Tyranny

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,928 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • replayability
Tyranny Game Cover
Tyranny is an exercise in depicting humanity’s worst facets, and it does so in a nuanced, interesting way while being an engaging and accessible CRPG.
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In Tyranny – Gold Edition, become an officer in a tyrant's army and shape the world through your choices in this critically-acclaimed RPG. Explore the new region of Bastard's Wound and dive into companion quests for Lantry, Verse, and Barik. With the Tiers of the Tiers expansion, experience additional map events, encounters, and side stories that further enrich the war-torn world of Tyranny.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Epic Games
  • Linux
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,928 reviews
story1,661 positive mentions
grinding108 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with meaningful choices that impact the game world.
  • Unique magic system that allows for extensive spell crafting and customization.
  • Rich world-building and lore that immerses players in a dark fantasy setting.
  • Combat can feel clunky and unresponsive, requiring excessive micromanagement.
  • The game ends abruptly, leaving many plot threads unresolved and feeling incomplete.
  • Limited variety in enemy types and some bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
  • story4,481 mentions

    The story of "Tyranny" is widely praised for its unique premise, where players assume the role of a servant to an evil overlord, allowing for morally complex choices that significantly impact the narrative. Many reviewers highlight the game's rich lore and character development, though some express disappointment with the pacing, particularly in the final act, which feels rushed and incomplete. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate story-driven RPGs with meaningful decision-making and replayability.

    • “The story is well crafted, consequences real, and gameplay as smooth and fun as you could ask for.”
    • “The story/world/characters of this game are absolutely incredible!”
    • “The story is engaging and well-written, the characters are fun, and most of all, the combat isn't nearly as klunky and frustrating as pillars.”
    • “However, the combat is rather easy, the quests are few and far between, the exploration is sparse, and the ending leaves quite a bit to be desired.”
    • “When it came to the story, about halfway through Act 2, the whole thing just felt rushed and poorly put together, and I lost any actual influence on the game because no matter what I did, everyone just chose to kill you.”
    • “The story feels like it can end a little abruptly, and I found myself wanting more, but what I got was a brilliantly written, interesting CRPG that has given me much to think about.”
  • gameplay1,155 mentions

    The gameplay of "Tyranny" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its innovative mechanics, particularly the spell crafting system and the moral choice dynamics that significantly impact the narrative. However, some critics have pointed out that the combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth compared to other CRPGs like "Pillars of Eternity," leading to a perception of the gameplay being mediocre or unengaging. Overall, while the game offers a rich story and character interactions, its mechanics may not satisfy those seeking a more complex or challenging gameplay experience.

    • “The gameplay is fun and challenging, and just the fact that me and my friend were playing it at the same time and due to us making different decisions were playing a completely different game is just amazing.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, and the game can be extremely challenging especially at the beginning.”
    • “Tyranny greatly extends (and improves) on many of the mechanics we're familiar with from Pillars of Eternity, and introduces a lot of new and exceptional concepts.”
    • “But ultimately, the gameplay is not there; I was bored and uninterested in the mechanics.”
    • “The mechanics of this game are broken and outdated by about 20 years.”
    • “The gameplay suffers heavily because of this.”
  • replayability442 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its numerous branching paths, impactful choices, and multiple endings that encourage players to explore different narratives and character builds. While the campaign is relatively short, this brevity is seen as a benefit, allowing for multiple playthroughs without a significant time investment. Overall, players find the replay value substantial, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy choice-driven RPGs.

    • “The best thing about this game is its random and short enough to start up an entirely new game and try different choices with different characters, so great replayability factor.”
    • “The game is relatively short, but is highly replayable; in fact, you need to replay the game at least two times and make different choices to understand the lore in a more profound way, seeing all perspectives and different situations.”
    • “The game's replayability is high, thanks to the multiple branching paths and decisions that can be made.”
    • “Unfortunately, one of the selling points of this game was it being 'replayable'; in my honest opinion, it isn't all that replayable if you only have 4 true endings.”
    • “The game really is replayable, and again there are things you will not experience in a single playthrough.”
    • “The story arc is shorter than I'd like, but presumably that's leading to a sequel, and there's plenty of replayability.”
  • graphics440 mentions

