequentially, you have no way of knowing how far along you are or if you've even made any real progress on the storyline.”
    • “The story and especially the quest design are so boring or outright bad. The main storyline doesn't give you enough, and they aren't easy to find.”
  • gameplay808 mentions

    The gameplay of "Divinity: Original Sin" is widely praised for its deep, tactical turn-based combat and intricate mechanics that encourage exploration and creativity. Players appreciate the rich character customization, environmental interactions, and the challenge presented by the game's mechanics, which often require strategic thinking and adaptability. However, some users note issues with unclear mechanics, bugs, and a steep learning curve that may frustrate newcomers, while others highlight the rewarding nature of mastering the game's systems. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a standout feature, offering a blend of classic RPG elements with modern enhancements.

    • “With its engaging story, imaginative world, and intricate mechanics, it offers an extraordinary experience that will keep you invested from start to finish.”
    • “The gameplay made it worth sticking out however and is where this game shines...this included a very nice variety of enemies and terrains, skills, weapons and armor, point allocation...everything you want in an RPG and done at its best.”
    • “The gameplay rewards lateral thinking and offers multiple solutions to given problems, and is a pleasant shock to the system after the handholding modern RPGs are so fond of.”
    • “Annoying sound, goofy mechanics, absolutely no way to find out what or where you're supposed to go.”
    • “The biggest immersion-breaker to me were either the audio bugging out during long playing sessions (general sounds would stop playing and music could produce glitchy sounds), or fatal errors in gameplay, such as a pickpocket target moving during the pickpocketing causing a game crash, or the game letting you destroy side quest items permanently, causing it to become uncompletable.”
    • “Overall: for the price of the game, it's below my par in my opinion, the gameplay doesn't carry well enough to keep you involved and the combat turns from steady into a death-slog of finding cheap ways to kill bosses that otherwise overpower you.”
  • graphics542 mentions

    The graphics of "Divinity: Original Sin" have received a mixed but generally positive reception. Many players appreciate the vibrant, hand-painted art style and charming character designs, which contribute to a retro aesthetic, while others find the visuals somewhat cartoonish and wish for a more realistic approach. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful environments, detailed spell effects, and solid performance, making it visually appealing despite some minor graphical glitches and a few criticisms regarding the art style.

    • “Graphically, Divinity: Original Sin Classic may not be the most visually stunning game, but its hand-painted environments and character designs are charming and suit the game's retro aesthetic perfectly.”
    • “The graphics, while fairly humble in fidelity, are vibrant, clear, and lovingly crafted, with each environment displaying personal effort in making them look believable.”
    • “With stunning graphics, nearly endless choices, and lots of difficult, advanced battles, Divinity: Original Sin is an epic RPG.”
    • “I wish the graphics were a bit more realistic/dark, not so bright and happy.”
    • “The graphics, while bright and a little pastel, work well for the theme of the game, and shift depending on the environment that you're in.”
    • “The graphics are dated at best, cartoonish at worst.”
  • music321 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as a masterpiece that enhances the overall experience. Composed by the late Kirill Pokrovsky, the music is described as beautiful, fitting the game's art style and themes perfectly, although some players noted a lack of variety leading to repetitiveness over long play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant highlight, contributing to the game's rich RPG experience.

    • “The soundtrack is atmospherically captivating and adds to the immersive experience.”
    • “The music/soundtrack from these games...let me just say is everything short of magical!!”
    • “The music is so blended perfectly with the game and its atmosphere that it really adds a whole new layer of depth to the game.”
    • “The only negative thing I can think of is the music, which could have been better.”
    • “But there's one giant flaw that I simply can't get past no matter how hard I try: the music is absolutely awful.”
    • “The music can drone on and make you want to mute it, and god help you if you want to read anything while standing next to a group of NPCs whose dialogue will loop with only a few seconds of blessed silence between.”
  • humor289 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by witty dialogue, quirky NPC interactions, and a blend of light-heartedness amidst darker themes. Players appreciate the clever writing and comedic moments, though some find the humor excessive or not to their taste. Overall, the game successfully integrates humor into its narrative and gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “Divinity is well written and will have you chuckling as you make your way through quests, talk to characters, and explore new areas of the map.”
    • “With lovely graphics and a fantastic sense of humor, this game will charm your pants off.”
    • “The writing is delightfully humorous, and even when more dark discussions are had, they are treated with a light sense of whimsy.”
    • “The humor was not funny.”
    • “The jokes are not funny; I did not like it at all.”
  • grinding116 mentions

