Pillars of Eternity

Pillars of Eternity is a conscious return to the isometric RPGs of the nineties, but built on an entirely new world and a modern technical foundation. The player arrives as a settler in the land of Dyrwood, witnesses a strange ritual, and gains the ability to see souls and the past lives of anyone they touch. Around this unfolds an investigation into the mystery of why children in the region are being born without souls, and through it the game reaches questions of faith, power, and what gods who may not always have been gods do to a person.

The combat system runs in real time with pause and demands attention, since it depends on positioning, on who's holding an enemy's attention, and on combining abilities. The party can hold up to six members, and the player chooses from eleven classes, including unconventional ones like the Chanter, who recites long incantations, or the Cipher, who works directly with souls. Alongside combat, the game engages with exploration, resting, limited supplies, and extensive dialogues where not just skills but also personality traits gathered from previous decisions often come into play. Managing your own stronghold and an extensive dungeon are also part of it, serving as an optional trial for a well-prepared party. The expansion then pushes the whole story toward a much harsher conclusion.

Technically the game combines pre-rendered painted backgrounds with three-dimensional characters, which lets it still look detailed after years and run smoothly on practically any computer. The music is intimate and slightly melancholic, with a pronounced use of strings and winds, and together with the painted locations it creates a calm, bookish atmosphere. Reception was very good; the game was praised for its writing, its world, and for not blindly copying the classic form but rather smoothing out its most tedious spots. Its influence lay chiefly in confirming the viability of this entire type of game and paving the way for further titles.