Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,484 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth Game Cover
If you like a slower story more about political intrigue wrapped up in a great presentation, you'll love The Pillars of the Earth.
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"Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth" is an adventure game based on the best-selling novel. The player navigates through a medieval narrative, making new allies and enemies in a quest to build a cathedral. Decisions made by the player impact the story's outcome, creating a unique experience for each playthrough.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,484 reviews
story753 positive mentions
grinding16 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning artwork and beautiful hand-drawn visuals that enhance the storytelling experience.
  • The narrative is engaging, with well-developed characters and meaningful choices that impact the story.
  • The voice acting and soundtrack are exceptional, adding depth and emotion to the characters and scenes.
  • The pacing can be slow, especially in the beginning, which may deter some players from fully engaging with the story.
  • There are limited puzzles and gameplay mechanics, making it feel more like an interactive novel than a traditional adventure game.
  • Some players may find the lack of significant consequences for choices disappointing, as the overall story remains largely linear.
  • story1,601 mentions

    The story of "The Pillars of the Earth" is widely praised for its depth, emotional engagement, and strong character development, effectively adapting Ken Follett's novel into an interactive format. Players appreciate the impact of their choices on the narrative, although some note that the overall plot remains largely predetermined. The game's beautiful visuals, excellent voice acting, and immersive storytelling create a captivating experience, making it a must-play for fans of story-driven games.

    • “The story is deeply engaging and beautifully executed.”
    • “The game has a great and captivating story in which one gets really involved with the characters' fates.”
    • “In 'The Pillars of the Earth,' every decision you make has a tremendous impact on the course of the story, and even seemingly insignificant choices from the first book may play a crucial role in further chapters.”
    • “The story is boring (who wants to 'play' as a monk reciting lines from the Bible?) the characters are dull as dishwater and everyone speaks s-o s-l-o-w-l-y.”
    • “The choices do not matter as much as I thought they would (they still do though) and sometimes the plot literally forces you to do something else than you'd like to.”
    • “The story is badly told (it might make more sense if you've read the book) and there's nothing to care about.”
  • graphics317 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, which effectively captures the medieval setting and enhances the storytelling experience. Many reviewers noted the beautiful visuals, atmospheric soundtrack, and excellent voice acting, creating an immersive environment that draws players into the narrative. While some mentioned minor technical issues or a lack of detail in certain areas, the overall consensus is that the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The hand-drawn art style creates a beautifully detailed medieval world that feels authentic and immersive.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, the story is well plotted and surprising.”
    • “The art style is incredible (in my opinion, the best looking 'cartoon look' adventure ever).”
    • “Graphics-wise, I would expect better graphics for a game with that kind of price range.”
    • “The animations are stiff and cheap while the art style is boring, generic, uninspired, and dreary.”
    • “It is a little off-putting when the characters move their mouths to speak, yet the words don't always seem to line up with what they're saying (because of the art style the animators had to work with).”
  • music215 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality, atmospheric compositions, and ability to enhance the storytelling experience. Reviewers highlight the orchestral soundtrack, beautiful melodies, and immersive sound design that effectively complement the game's visuals and narrative. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and engagement.

    • “The music, graphic style, and mechanics are very enjoyable, and I found myself playing for like 4 hours straight on Sunday night.”
    • “The voice acting is top-notch, accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that perfectly complements the ambiance of the game.”
    • “The music is grand and suits the medieval landscape and story well.”
    • “The music tends to drown out dialogue, so adjust volumes before starting off.”
    • “In addition, the music, while certainly decent, is repetitive as hell.”
    • “Some dramatic in-engine scenes are rendered awkward without the intended music behind the voices, which often feature long pauses before the next character speaks.”
  • gameplay209 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is primarily a point-and-click adventure with minimal mechanics, focusing heavily on dialogue choices and narrative progression rather than challenging puzzles or complex interactions. While some players appreciate the immersive storytelling and character development, many find the gameplay to be slow-paced, simplistic, and lacking in depth, often comparing it to visual novels or Telltale-style games. Overall, it appeals more to those who prioritize story over gameplay mechanics, with a significant emphasis on exploration and decision-making that influences the narrative.