    The reviews highlight a significant divide in player experiences regarding grinding in the game. Many players find the grinding tedious and unengaging, often describing it as a chore that detracts from the overall enjoyment, with complaints about slow combat, cumbersome inventory management, and repetitive tasks. However, some players appreciate the lack of traditional grinding mechanics, noting that the game focuses more on story and strategy rather than mindless level grinding, which can lead to a more rewarding experience despite occasional tedious moments.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The monsters don't respawn, so no grinding.”
    • “Gold is not as essential as in most RPGs where vendors hold the best items.”
    • “The first few hours of questing were the most boring I have ever encountered in a game - going back and forth - looting everything in sight - very, very tedious.”
    • “Too much tedious, useless stuff, incredibly drab progression and leveling, uninteresting story; I literally forced myself to get past the 10 hours-play time just because of all the 10/10 reviews that had made me buy the game as the heir to Baldur's Gate 2.”
    • “This game can be quite tedious at times - more like work than real fun - as you do things like travel from one vendor to another, trying to find one selling what you need or one with enough money to buy all the loot you've plundered.”
  • replayability85 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its extensive character customization and varied play styles that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others note a lack of significant differences in subsequent runs due to linear quest design. Many reviews highlight the potential for replayability through different tactics, classes, and co-op modes, but some express disappointment in the repetitive nature of quests and dialogue. Overall, while the game offers a rich initial experience, its long playtime and limited variation in replay may not appeal to those seeking shorter, more dynamic gameplay.

    • “This game has weeks and weeks of initial playthrough, and a lot of fun replayability on subsequent playthroughs using different tactics.”
    • “The story is long and rich, meaning you'll easily get your money's worth on just the first playthrough; and because the game can be quite different each time you play, there's tons of replayability.”
    • “The sheer variety and replayability from the game system alone is amazing.”
    • “Not much replay value after the first playthrough.”
    • “Because the class system is so flexible, there is no real need to specialize (unless roleplaying) and there isn't much replay value as a result.”
    • “The only downside is that quests are relatively self-contained meaning there isn't much replay value unless you just want to see things resolve slightly differently.”
  • stability75 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes and during combat. While some users experienced minor issues that did not significantly detract from their enjoyment, others found the game to be excessively buggy and frustrating, especially in terms of controls and quest functionality. Overall, while there are frequent updates aimed at addressing these issues, the game is still considered unstable by a significant portion of the player base.

    • “Overall, a full, rich, and in my opinion, bug-free experience.”
    • “The game runs great.”
    • “As far as performance goes, I have had zero crashes, and with all graphics settings maxed out, it runs great.”
    • “Only flaw is that multiplayer is so buggy.”
    • “Pathing issues, game freezes, perma-stuns... it's pretty rough.”
    • “This game shouldn't have been released; it's still so buggy.”
  • character development68 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and freedom due to a classless system that allows for extensive customization and meaningful choices that impact gameplay. However, others criticize the lack of balance and clarity in skill options, leading to feelings of directionlessness and underwhelming character growth in certain aspects. Overall, while the game offers engaging character development opportunities, it also presents challenges that may require players to invest time in understanding the system to fully enjoy its potential.

