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Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is an excellent game that successfully marries the best aspects of pen and paper RPGs with great exploration and a surprisingly good kingdom management game. Microtransactions: none
Pathfinder: Kingmaker Game Cover
75%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
77% User Score Based on 15,052 reviews
Critic Score 71%Based on 27 reviews

Platforms

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Pathfinder: Kingmaker Game Cover

About

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a single player tactical role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Owlcat Games and was released on August 17, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Definitive Edition" is a single-player RPG based on the Pathfinder series, offering real-time or turn-based combat. Explore the conflict-ridden Stolen Lands of Golarion, rich in history and mystery, with your party. The Definitive Edition includes the base game, new features, and six DLCs. Conquer and unravel the world's secrets in this ultimate single-player experience.

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Pathfinder: Kingmaker screenshot
Pathfinder: Kingmaker screenshot
Pathfinder: Kingmaker screenshot
Pathfinder: Kingmaker screenshot
Pathfinder: Kingmaker screenshot
Pathfinder: Kingmaker screenshot
Pathfinder: Kingmaker screenshot
Pathfinder: Kingmaker screenshot
Pathfinder: Kingmaker screenshot
Pathfinder: Kingmaker screenshot
Pathfinder: Kingmaker screenshot
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77%
Audience ScoreBased on 15,052 reviews
story2.4k positive mentions
stability806 negative mentions
  • story
    7,473 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Pathfinder: Kingmaker" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its depth, character development, and the intertwining of personal quests with the main narrative. However, the game is criticized for its reliance on timed quests, which can lead to frustration and a sense of urgency that detracts from exploration and enjoyment. While the overarching plot is engaging, some players find it convoluted or lacking in coherence, particularly in the later chapters, and the quest journal often fails to provide clear guidance, leading to confusion and missed opportunities. Overall, the game offers a rich narrative experience, but its execution can be marred by bugs and design choices that frustrate players.

    • “I loved that your actions will have consequences throughout the whole run, until the very end of the story, giving it many different flavors.”
    • “The story, characters, and writing are great.”
    • “The story is engaging and feels rewarding to play through, and the mechanics of the pathfinder system click neatly with crpg gameplay.”
    • “Some of the quest requirements are very vague, such that without looking up walkthrough advice, there's no chance in hell I would have resolved some.”
    • “An important aspect is that the time scale in the game requires you to rush through a few things to ensure certain quests are done on time.”
    • “The story, unfortunately, is mediocre.”
  • gameplay
    3,037 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Pathfinder: Kingmaker* is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, closely mirroring the Pathfinder tabletop RPG ruleset, which can be overwhelming for newcomers. While the game offers a rich narrative and engaging character interactions, many players find the mechanics frustrating due to poor explanations, unbalanced difficulty spikes, and tedious kingdom management elements that can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game provides extensive customization options and replayability, appealing to fans of classic CRPGs who enjoy intricate gameplay systems.

    • “The RPG mechanics are nice and decisions feel like they actually have some weight to them.”
    • “An absolute blast of a game with a lot of very in-depth mechanics and systems to play with.”
    • “The gameplay is great, the management of the kingdom feels good and it does feel well balanced with the decisions you make and how it affects the game world.”
    • “The mechanics are just extremely frustrating.”
    • “The game does an awful job explaining anything at all and even if you come from a tabletop or TTRPG background, you are left completely dumbfounded with the way mechanics are implemented.”
    • “The kingdom management mechanic should be set to automatic or it could end in an unavoidable game over.”
  • graphics
    979 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Pathfinder: Kingmaker receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful art style, detailed environments, and impressive spell effects. However, some users criticize the graphics for being cartoonish or lacking depth, and there are reports of performance issues and graphical glitches. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered good for a CRPG, they may not meet the expectations set by more modern titles in the genre.

    • “The graphics are great, and it's a faithful rendition of the Pathfinder RPG system.”
    • “The graphics in Kingmaker are stunning and will transport you to a world filled with danger, adventure, and discovery.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the voice acting is sufficient, and the music is fitting.”
    • “The visuals are subpar, the characters are annoying and shallow, the combat is imbalanced, and the mechanics are needlessly complicated.”
    • “The graphics are bad, the overarching story doesn't get interesting until almost the end of the game, and the combat really isn't that fun.”
    • “Everything looks bland and lacks detail, like you're playing a game that was made 10 years ago.”
  • stability
    863 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of Pathfinder: Kingmaker has been a significant concern among players, with many citing it as a "buggy mess" at launch and still experiencing various glitches and crashes even after multiple patches. While some users report improvements and a more stable experience over time, others continue to encounter game-breaking bugs, particularly in later chapters, making it difficult to recommend without caution. Overall, the game is seen as ambitious but plagued by ongoing stability issues that can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “The game is now (mostly) bug free and actually enjoyable.”
    • “Nowadays this game is top notch, stable, almost entirely bug free, and a fantastic experience from beginning to end.”
    • “I can't count the amount of patches and additions that have been added to the game but as of today, it's one of the most complete and bug free CRPGs that exists for its size.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess.”
    • “It's been five years and the game is still incredibly buggy.”
    • “The game is buggy, like really buggy.”
  • music
    472 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its quality and emotional impact, particularly the orchestral soundtrack and memorable themes that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time, with a limited variety of tracks, especially during combat. Overall, while the soundtrack is often described as beautiful and fitting, it may not reach the heights of other contemporary RPGs, leaving some players wanting more diversity.

