Pillars of Eternity

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 9,667 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Pillars of Eternity Game Cover
The best RPG Obsidian has ever made. Just be ready to read.
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Experience the game that revitalized the classic RPG genre in a complete and definitive package that includes every expansion, bonus, and update, presenting Pillars of Eternity at its best.

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

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 9,667 reviews
story2,295 positive mentions
grinding192 negative mentions
  • Engaging and mature storyline with deep lore and character development.
  • Classic isometric gameplay reminiscent of old-school CRPGs like Baldur's Gate.
  • Rich world-building with a variety of classes and character customization options.
  • Combat can feel tedious and requires excessive micromanagement, especially in larger battles.
  • Long loading screens and a lack of clear direction can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
  • Overwhelming amount of text and lore can be confusing for new players, making it hard to stay engaged.
  • story5,844 mentions

    The story of *Pillars of Eternity* is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and engaging narrative, drawing players into a richly crafted world filled with intricate lore and morally nuanced characters. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to weave personal character arcs with the overarching plot, creating a sense of investment in both the main story and side quests. However, some players find the pacing slow, with excessive exposition and a convoluted narrative that can detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about the game's storytelling effectiveness.

    • “If you want to lose yourself in a great story with unique lore and mature decisions, this is a must.”
    • “Amazing characters, beautiful setting, intricate world-building, and a fantastic story.”
    • “The story is engaging and very enjoyable, with many different dialogue options that fit a variety of personalities.”
    • “The story is paper thin, and little is done to endear you to any character or place.”
    • “The combination of generic cod-celtic place names, standard-issue fantasy races, unmemorable costume design, and brown-and-green landscapes made it very hard for me to get invested in the setting and story.”
    • “The story tries to make you care about the protagonist progressively losing their mind, but at no point does it actually feel like that is the case, robbing the story of its main drive.”
  • gameplay1,952 mentions

    The gameplay of "Pillars of Eternity" is a blend of classic isometric RPG mechanics reminiscent of titles like Baldur's Gate, featuring real-time with pause combat that requires strategic planning and micromanagement. While many players appreciate the depth and complexity of the mechanics, some find them cumbersome and poorly explained, leading to frustration, especially for newcomers. Overall, the game offers a rich narrative experience with engaging gameplay, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more streamlined or action-oriented RPG.

    • “Tons of gameplay to be had with quests that feel impactful.”
    • “The gameplay is a delightful blend of old-school RPG mechanics and modern innovations.”
    • “The gameplay is enjoyable and quite interesting.”
    • “The gameplay just sucks; you either turn the difficulty of the game down, or every single encounter is a mess of constantly pausing and micromanaging your characters' positions and action bars.”
    • “The combat mechanics are obtuse.”
    • “The gameplay is complicated, but I can't find the fun.”
  • graphics957 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful hand-drawn artwork and atmospheric visuals that evoke nostalgia for classic CRPGs like Baldur's Gate. While some players appreciate the charming aesthetic and modern enhancements, others criticize the dated character models and occasional graphical glitches, suggesting that the visuals may not meet the expectations of those accustomed to contemporary gaming standards. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good for the genre, balancing old-school charm with modern polish, though they may not impress players seeking cutting-edge visuals.

    • “The graphics are stunning, with detailed environments and characters that look like they've been ripped straight from the pages of a fantasy novel.”
    • “The visuals are beautiful, the gameplay itself is fairly polished.”
    • “The graphics are excellent, which even immerses you deeper into the game because everything is so lifelike.”
    • “Sometimes graphical glitches actually obscured or outright didn't allow me to get to where I needed to go.”
    • “The graphics and lack of customization in character builds was a big disappointment for me given it came out in 2015.”
    • “The graphics are poor with no real art style, just kind of gritty and meh.”
  • music515 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its evocative and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall immersive experience. Many reviewers noted the soundtrack's ability to complement various settings and emotional moments, although some found the combat music repetitive over time. Overall, the music is described as beautiful, fitting, and a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's nostalgic and high-fantasy feel.