    • “Amazing story, very compelling gameplay, and character development.”
    • “Divinity in particular is great because of its classless character development system, allowing you to customize your characters any way you want.”
    • “Character development & customization is deep, allowing you to tailor your character's strengths with different perks, traits, skills, and equipment.”
    • “The character development was also not that great, with some skills and abilities being the obvious choice and others being useless or very situational.”
    • “However, the character development during the game in matters of background stories and relationships in the group is nearly nonexistent and redundant.”
    • “It fails to deliver on certain aspects of story and character development, but offers a lot of unique features that enhance the isometric gameplay experience and bring it into the next decade of gaming.”
  • atmosphere58 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its captivating soundtrack, stunning visuals, and immersive environments, which collectively enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the blend of humor and vibrant art style, creating a unique and engaging vibe reminiscent of classic RPGs. However, some critiques mention that the story can feel generic or uninteresting, which may detract from the otherwise rich atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is atmospherically captivating and adds to the immersive experience.”
    • “The art style and soundtrack further enhance the atmosphere, creating a visually and aurally captivating experience.”
    • “Divinity: Original Sin finally recreates the magical atmosphere of Divine Divinity and Beyond Divinity.”
    • “The atmosphere is bland, resisting any attempts at immersion, unlike Jade Empire.”
    • “It distracted me from the game, and did nothing to set mood or atmosphere.”
    • “Mostly very light and less inspiring in context of the atmosphere, unlike other Divinity games.”
  • optimization32 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing good performance and smooth graphics, while others report significant issues, including low frame rates, crashes, and poor multicore support. Many users suggest that the game requires further patches to address these performance problems, particularly on lower-end systems, and some have noted that the interface and inventory layout could be improved. Overall, while there are instances of solid performance, the consensus leans towards the game being poorly optimized at launch, with a need for ongoing updates to enhance stability and performance.

    • “Every bit of DPS optimized, what skill to pick, what ability to max. Wait, I can boost my weapons, etc.”
    • “The full release worked perfectly fine for me, running hours without performance issues or a single crash or bug.”
    • “When I purchased the game, I wasn't able to play very well (alpha was not yet optimized for my lower-end computer), but with beta, my god, it is just... Larian Studios have outdone themselves; even my computer now runs the game wonderfully.”
    • “Performance is a serious issue, even on high-end systems.”
    • “This game has major performance issues; after 30 minutes of gameplay, the framerate drops significantly to the point of being unplayable, regardless of which video quality it was set to.”
    • “But the game is poorly optimized; it can and will crash on most computers, and I don't mean minor crashes and little bugs—the game will close itself purely and simply, and very very often.”
  • emotional23 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience in the game, with some players feeling deeply connected to well-developed characters and moments of genuine warmth, while others criticize the lackluster storyline and inability to forge emotional bonds. The character interactions are praised for their depth, yet many find the overall narrative boring and disengaging, leading to a disjointed emotional investment. Overall, while there are moments that resonate, the game's emotional impact varies significantly among players.

    • “That was last year, and every time since then I sat down to play this game, I cried.”
    • “The game is full of life, and people can really build an emotional bond with characters in the story.”
    • “Every named character has a tale, and many of them are well-developed and emotional enough to give you an unusual sense of connection to the character.”
    • “However, after the first few fights to gain levels, you need to then walk around following an extremely boring storyline murder mystery, clicking on people for no apparent reason.”
    • “Too many environmental bugs, confusing and full of errors, leading to a very boring story.”
    • “D:OS submerges you into a lackluster, boring story, with bugged and incomplete quests, repetitive gameplay, and generic humor.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy of the game is perceived as misleading, with both the developer and Steam being criticized for not providing clear value to players. Users feel that the advertising does not accurately reflect the game's content, leading to disappointment among supporters.

    • “In some sense, both the developer and Steam are culpable as they're both trying to sell it with misleading advertising.”
    • “The advertisement and words around the streets don't lie.”
    • “Let the trials and tribulations come later, but at least give the masses supporting your product some value.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy Divinity: Original Sin

Play time

42hMedian play time
55hAverage play time
61hMain story
106hCompletionist
18-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 73 analyzed playthroughs

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