    • “Clever game mechanics (thoughts depicted after right-click, icons of objectives, aiming system, making choices).”
    • “The gameplay is like walking through a novel, with fun little activities and interactions to keep you extra invested.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and the story behind it is interesting.”
    • “The overall pace is too slow and the gameplay lacks in everything, from lack of options to solve problems to penalties for exploration.”
    • “There's very little actual gameplay in this game and the little interactivity it has feels completely trivial, and the choices you make don't seem to matter all that much.”
    • “The gameplay itself is more exploratory, mostly has a cozy pace and less riddle solving.”
  • atmosphere83 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive medieval setting, enhanced by stunning visuals, a whimsical art style, and a captivating soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the effective combination of storytelling, voice acting, and sound design, which together create a rich and engaging experience that draws players into the world of 12th century England. Overall, the atmosphere is described as extraordinary, with many noting its ability to evoke strong emotional connections and a sense of historical authenticity.

    • “Topped off with a whimsical and endearing art style, incredible atmosphere, great music, it will keep you hooked from start to finish.”
    • “The game is beautifully crafted, with stunning visuals and an atmospheric soundtrack that really immerses you in the world of medieval England.”
    • “Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth is an incredibly atmospheric adventure game immersing you into the hardships, politics, and life of medieval England.”
    • “It also reminded me of the movie 'The Name of the Rose', but unfortunately the atmosphere, the story, and the tension have way less impact.”
    • “But I am so old nowadays and don't have the patience to have the flow of the story hindered by hard puzzles; I actually prefer really easy adventures because I want to experience the story and atmosphere.”
    • “The OST complements the original tone of the novel and the game's story/atmosphere well, although the number of tracks was somewhat limited in my opinion.”
  • emotional74 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players describing it as a deeply moving experience that often brought them to tears. The story, set in 12th century England, is characterized by its rich character development, heartfelt moments, and impactful choices that resonate emotionally. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a strong emotional bond between the player and the narrative, making it a standout experience in storytelling within the gaming medium.

    • “A depressing and emotional story in the 12th century about the church, war, and family unravels before us, and not a second went by where I wasn't interested in the story.”
    • “Oh and it's probably the only game I've played where the story genuinely made me cry... so if you like a touching story, then I'd highly recommend.”
    • “I cried my heart out more than once playing this; what a journey this was.”
  • replayability25 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting significant value due to interconnected decision-making and multiple endings, while others criticize its linearity and slow pacing, which detracts from the desire to replay. Many agree that while there are different paths and outcomes to explore, the lack of options to skip cutscenes and lengthy dialogue can make repeated playthroughs tedious. Overall, it offers some replay potential, particularly for fans interested in exploring various choices, but may not appeal to those seeking a fast-paced experience.

    • “It's definitely replayable and there are many paths I can imagine taking to change final relationships and dialogues.”
    • “Lots of replayability with how interconnected the decision-making branches are.”
    • “Given the sheer amount of dialogue, choices, and even plot arcs that may be missed on one playthrough, it seems this game has considerable replay value for fans of the game/book.”
    • “Making the game unreplayable; it doesn't help that cutscenes are unskippable.”
    • “No replayability value sadly because of the slow pace; you would bore to death if you want to replay it.”
    • “A game with reasonably low replayability, as the story will not change significantly between playthroughs.”
  • character development21 mentions

    Character development is a standout feature in this game, with many reviewers praising its depth and the gradual evolution of characters over time. While some noted that the pacing in later installments felt rushed, the overall consensus highlights the richness of character arcs, compelling designs, and the impact of player choices on narrative progression. The combination of strong voice acting and immersive storytelling further enhances the character development experience, making it a central element of the game's appeal.