    • “The music perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, evoking emotions from awe to tension and enhancing the overall immersive experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is outstanding.”
    • “The music is incredibly memorable and aids immensely in bringing the world of Eora to life.”
    • “The soundtrack fits the atmosphere, although I'd say that it's somewhat generic most of the time — you know, your classic epic fantasy stuff you hear in Hollywood films and similar RPGs.”
    • “The music is uninspiring.”
    • “The combat music is the same for the first battle you have until the last boss battle you will have.”
  • grinding203 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the combat mechanics and the excessive micromanagement required. While some appreciate the story and world-building, they find the gameplay can drag on due to long battles, verbose dialogue, and a lack of engaging quests, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the game is criticized for its grindy nature, which detracts from the enjoyment of the narrative and exploration.

    • “The quests weren't grindy; they weren't tedious; they were actually just like little mini campaigns of their own, and I found them very rewarding.”
    • “The game isn't grindy; you should be able to defeat anything as long as your tactics don't suck.”
    • “Better leveling system than most RPGs - quests grant XP instead of kills, so there's no grinding involved whatsoever.”
    • “Your reward for pushing through the often tedious combat segments usually ends up being just more tedious exposition dumps.”
    • “The combat becomes tedious very quickly, usually involving bottling up your adversaries in a choke point and autoattacking them until dead.”
    • “The game was intriguing at first, but quickly revealed itself to be tedious and boring.”
  • replayability182 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to diverse character customization options, multiple classes, and varied story outcomes based on player choices. Many reviewers highlight the depth of gameplay mechanics and the richness of the narrative, which encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players note a lack of replay value in certain aspects, the overall consensus is that the game offers significant replay potential, making it appealing for fans of the RPG genre.

    • “Story-rich RPG, challenging gameplay, and a lot of replayability.”
    • “It's a very complete package and an extremely competent and well-crafted game, with a good amount of both main and optional content that's highly replayable due to customization options and a variety of outcomes.”
    • “Endlessly replayable because of all the different options you can choose both in character creation and throughout.”
    • “Despite having a lot of classes, this title has no replayability.”
    • “The most prominent failure is the lack of replayability; all is totally static.”
    • “I see very limited replayability unlike its predecessors that have much more customization even with more linear plot lines than this one.”
  • atmosphere174 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed world, often compared to classic RPGs like Baldur's Gate. Players appreciate the haunting soundtrack, strong world-building, and the ability to evoke a range of emotions, from awe to tension. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is compelling, it can be undermined by pacing issues and inconsistent writing quality.

    • “The music perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, evoking emotions from awe to tension and enhancing the overall immersive experience.”
    • “The atmosphere, world-building, and characters are top tier.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, the game setting captivating, and the music provides an excellent backdrop to your adventures.”
    • “The world-building and story-telling can be a little tedious in my opinion, but the atmosphere, gameplay, art style, and overall experience are so beautiful that I would easily rank this (and especially its sequel) as the best of the recent fantasy CRPG crop.”
    • “Pillars of Eternity feels too archaic: the gameplay is convoluted, the graphics are outdated, the story is slow, and the atmosphere is lifeless.”
    • “The atmosphere is similar to the original Baldur's Gate with ancient dungeons and lush forests, but I hope that Obsidian will rectify a few of the following issues in the next title.”
  • humor113 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by clever dialogue and well-developed companions, with many players appreciating the balance between serious themes and lighthearted banter. While some find the humor to be mature and sophisticated, others feel it lacks the whimsical or silly elements typical of traditional RPGs. Overall, the game offers a mix of funny moments and poignant interactions, contributing to its charm and depth.

    • “The writing is superb, with clever dialogue and a sense of humor that adds to the game's charm.”
    • “Great characters, lines, humor, all you want to find in a game like this.”
    • “The companions (with special mention of Edér and Hiravias) are all unique and hilarious as well.”
    • “It's not funny to play; your characters seem to be defined not by what they can do, but by what they cannot do. This seems to be the recurring philosophy behind the writing of this game and universe.”
    • “The humor falls flat and often feels forced, making it hard to connect with the characters or the story.”
    • “I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes are stale and the comedic timing is off, leaving me more confused than entertained.”
  • character development93 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and complexity, offering players a variety of choices that significantly impact gameplay and narrative. While many reviews highlight the immersive storytelling and well-crafted character arcs, some express disappointment in the lack of meaningful development for certain companions and the initial learning curve associated with the mechanics. Overall, the character development is seen as a strong aspect of the game, contributing to a rich and engaging experience.

