Tyranny

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,875 reviews

story2.2k positive mentions

grinding147 negative mentions

Engaging story with meaningful choices that impact the world and characters.
Unique magic crafting system that allows for a high degree of customization.
Strong world-building and lore that creates a compelling setting.

Combat can be repetitive and lacks depth, often requiring micromanagement.
The game feels short and ends abruptly, leaving many plot threads unresolved.
Inconsistent voice acting and some dialogue options are missing or poorly written.

story
5,956 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
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 a fresh take on traditional RPG narratives. Many reviewers highlight the depth of choices that significantly impact the storyline, creating a rich tapestry of moral complexity and replayability. However, some critiques point to a rushed conclusion and a lack of companion quests in the base game, leaving players wanting more depth and resolution in the narrative. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate story-driven experiences with meaningful decision-making.
- “A compelling story from a unique angle, a flexible magic system, an interesting setting in a transitioning bronze/iron age, a unique reputation system, a skill system that improves skills utilized, and a serviceable combat system make this a compelling acquisition for any fan of the CRPG genre.”
- “I love the story with all the choices to manipulate it along the way; it is absolutely perfect.”
- “The story is enjoyable and I found the endings to be accurate to the kind of character I went for; immersion is possible.”
- “The story feels clunky, the character introductions are, at best, weird... you can completely miss out on characters because you didn't care for hand-holding exercises.”
- “The story is unfinished, as if they were planning to take it further but ran out of budget.”
- “The story ends abruptly, leaving room for a continuation that never materialized.”
gameplay
1,533 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The gameplay of "Tyranny" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its unique mechanics, particularly the spell crafting system and the impactful choice-based gameplay that influences the narrative. However, some critiques highlight the combat as repetitive and lacking depth, with a few noting that the game feels simplified compared to its predecessor, "Pillars of Eternity." Overall, while the story and character interactions are praised, the gameplay is often seen as secondary, making it more appealing for those who prioritize narrative over mechanics.
- “I've bounced off a number of CRPGs in the past, but this one - while mechanically simpler - was a lot more immersive and fun to experience.”
- “I recommend playing as a mage as the lore skill is king and spell crafting is an amazing mechanic.”
- “The ability to shape and manipulate the world through dialogue choices and faction allegiances adds a layer of depth to gameplay, making each playthrough a unique experience.”
- “The gameplay is utterly dull, but the story is very interesting.”
- “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.”
graphics
623 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The graphics of "Tyranny" are characterized by a distinct bronze/iron age aesthetic that many players find appealing, with beautiful artwork and vibrant spell effects enhancing the overall experience. While some reviews note that the graphics can feel dated compared to modern RPGs, they are generally considered solid for an isometric game, with a unique art style that complements the narrative. Overall, the visuals are praised for their artistic quality, though some players express disappointment with character models and animations.
- “The game’s graphics are stunning, and the sound design is top-notch.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the story is epic, the gameplay is gripping.”
- “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 aren't great, but I don't care about that too much considering it's an isometric RPG.”
- “The graphics are ugly and far too zoomed out to be of any joy.”
replayability
596 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
59%
2%
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its branching storylines and meaningful choices that significantly impact the narrative and gameplay. Many players appreciate the shorter playtime, which allows for multiple playthroughs without the commitment of lengthy RPGs, making it easier to explore different paths and outcomes. Overall, the combination of diverse character options and the potential for varied experiences encourages players to revisit the game multiple times.
- “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.”
- “It has an interesting story with choices that matter and great replayability.”
- “The game is relatively short (in my case it wasn't because I love to take my time reading absolutely everything I can), but is highly replayable (in fact you need to replay the game at least 2 times and make different choices to understand the lore of this game in a more profound way, seeing all perspectives and different situations).”
- “Since initial RPG decisions literally reshape the world, I guess the idea was to make a huge bet on the replayability, but new game plus is hidden behind a DLC.”
- “The replayability factor is very low for this game once you plowed through it once.”
- “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 four true endings.”
music
379 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
41%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional tone, particularly in combat and key narrative moments. While some tracks are described as hauntingly beautiful and fitting for the game's dark themes, others find the soundtrack repetitive and lacking in variety, leading to moments of silence that disrupt immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is generally regarded as a strong point, though opinions vary on its memorability and consistency throughout the gameplay experience.
- “The game’s soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful and perfectly complements the game’s dark and brooding 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.”
- “While it didn't bother me that much, I have to mention that the lack of voice acting and background music many times made me just sit and read for several minutes with my headphones off.”
- “The music often drops completely during dialogues, which is weird.”
- “There is only 1 music track for all battles and the repetition is becoming very annoying.”
grinding
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the combat and progression systems tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the narrative-driven encounters that reduce unnecessary grinding, others criticize the combat mechanics as clunky and overly complicated, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game offers a rich story but suffers from pacing issues and a lack of engaging combat, making the grinding feel more like a chore than an enjoyable challenge.
- “Its combat system isn't tedious.”
- “It's not tedious; however, you can do combos with your companions, which is another nice feature.”
- “The combat is slow, tedious, and confusing; even with pausing I still couldn't really control what each character did.”
- “The combat system is a little tedious.”
- “The game is also riddled with bugs; it's not funny, some of them make controlling your party even more of a nightmare than it already is with the tedious and unresponsive party control scheme.”