    The graphics of "Tyranny" receive mixed reviews, with many praising its unique art style and beautiful artwork that enhances the game's atmosphere. However, some players find the graphics dated compared to modern RPGs, describing them as average or lacking in detail, particularly in character models. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered appealing and fitting for the game's aesthetic, they may not meet the expectations of those seeking cutting-edge graphical fidelity.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, the story is epic, the gameplay is gripping.”
    • “The game's art style is distinctive, with detailed character designs, environmental backdrops, and spell effects that contribute to the game's immersive world.”
    • “The graphics are above and beyond better than Pillars of Eternity and the deep lore is very impressive.”
    • “The art style and voice acting are subpar and are easily the weakest points in the game, and if I have to hear my character say their inventory is full one more time I will lose my mind.”
    • “The graphics look deplorably old school, but if you can get past that there's a really fantastic game here.”
    • “The interface and graphics are at least ten years behind, and yet again another developer releases a game with almost no voice acting and mostly text-based interface.”
  • music261 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional tone, while others find it occasionally generic or repetitive, particularly during combat. Some highlight standout tracks and the overall quality of the soundtrack, noting its orchestral composition and immersive qualities, while others feel it lacks variety and memorability. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the experience despite some criticisms of repetitiveness.

    • “The music exponentially adds to the emotional tone and is well-composed and congruent with the atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack is superb.”
    • “The music is brilliant and the art style is great.”
    • “Music was okay but repetitive, especially the combat music; same track over and over.”
    • “There is only 1 music track for all battles and the repetition is becoming very annoying.”
    • “The music has so little meaning in this game; the themes are poorly worked out with a big lack of imagination.”
  • grinding111 mentions

    The reviews indicate that "Tyranny" features a combat system that many players find tedious and grindy, often detracting from the overall experience despite its strong narrative and world-building. While some appreciate the streamlined approach to grinding, others criticize the repetitive nature of encounters and the micromanagement required for character development, leading to a sense of tedium throughout gameplay. Overall, the game is seen as having potential but is hampered by its combat mechanics and pacing issues.

    • “Its combat system isn't tedious.”
    • “It's not tedious; however, you can do combos with your companions, which is another nice feature.”
    • “The world development and much of the writing is top-tier CRPG greatness, but the combat mechanics and magic-favoring level-up development are a grindy mess and pale in comparison to other CRPGs, except for the neat spell creation system.”
    • “In the end, what we get are ridiculously short runs filled with super grindy encounters.”
    • “The combat is tedious, doesn't feel impactful or satisfying in any way.”
  • atmosphere83 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, enhanced by a well-composed soundtrack that complements the dark and brooding aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the unique world-building, rich lore, and morally complex narratives that contribute to a gripping experience, although some feel that excessive dialogue can detract from immersion. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, creating a memorable and engaging environment for players.

    • “A unique world premise with an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The music exponentially adds to the emotional tone and is well-composed and congruent with the atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere, the story, the characters, the influence you have on the world and its people, and oh god, the stellar soundtrack.”
    • “The atmosphere is oppressive.”
    • “Where the game lets itself down is that there aren't actually enough choice points to make the most of this atmosphere.”
    • “Almost everything is in my opinion worse, the atmosphere is worse, there are female soldiers everywhere because of modern feels, combat is simplified garbage compared to other games and is much easier as well, no need to micromanage at all or manage anything except your main character.”
  • stability66 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs, crashes, and unfinished elements that detract from the overall experience. Many players have encountered significant glitches affecting gameplay, quest progression, and performance, leading to frustration and a sense of a lack of polish. While some users report minimal issues, the consensus is that the game suffers from a variety of technical problems that Obsidian has yet to adequately address.

    • “A rock-solid, bug-free experience.”
    • “Good story, replayable, and bug-free.”
    • “Relatively bug-free from my experiences, except for Landry not giving me the Sigil of Vigor when asking him to train me.”
    • “Unfortunately, Obsidian also once again delivers in that the game is buggy and blatantly unfinished.”
    • “This game is a horrible, buggy, broken mess and Obsidian should feel ashamed.”
    • “Two years after release and this thing is still buggy.”
  • character development62 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and the compelling backstories of companions, while others criticize it for being shallow and lacking meaningful choices. Many reviews highlight the potential for rich character arcs and customization, but feel that the execution falls short, leading to a sense of missed opportunities. Overall, while the game offers some engaging character interactions and a unique development system, it often fails to deliver the depth and impact expected from a well-crafted RPG.