    • “Understanding the nuances of character development and the game's deep mechanics may take time, but the effort is well worth it for the rich and rewarding experience that awaits.”
    • “The character development is superb and causes you to get very invested into both the main story and side quests.”
    • “Pillars of Eternity manages to bring brilliant dialog, compelling story, and engaging character development... all while managing to bring the traditional CRPG difficulty down to a level where the newer generations of players should be able to enjoy and appreciate it!”
    • “The character development and scenario construction fail to captivate, as does the central conflict.”
    • “Overall, I found the game acceptable, but not great, especially in the character development department (even though this has never been a strong point for these kinds of games, I found old JRPGs much better).”
    • “I didn't expect Mass Effect character development, but I certainly hoped for more than walking clichés that largely dissolved into taciturn automatons after their initial, uninvolving dialogue.”
  • optimization84 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, including stuttering, frame rate drops, and long loading times, even on high-end systems. While some users report smooth gameplay on lower-end PCs, others criticize the overall graphical optimization and the reliance on the Unity engine, which seems to hinder performance. Despite these drawbacks, some players have found the game enjoyable and engaging, suggesting that with proper customization and adjustments, it can still provide a satisfying experience.

    • “Fun and engaging right from the beginning, and it runs smoothly even on a fossil of a laptop.”
    • “Through my almost 50 hours of game time, I haven't encountered a single bug, so in that perspective, it's really well optimized for PC.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and great optimization!”
    • “One criticism that's pretty objective, unfortunately, is that the game is poorly optimized and will likely struggle with stuttering and framerate drops even on powerful systems, especially towards the endgame for some reason.”
    • “The game engine is poorly optimized therefore it rarely goes above 100fps, even on high-end computers, but that is irrelevant since it's not a visually stunning game.”
    • “Performance: probably the only negative point, in my rig (4790k at 4.6ghz, gtx 980 and 16gb of ram) the game ran pretty poorly, in some areas the framerate drops to the 40's which is unacceptable for a game that is not and shouldn't be very demanding.”
  • stability78 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and graphical glitches that can hinder gameplay. While some users experienced a relatively smooth experience with few issues, the consensus indicates that the game is generally quite buggy, with persistent problems affecting AI behavior, pathfinding, and audio consistency. Overall, while the game has potential and enjoyable elements, its stability issues detract significantly from the experience for many players.

    • “Plus, I haven't got the best gaming computer, and this runs great, largely due to the art direction, I'm sure.”
    • “In my experience, no bugs, no glitches, and overall really good performance.”
    • “I've played for many hours, no bugs, no glitches, no crashes.”
    • “Game constantly freezes & crashes.”
    • “It's just really buggy to the point of near-unplayability.”
    • “Be forewarned though, the game is very buggy and crashes randomly to the desktop.”
  • emotional66 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it deeply impactful and nostalgic, leading to moments of genuine tears and connection with characters. However, others feel a disconnect due to a lack of strong emotional hooks and compelling storytelling, which diminishes their ability to resonate with the game's narrative. Overall, while there are heartfelt moments and well-written characters, the emotional engagement can vary significantly among players.

    • “Her story made me shed a tear or two.”
    • “Not gonna lie, I kind of cried at the end when slides started playing because even though I hated this scuffed game at times, I loved seeing at least some of the things I did be good and the character getting a happy ending after all this time was very wholesome.”
    • “It's dark and sad, has many emotional and dramatic moments, twists and revelations, interesting characters, tons of really good dialogue, and a great conclusion.”
    • “And that's the problem; all the worldbuilding in the universe won't fix a boring story.”
    • “Boring story, no solid background on the main character's story.”
    • “The game is an average isometric CRPG with a boring story and characters, and overcomplicated lore.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    Reviews indicate a mixed perception of the game's monetization strategy, with some players appreciating its quality compared to typical cash grabs, while others criticize it for perceived attempts to exploit players through price hikes and microtransactions. Overall, there is a sentiment that the game may not align with the expectations of those seeking a more traditional RPG experience.

    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel exploitative, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers a variety of ways to earn in-game currency, making it possible to enjoy premium content without spending real money.”
    • “The microtransactions are optional and don't hinder gameplay, which is a refreshing change from many other games.”
    • “Excellent game (8/10 overall in my opinion, will update to recommended later if prices are changed), but this blatant attempt at a cash grab by raising the price before the sale is disgusting.”
    • “Game has quickly turned into a cash grab.”
    • “Cash grab anyone?”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

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Play time

55hMedian play time
90hAverage play time
15-152hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 95 analyzed playthroughs

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