    • “The soundtrack is pure heaven!”
    • “The music is terrific and I often leave the game running just to listen.”
    • “The music is wonderful, the ambience amazing and the lore just gripping and enticing.”
    • “The music is fine but forgettable.”
    • “There are a lot of environmental soundtracks but there’s really only a few combat soundtracks that are all a bit samey.”
    • “The music is decent enough though consists of only a few tracks that get quite repetitive.”
  • grinding
    434 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of "Pathfinder: Kingmaker" has been widely criticized for being tedious and overly complicated, with many players expressing frustration over the repetitive nature of combat and kingdom management. While some enjoy the depth and challenge, the game often feels like a slog due to excessive backtracking, long loading times, and a lack of meaningful rewards for grinding. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for dedicated RPG fans, but many find it ultimately burdensome and frustrating.

    • “Almost no grinding nor boring maze so far.”
    • “No tedious grinding, no meaningless questing, no repetitive fights: everything you encounter is part of a very well-told saga.”
    • “The problem is, the encounters are so tedious, unfun, and sometimes so imbalanced that you are forced to save scum over and over just to force the RNG to eventually go in your favor.”
    • “The game seemed entirely bereft of sidequests, and wandering the world map in search of things to do appropriate for my level was made extremely tedious by the overtuned encounters--the majority of my time spent playing felt like I was in a loop of trying an encounter a few times, then reloading a save to go try something else.”
    • “The kingdom management can feel tedious, pointless and isn't really rewarding.”
  • optimization
    328 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many players reporting persistent performance issues, including stuttering, frame drops, and long loading times, even on high-end systems. While some users noted improvements over time, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, particularly in later stages and during complex encounters, making it difficult for players to enjoy the experience without relying heavily on character optimization and external guides. Despite its engaging story and mechanics, the optimization problems detract from the overall enjoyment and accessibility of the game.

    • “Optimization, items, options, visuals, and UI/UX are so much better in WOTR.”
    • “For those unfamiliar with the Pathfinder system, the character progression and customization can be daunting, but the game feels well balanced enough that you don't have to create perfectly optimized min/maxed characters on anything but the hardest difficulties.”
    • “If you have fun sinking time into character optimization, party composition, and battle management, you will get a lot of that out of the game.”
    • “The technical performance of this game is pretty awful.”
    • “The game has stability issues and performance issues.”
    • “It's poorly optimized but if you power through it's a lot of fun.”
  • replayability
    271 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts high replayability, with numerous character customization options, diverse class builds, and impactful story choices that lead to unique experiences in each playthrough. Many players appreciate the depth of gameplay and the ability to explore different alignments and paths, although some note that the lengthy nature of the game can make multiple playthroughs feel daunting. Overall, it is regarded as a replayable gem, especially for fans of RPGs and the Pathfinder system.

    • “With all the different character build options, difficulty customizations, dialogue options, side content, and endings, there's tons of replayability.”
    • “The sheer number of classes and the ability to build your own party if you don't like the in-game companions offers tons of replayability.”
    • “The game has great replayability; I have finished it two times with different characters, and it is possible I am going to try it a third time in the future.”
    • “I see no replayability as it's just too long.”
    • “My only complaint is replay value; once you know all of the curve balls the game is going to throw at you, a lot of the charm is lost.”
    • “It feels like a huge fleshed out world with so many quests and adventures and so much replay value, you're bound to get your money's worth.”
  • humor
    150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players praising the witty dialogue, quirky characters, and amusing interactions during gameplay. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements of character banter, absurd situations, and the game's ability to balance humor with serious moments, creating a rich and entertaining experience. However, some players also note that the humor can sometimes stem from frustrating gameplay mechanics, leading to a mix of laughter and exasperation.