    • “The writing is compelling, and I was invested in the character development of my party members.”
    • “Great writing, story, character development - and more freedom of choice and shaping of your own destiny than any game I've ever played.”
    • “The game offers so much more room for character development, and your actions always matter.”
    • “The character development is not much, in both characteristics and skills.”
    • “Choices in-game are minor, and there is no character development in the story.”
    • “Unfortunately, I feel Tyranny only fulfills about 1/3 of these with an overly dark, flat story/setting and an oversimplified character development system.”
  • humor56 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the witty dialogue, amusing character interactions, and unexpected comedic moments that arise during gameplay. While some found the humor to be unintentionally funny or lacking depth in certain areas, many appreciated the clever writing and the ability to engage in humorous choices amidst darker themes. Overall, the game offers a mix of lighthearted banter and sarcastic commentary that enhances the overall experience.

    • “This is the most unintentionally funny and goofy game I've ever played.”
    • “The characters, especially the companions, are adorable, hilarious, and honestly one of the best parts of the game!”
    • “The writing is great, very funny at times - especially the well-developed interactions with and between your companions.”
    • “The game tries to be funny, but the jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
    • “The humor in this game is so stale that it feels like a bad sitcom from the '90s.”
    • “I expected some laughs, but instead, I was left cringing at the awkward attempts at comedy.”
  • emotional51 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses from players, with some expressing deep connections to the narrative and characters, while others find the emotional engagement lacking. Many appreciate the impactful voice acting and music that enhance the emotional tone, yet some criticize the characters as lifeless or superficial, leading to a disconnect from the story. Overall, the game can evoke strong feelings, both positive and negative, but its emotional depth varies significantly among players.

    • “Pillars is one of my favorite games because it made me feel like I was making a genuine difference in a world that felt real and that I wanted to be a force for change in.”
    • “The voice acting and the music really immersed me within the world and made me feel for the characters.”
    • “This is one of the few games that made me become emotional, both good and bad, to the different factions.”
    • “Unoriginal and really boring story.”
    • “Can sometimes have a boring storyline that wasn't the most compelling.”
    • “Boring combat, boring storyline, very bland visuals; but enough depth as an RPG to keep a big RPG fan entertained for a while.”
  • optimization50 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, long loading times, and frame rate drops even on capable hardware. While some aspects of the game are enjoyable, the inconsistent performance and optimization issues detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration among players. A few users noted that the game is still playable, but it requires a powerful PC to run smoothly, and many hope for future patches to address these concerns.

    • “Easy-to-learn mechanics that can be optimized, high character customization (I built a heavily armored battle mage).”
    • “This game is also very well optimized, goes without any problems and lags.”
    • “No issues here with load time or performance, it runs like a dream and plays like it, too.”
    • “I've played this in the past when it first launched, and I forgot why I quit back then, but I think I remember now - it was probably the poorly optimized code that turns it into a slideshow (notably in combat).”
    • “I like the game, but I am giving it a thumbs down because the game is poorly optimized where the loading screens are so slow that I could not get past 27 hours of play without wanting to tear my hair out.”
    • “The same can't be said for their technicians, because the game is quite poorly optimized, and I often experienced low FPS despite playing on a good computer with SSD, 980, and i7.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    Users express disappointment with the monetization strategy, feeling misled by advertisements that promised meaningful choices but delivered minimal impact. There are concerns about potential cash grabs and the presence of political agendas and overt sponsorships within the game, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Choice was the main advertising point, and it didn't deliver.”
    • “Instead, I feel like I was conned by the advertisements and big reviewers.”
    • “I hope this wasn't a quick cash grab due to the previous successes, but it felt like the developers either ran out of ideas or motivation.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

Buy Tyranny

Play time

22hMedian play time
24hAverage play time
20hMain story
51hCompletionist
10-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 58 analyzed playthroughs

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