atmosphere
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, characterized by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, rich visuals, and a dark, brooding aesthetic that complements its complex narrative. Many players appreciate the depth of the world-building and the emotional tone set by the music, although some find the ambient sounds can become grating during extended reading. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the storytelling and player experience significantly.
- “The game's soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful and perfectly complements the game's dark and brooding atmosphere.”
- “With its strong narrative, well-crafted characters, and atmospheric design, Tyranny is a must-play for fans of deep, choice-driven RPGs who don't mind embracing the darker side of fantasy storytelling.”
- “The atmosphere is gripping and the music can be haunting.”
- “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.”
- “Gameplay is still pretty average and buggy and a bit too easy, and the atmosphere didn't really make a mark on me (maps too small, dungeons were terrible, etc.).”
stability
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
1%
93%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs, crashes, and unfinished elements that detract from the overall experience. While some users noted minor glitches and a few stable playthroughs, the consensus is that the game suffers from a lack of polish, leading to frustrating gameplay issues, particularly with AI pathfinding and quest progression. Overall, many reviewers express disappointment in the game's stability, suggesting it feels incomplete and in need of further development.
- “Rock-solid, bug-free experience.”
- “Good story, replayable, and bug-free.”
- “No bugs, no glitches, no crashes.”
- “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.”
- “The game frequently freezes on the company logo or at the game menu.”
character development
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
64%
12%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and the diverse backstories of companions, while others criticize it for being shallow or lacking meaningful choices. Many reviews highlight the engaging storytelling and the impact of player decisions on character arcs, but some express disappointment in the limited growth and complexity of character skills. Overall, the game offers a range of experiences in character development, from compelling narratives to frustratingly simplistic mechanics.
- “The character development and party dynamics are well-executed, with a diverse cast of companions, each with their own beliefs, motivations, and backgrounds.”
- “The game's deep storytelling, morally grey decisions, and intricate character development immerse players in a rich and compelling narrative.”
- “The game offers so much more room for character development and your actions always matter.”
- “The character development is questionable: I lost interest in tracking fantasy weapon names and properties and stats.”
- “The character development felt insignificant.”
- “Unfortunately, I feel Tyranny only fulfills about 1/3 of these with an overly dark, flat story/setting and an oversimplified character development system.”
humor
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
4%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the witty dialogue, amusing character interactions, and the ability to make hilariously evil choices. Many reviews note that the writing is sharp and often crude, providing laugh-out-loud moments amidst the game's darker themes. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the gameplay, making it both entertaining and engaging.
- “This is the most unintentionally funny and goofy game I've ever played.”
- “The writing is particularly good, as the game manages the difficult feat of using profanity well and often humorously, while also occasionally being surprisingly impactful.”
- “The characters, especially the companions, are adorable, hilarious, and honestly one of the best parts of the game!”
- “The game is riddled with bugs; it's not funny. Some of them make controlling your party even more of a nightmare than it already is, with the tedious and unresponsive party control scheme.”
- “The attempts at humor fall flat and often feel forced, making the experience more cringeworthy than enjoyable.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes are stale and the comedic timing is off, leaving me more confused than amused.”
emotional
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
10%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses from players, with some praising its ability to create genuine emotional connections through impactful choices and well-composed music, while others criticize the lack of depth in character development and storytelling. Many players report feeling a strong emotional investment in their decisions, leading to moments of joy, sadness, and moral conflict, though some find the overall narrative emotionally barren or superficial. Ultimately, the game succeeds for some as a heartfelt experience, while others feel disconnected from its characters and story.
- “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 game made me feel something, from the unique context your character finds themselves in, serving a dark lord, to the downright amazing voice acting for all of the archons; this game fits into my all-time favorites.”
- “You should read a good book, play a game book or something like Baldur's Gate, but I recommend skipping this one unless you really love boring stories told while staring at a table, with no real ending and missing immersion from the core.”
- “Unoriginal and really boring story.”
- “Can sometimes have a boring storyline that wasn't the most compelling.”
optimization
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
59%
21%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as long loading times, inconsistent frame rates, and choppy gameplay, particularly during combat. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on their systems, others experienced severe lag and overheating problems, indicating that optimization varies widely across different hardware setups. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game is poorly optimized, detracting from the overall experience despite its engaging mechanics and character customization options.
- “Easy-to-learn mechanics that can be optimized, high character customization (I built a heavily armored battle mage).”
- “No issues here with load time or performance, it runs like a dream and plays like it, too.”
- “This is one of the better optimized games that has released this year.”
- “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.”
- “So, in my initial review, I said this game was unplayable - it had some major optimization problems that caused my CPU to overheat and shut down before the game could really even get going.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for failing to deliver on its promises of player choice, with many feeling misled by marketing and major reviews. Players have expressed disappointment over overpriced DLC that is buggy and lacking in content, leading to perceptions of the game as a cash grab. Additionally, concerns about overt political agendas and product placements detract from the overall experience.
- “They then released a couple of horrible cash grab DLCs riddled with bugs, broken and very little content for a very high price (just look at their reviews/ratings).”
- “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.”