Pathfinder: Kingmaker

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 16,233 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Pathfinder: Kingmaker Game Cover
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"Pathfinder: Kingmaker" is a single-player Fantasy Role Playing game set in the Pathfinder universe, inspired by classic RPGs like Baldur's Gate and Fallout. Experience a beautiful story with phenomenal visuals and great music, as you explore and conquer the Stolen Lands to make it your kingdom. Despite being very grinding, buggy, and having some hilarious moments, the game offers high replayability and can be highly emotional, making it a must-play for RPG fans.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 16,233 reviews
story2,525 positive mentions
stability810 negative mentions
  • story7,993 mentions

    The story in "Pathfinder: Kingmaker" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its depth, character development, and the intertwining of personal and main quests. However, the implementation of timed quests and kingdom management mechanics often frustrates players, as they can lead to missed opportunities and game failures if not managed carefully. While the narrative offers engaging moments and choices that impact the gameplay, some players find the pacing uneven and the overall plot somewhat predictable or generic, leading to mixed feelings about the experience.

    • “The story is good, but not fantastic; it kept me interested enough to want to see it through to the end, and the companion characters are all good and have good stories around them.”
    • “The story is engaging and feels rewarding to play through, and the mechanics of the Pathfinder system click neatly with CRPG gameplay.”
    • “The story is fantastic and the characters are amazing.”
    • “The story itself is quite boring; I was uninterested most of the time while I was playing it.”
    • “The story is mediocre, but fine; the gameplay is challenging, the music is okay, and the most important part is the freedom to make your character the way you want to in so many ways.”
    • “The story is all over the place, there is no sense of direction, there are thousands of things to manage at every single turn/day... it just doesn't give you space to breathe and enjoy.”
  • gameplay3,242 mentions

    The gameplay of Pathfinder: Kingmaker is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, closely mirroring the Pathfinder tabletop RPG ruleset, which can be both rewarding and overwhelming for players. While the game offers engaging character customization, strategic combat, and a unique kingdom management system, many players find the mechanics poorly explained, leading to frustration and a steep learning curve, especially for newcomers to the genre. Additionally, issues such as unbalanced encounters, frequent crashes, and tedious time management mechanics detract from the overall experience, making it a mixed bag for players seeking a classic CRPG experience.

    • “The gameplay mechanics were intuitive and engaging, allowing for strategic combat and decision-making.”
    • “Full of working systems, deep mechanics, and extensive kingdom-building, matched by a fascinating amount of world-building and filled with memorable characters.”
    • “The sheer number of fights and their challenge means that this is a game for people who love tinkering with complex RPG mechanics and optimizing their party.”
    • “The kingdom management game is somewhat satisfying, but it is very easy to get into an unrecoverable death-spiral that would necessitate going back a dozen hours to fix, or permanently turning off the whole mechanic, which has story ramifications.”
    • “There are also a lot of mechanics that the game fails to explain to you.”
    • “The gameplay isn't great either - it's mostly just one giant dungeon that has too many enemies, and whisks away two characters in your party that completely ruins any composition/synergy you were trying to go for.”
  • graphics1,017 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the art style and visual effects, particularly in spell animations and environmental details. However, some users noted issues with optimization, bugs, and a lack of camera control, which detracted from the overall experience. While the graphics are generally considered good for a CRPG, they are not universally praised, with comparisons made to older titles and some criticism regarding cartoonish elements and performance issues on various systems.

    • “The graphics are stunning and most of the game mechanics feel really good if you enjoyed Baldur's Gate like me.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful (the wilderness travel screen even makes a nod to tabletop by dropping figures on the map when an encounter happens), the voice acting is excellent, and the writing is solid.”
    • “The graphics are fantastic, they nailed the aesthetic.”
    • “And towards the end, things become a little unraveled and graphically unoptimized, causing unavoidable lag.”
    • “The graphics in this game also feel unfinished, like the modeling team was rushed to hit a deadline and they never went back to complete it.”
    • “I rarely had 60 fps; I would often dip into the 45s, even mid-30s during combat (sometimes just walking), and this game simply does not warrant this considering the graphics.”
  • stability870 mentions

    The stability of Pathfinder: Kingmaker has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting a range of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While the game was initially released in a notably buggy state, ongoing patches have improved its stability, leading to mixed experiences; some players report minimal issues, while others continue to encounter game-breaking bugs and crashes. Overall, while the game shows promise and has been improved since launch, it remains somewhat unstable, particularly in later chapters, and players are advised to save frequently to mitigate potential frustrations.

    • “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.”
    • “Right now the bad, I don't think I've ever experienced a game with this many consistent glitches, whether they be small animation ones, pathing issues, or quests glitching and not being able to finish them.”
    • “The game is a horrible buggy mess.”
    • “This game is a buggy mess in its current state.”
  • grinding500 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players finding the combat and kingdom management systems to be tedious and repetitive. Players frequently mention the need for excessive backtracking, constant resting, and the overwhelming number of encounters that contribute to a sense of monotony. While some appreciate the depth of the mechanics, the overall sentiment is that the game often feels like a grind, detracting from the enjoyment of the story and character development.

    • “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.”
    • “I wanted to like this game so much, but the insane amount of tedious combat encounters really ruined it for me.”
    • “The game is tedious, and it does no favors helping you.”
    • “The kingdom management system was quite tedious, but this is overall a great game if you are a fan of CRPGs.”
  • music498 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere. While some tracks are described as memorable and fitting for various in-game scenarios, others note that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its immersive experience, though some players wish for more variety in the musical themes.