    • “You're presented a whole region to explore, full of adventure and treasure, except that 70% of the encounters in these areas outclass you by a hilarious degree, indirectly railroading you to just the main story beats until about level 5 where your party has enough HP to last long enough in combat that they go from getting roflstomped to 10-20 minute long defeats followed by a reload.”
    • “One of its best features is its characters -- they are informative, funny, surprising, and often quirky or campy.”
    • “The story is great, characters are cool and often hilarious, and the class and feat options make for endless fun.”
    • “The barbarian has the biggest chip on her shoulder I've ever seen; the bard is just unfunny, and you can't get rid of her, to use but two examples.”
    • “You also just get super annoying and unfunny ones like Linzi.”
  • character development
    135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in this game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth, complexity, and the meaningful impact of choices on character arcs, while others criticize it for lacking nuance or being overshadowed by gameplay mechanics. Many reviews highlight the well-written companions and their personal quests, contributing to a rich narrative experience, though some feel that the main character's development does not reach the same heights as in other RPGs. Overall, the game offers extensive customization and character-building options, appealing to fans of traditional tabletop RPG systems, but it may frustrate those seeking more straightforward or engaging character interactions.

    • “This game brings it all to the table: complex character development, deep and multifaceted story where choices matter, great detailed graphics, and a real challenging and thus rewarding experience on the higher difficulties.”
    • “A true meaty RPG with tons of content, a deep character development and creation system, and lots of options with how to interact with the world.”
    • “Character development is well done; each of the companions has his or her own deep story, some with plot twists.”
    • “I'm talking about scripted character deaths, cutscenes that go against your entire build/character development, and overall degradation of the personality of the few NPCs that end up being relevant.”
    • “Some are tolerable to be sure and, yes, moments can sometimes exist between your character and some of your teammates, but genuine character development is practically non-existent.”
    • “If that wasn't frustrating enough, the game's character development is such overwhelming garbage that even the devs realized that giving the player the ability to create a bad or crippled character if they chose the wrong options is a terrible thing and offered an auto-leveling option whereby the game takes over character development.”
  • atmosphere
    86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of classic tabletop RPGs like Pathfinder and Dungeons & Dragons. Reviewers highlight the rich lore, engaging storylines, and detailed environments, complemented by atmospheric music and sound design that enhance the overall experience. Many players feel a deep sense of nostalgia and connection to the game's old-school vibe, making it a standout in the CRPG genre.

    • “As a fan of TTRPG Pathfinder and D&D, I loved the atmosphere of the game, the choice-driven storyline, the charming characters, and the subplots they brought to the experience.”
    • “The music, the atmosphere, and the art all work well together, and you can really get immersed in the world.”
    • “The atmosphere this game creates is very lovely, and it is definitely one of those games that makes you want to play more.”
    • “After your characters manage to slog through the molasses vapor permeating through the atmosphere, you get to fight some faceless polygon golem in a manner almost identical to actual Pathfinder.”
    • “All the atmosphere is completely ruined by enemies moving around--even after death!”
    • “The fact that skill DCs are so low, and are tied to the combat strength of the enemies only goes to further the murder hobo atmosphere the game is somewhat trying to avoid with role-playing.”
  • emotional
    59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of Pathfinder: Kingmaker elicits a wide range of responses from players, with some finding it deeply engaging and others feeling frustrated by its execution. While many appreciate the complex moral choices and heartfelt moments with companions, others criticize the game's storytelling and emotional depth as lacking, leading to feelings of disappointment and emotional exhaustion. Overall, the game offers a mix of poignant experiences and frustrating mechanics, resulting in a varied emotional journey for players.

    • “I cried for a whole hour after the epilogue.”
    • “In the end, it feels like you achieved a lot and was emotionally invested all the way thanks to the diverse and vibrant companions.”
    • “The story is great so far, the relationships with companions are deep and emotional.”
    • “I did want to like it and really gave it a good solid stab, but I can honestly say it ended up just being a terribly boring story.”
    • “Of course, then I get some BS skill check conversation and a boring storybook text ending.”
    • “Pillars of Eternity was so watered down with its boring story and its weird combat system.”
  • monetization
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate a mixed perception of the game's monetization, with some players feeling it leans towards a cash grab despite the absence of microtransactions. While the game promotes replayability and meaningful choices, critics argue that it falls short of its ambitious promises, suggesting that the monetization strategy may not align with player expectations.

    • “The game has no microtransactions, which is a refreshing change in today's gaming landscape.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no hidden costs or paywalls; everything is accessible without spending extra money.”
    • “It's great to see a game that prioritizes player experience over monetization strategies.”
    • “To me, it feels like a total cash grab.”
    • “This game is not a cash grab; it is a game whose ambition exceeded the budget and talent behind it.”
    • “I am early on, but I can already see that the advertising of replayability is false!”
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71%Critics’ scoreBased on 27 critic reviews
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75h Median play time
93h Average play time
78h Main story
197h Completionist
19-154h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 279 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a tactical role playing game with fantasy theme.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 78 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 197 hours to finish. On average players spend around 93 hours playing Pathfinder: Kingmaker.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker was released on August 17, 2020.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker was developed by Owlcat Games.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a single player game.

Similar games include Pathfinder: Kingmaker — Enhanced Plus Edition, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Pillars of Eternity, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire and others.