    • “Masterpiece indeed; not only are there refreshing character developments, but also the importance of their beliefs.”
    • “The tale of a few cathedral builders is historically believable, carrying the atmosphere and realia of the time period, spanning decades of character development that doesn't feel rushed.”
    • “This game really stands out in character development.”
    • “From a gameplay perspective, this is probably fine just to rush to the conclusion, but it means that further character development is missed from the source material along with the accompanying architectural development that I find enriching.”
    • “The tale of a few cathedral builders is historically believable, it carries the atmosphere and the realia of the time period, it spans decades of character development that doesn't feel crumbled.”
    • “The game is long and slow, and doesn't shy away from involving the player in mundane tasks (which I think is fine and contributes to ambiance and character development), just don't expect to be jumping off exploding buildings all the time.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be quite tedious, with many players feeling that it requires excessive time and effort, often likening it to needing a "second life" to fully engage. While some appreciate the narrative depth and character development, others find the gameplay mechanics, such as waiting for mouse clicks and solving minor puzzles, to be monotonous and detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game may appeal to those who enjoy exploration and story, but it risks becoming tiresome for players seeking a more dynamic experience.

    • “There's a lot of grinding involved, but it feels rewarding.”
    • “You'll need a second life to keep up with the grinding!”
    • “The grinding can be intense, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The gameplay portion of this was extremely tedious and boring.”
    • “It starts off pretty good and the writing is not bad, but the old-fashioned point-and-click formula gets tedious fast.”
  • humor7 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the humor in the game is inconsistent, with some players missing the playful tone typical of Daedalic's previous titles. While there are moments of levity, such as character interactions and funny scenarios, many feel the game lacks the depth of humor found in classic adventure games like Monkey Island, leaning more towards serious themes than comedic elements. Overall, the humor is present but not as prominent or effective as expected.

    • “Funny monk adventures :)”
    • “It made me laugh when the characters would change their tune about me depending on if I found certain objects or learned valuable information from something.”
    • “I missed the humor and the playfulness that Daedalic games normally have - of course, this one's a serious novel adaptation in the 'real world', but hey, it wouldn't have been so bad to add some Easter eggs or at least some more jokes, right?”
    • “The game is filled with funny bugs that often distract from the overall experience.”
    • “While the humor attempts to be quirky, it often falls flat due to poorly executed jokes.”
    • “The comedic elements feel forced and fail to resonate, leaving a lackluster impression.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report no bugs or crashes and commend its performance, others experience various issues such as buggy dialogue, graphical glitches, and animation problems. Despite these inconsistencies, many find the story engaging and the game runs well on Linux.

    • “The game runs great on Linux.”
    • “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs during my playthrough.”
    • “The performance is consistently smooth, even during intense moments.”
    • “This game is good but buggy as hell.”
    • “The animations are buggy and missing; the overall puppets are often very limited in contributing to the dialogue's emotions.”
    • “Aside from a few graphical glitches I spotted, it was an amazing game.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for featuring intrusive banner advertisements on the title screen, which detracts from its artistic immersion. However, players appreciate the option to remove ads, which has led some to recommend the game despite their initial negative impressions. The feedback suggests that a more thoughtful placement of ads could enhance the overall experience without compromising the game's beauty.

    • “Artistic, immersive beauty disrespected by a decision to put banner advertisements on the title screen.”
    • “If I hadn't been able to remove the ads, I would've refunded the game.”
    • “One must question why bother making or selling a game such as this, when with this advertising approach, you disregard other people sharing in the artistic immersion created by the work.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with smooth in-game performance and no significant bugs reported. However, some users noted that minimizing the game window can lead to increased GPU temperatures, indicating a potential issue with windowed mode performance.

    • “The game runs smoothly and the interface is easy to use and understand.”
    • “It's like a Telltale game with a great story and no performance problems.”
    • “The performance in-game is great, but when I minimize the window, my GPU runs a lot warmer than in-game without any extra programs running in the background (roughly 10°C more).”
    • “I don't have much to complain about this game; I haven't encountered any bugs, but the performance of the minimized game window annoyed me a bit.”
    • “Technical problems and performance.”
    • “Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth, a story set in the middle of the 12th century, is one of those rare games where you really have to pay attention to the dialogues. However, the performance of the voices detracts from the depth of the characters.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

Buy Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth

Play time

17hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
12-22hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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