    • “The music is terrific and I often leave the game running just to listen.”
    • “The soundtrack is wonderful and the classes are diverse and fairly fun, each feeling unique and different.”
    • “The music is fantastic, I love the writing so far.”
    • “I would also recommend turning the music off because it will start wearing you down over time.”
    • “The music is fine but forgettable.”
    • “The music ranges from excellent to annoying, and a lot of cues are 'borrowed' from other games and series.”
  • optimization345 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, particularly in late-game scenarios, including frame drops, long loading times, and memory leaks. While some users have noted improvements over time, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, requiring frequent saves and reloads to manage performance. Additionally, character optimization is crucial for success, as many NPC companions are described as poorly optimized, making encounters disproportionately challenging without a well-constructed party.

    • “A really fun CRPG, can be a little daunting with all the character building choices, but you only really need to worry about optimization on the highest difficulties.”
    • “The game does allow leeway to be unoptimized, particularly if you are willing to adjust the difficulty as needed.”
    • “If you are a junky for crunchy, optimization-focused tabletop games, this is the best translation of a tabletop RPG in existence.”
    • “However, the bugs and performance issues compound the further you get into the game.”
    • “The technical performance of this game is pretty awful.”
    • “It's basically impossible to set yourself up for success without following optimization and playthrough guides.”
  • replayability282 mentions

    The game's replayability is highly praised, with many players noting the extensive character customization options, diverse classes, and impactful choices that lead to different outcomes in each playthrough. While some players find the lengthy gameplay and certain design choices hinder replayability, the overall consensus is that the game offers significant replay value, especially for those who enjoy experimenting with different builds and story paths. However, a few reviewers express that the game's length and complexity may deter some from multiple playthroughs.

    • “Great writing, challenging gameplay, lots of replayability.”
    • “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.”
    • “Because despite being an RPG, it has very little replay value.”
    • “I think the main advantage of a game like this is replayability and that is hurt by the length of the game, as personally I would prefer to play three 30-hour games with three different characters/builds than one 80-90 hour main quest.”
    • “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.”
  • humor167 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players praising the witty dialogue, quirky characters, and amusing situations that arise throughout gameplay. Many found the interactions between companions, especially during resting periods, to be particularly entertaining, often leading to genuine laughter. While some humor is derived from frustrating gameplay mechanics or absurd scenarios, the overall tone balances comedic moments with deeper narrative elements, making for a rich and engaging experience.

    • “The events are fine, with some funny resolutions, like the one where the grand diplomat is mocked due to a failure when dressing the table for some guests.”
    • “The characters are hilarious when you rest them and listen to their conversations.”
    • “The dialogue is well written and often funny.”
    • “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.”
    • “Ok, not funny, but after a few hours I completed the dungeon.”
  • character development148 mentions

    Character development in this game is widely praised for its depth and complexity, allowing players to create diverse characters and engage deeply with their companions' stories. Many reviews highlight the intricate mechanics and meaningful choices that impact character growth and relationships, although some players note that the learning curve can be steep. Overall, the game is recognized for its rich narrative and character interactions, reminiscent of classic RPGs like Baldur's Gate, though opinions vary on the execution and emotional engagement of certain characters.

    • “I love some aspects of this game, the depth of character development, the storyline, and the depth in player choice.”
    • “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.”
    • “Character development is well done; each of the companions has his or her own deep story, some with plot twists.”
    • “If you seek depth in character development or an in-depth journey for the companion, you might be disappointed.”
    • “Some characters are tolerable, but genuine character development is practically non-existent.”
    • “The 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.”
  • atmosphere89 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining beautiful graphics, evocative music, and rich storytelling that captures the essence of classic tabletop RPGs. Players appreciate the dynamic environmental changes, detailed world-building, and engaging character interactions that enhance the overall experience. While some desire a shift away from political narratives, the general consensus highlights the game's ability to evoke nostalgia and a sense of adventure reminiscent of beloved titles like Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale.

    • “The graphical atmosphere changes according to the season and time of the day, and the lighting and audio reflection effects in the dungeons provide atmosphere without becoming a tedious gimmick.”
    • “The atmosphere, writing, characters, art, and music are incredibly good.”
    • “Beautiful, atmospheric adventure!”
    • “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.”
  • emotional61 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from deep investment and heartfelt moments to frustration and disappointment. Players report experiencing significant emotional highs and lows, with some moments being genuinely moving and others feeling tedious or unsatisfying. While the game offers complex moral choices and character interactions that can be touching, many players also express feelings of emotional exhaustion and dissatisfaction due to gameplay mechanics and narrative execution.

    • “I cried for a whole hour after the epilogue.”
    • “There are moments of character sincerity that are heartfelt and never come off as corny or undeserved.”
    • “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.”
    • “Boring story and music.”
    • “Boring story and characters.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    Reviews indicate a mixed perception of the game's monetization, with some players feeling it leans towards a cash grab due to misleading advertising about replayability and the game's hardcore nature. Others argue that while the game may not be a cash grab, it suffers from a lack of resources and talent to fulfill its ambitious promises.

    • “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!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Play time

75hMedian play time
93hAverage play time
78hMain story
197hCompletionist
20-154hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 293 analyzed playthroughs

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