70
Pillars is a title that should make old-schoolers happy while still offering a solid core game, story, and a rich setting for new-schoolers.
93
Pillars of Eternity stands on its own merits without resorting to nostalgia too much. Truly a CRPG masterpiece, the game offers old school, real-time strategic combat, and a vivid world to explore. Not only do you get an overall well-made experience, but also a challenge you haven't seen since the 90's.
82
A sprawling game in a familiar setting, and a clever tune-up for the cRPG. Just what the backers hoped for. [June 2015, p.74]
9
Very good worldbuilding and interesting narrative about the meaning of religion. Gameplay very reminiscent of old Baldur's Gate games. I really enjoyed It.
10
Some journeys aren’t about saving the world, but understanding it. Pillars of Eternity is a game that feels like a deliberate love letter to classic RPGs, but it never comes across as stuck in the past. Instead, it takes the foundation of old-school design and refines it into something that feels thoughtful, rich and surprisingly modern in the ways that matter. From the very beginning, the game pulls you into its world through atmosphere and writing rather than spectacle. The setting is dense, layered and filled with history, and while it can feel overwhelming at first, that complexity quickly becomes one of its greatest strengths. There is a real sense that this world existed long before you arrived, and will continue long after your story ends. The narrative leans heavily into themes of identity, belief and consequence, giving your choices a weight that feels meaningful without needing constant dramatic flair. Conversations are well written, often introspective, and the companions you meet along the way bring personality and perspective that enrich the experience. They are not just there to fill a party slot, they feel like individuals with their own motivations and struggles. Combat follows a real-time with pause system that rewards planning and awareness. It may take a little time to fully understand, especially for newcomers, but once it clicks it becomes deeply satisfying. Positioning, ability timing and party composition all matter, creating encounters that feel engaging rather than chaotic. It is a system that respects the player’s intelligence without becoming unnecessarily punishing. Exploration is another highlight. The world is filled with hidden stories, side quests and small details that encourage curiosity. Not every path leads to something grand, but almost every discovery adds a bit more texture to the setting. It’s the kind of game where taking your time feels rewarding rather than distracting. What stands out most is how cohesive everything feels. The art direction, the music, the writing and the systems all work together to create a consistent tone. It may not aim for flashy moments or constant action, but it builds something more lasting, a sense of immersion that grows stronger the more you invest in it. Pillars of Eternity is not trying to reinvent the RPG genre, and that’s exactly why it works so well. It understands what made these kinds of games special and delivers that experience with care and confidence. For players willing to engage with its depth, it offers a journey that is thoughtful, rewarding and genuinely memorable.
6
I really liked the 2nd PoE, but the first one just feels... old maybe? I know it's made to be like one of the old Infinity Engine games, but I'd appreciate some modern upgrades like in Pathfinder. Also, the combat feels very unimpactful. Tried to play it twice, both times gave up.
Pillars of Eternity
Released On:
Mar 26, 2015
Metascore
Generally Favorable
89
User score
Generally Favorable
8.4
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
89
99% Positive
70 Reviews
70 Reviews
1% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
May 12, 2015
100
Is it even possible to return to the roots of isometric RPG, and not only find them healthy but create such a wonderful game from them? Obsidian has proved they could do miracles when their hands are not tied. [Issue#252]
Mar 26, 2015
94
A masterpiece that looks like it came straight from the golden era of RPGs with isometric view. Pillars of Eternity is a worthy heir of the games from the Infinity Engine.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.4
79% Positive
2246 Ratings
2246 Ratings
13% Mixed
362 Ratings
362 Ratings
8% Negative
240 Ratings
240 Ratings
Apr 24, 2026
10
Some journeys aren’t about saving the world, but understanding it. Pillars of Eternity is a game that feels like a deliberate love letter to classic RPGs, but it never comes across as stuck in the past. Instead, it takes the foundation of old-school design and refines it into something that feels thoughtful, rich and surprisingly modern in the ways that matter. From the very beginning, the game pulls you into its world through atmosphere and writing rather than spectacle. The setting is dense, layered and filled with history, and while it can feel overwhelming at first, that complexity quickly becomes one of its greatest strengths. There is a real sense that this world existed long before you arrived, and will continue long after your story ends. The narrative leans heavily into themes of identity, belief and consequence, giving your choices a weight that feels meaningful without needing constant dramatic flair. Conversations are well written, often introspective, and the companions you meet along the way bring personality and perspective that enrich the experience. They are not just there to fill a party slot, they feel like individuals with their own motivations and struggles. Combat follows a real-time with pause system that rewards planning and awareness. It may take a little time to fully understand, especially for newcomers, but once it clicks it becomes deeply satisfying. Positioning, ability timing and party composition all matter, creating encounters that feel engaging rather than chaotic. It is a system that respects the player’s intelligence without becoming unnecessarily punishing. Exploration is another highlight. The world is filled with hidden stories, side quests and small details that encourage curiosity. Not every path leads to something grand, but almost every discovery adds a bit more texture to the setting. It’s the kind of game where taking your time feels rewarding rather than distracting. What stands out most is how cohesive everything feels. The art direction, the music, the writing and the systems all work together to create a consistent tone. It may not aim for flashy moments or constant action, but it builds something more lasting, a sense of immersion that grows stronger the more you invest in it. Pillars of Eternity is not trying to reinvent the RPG genre, and that’s exactly why it works so well. It understands what made these kinds of games special and delivers that experience with care and confidence. For players willing to engage with its depth, it offers a journey that is thoughtful, rewarding and genuinely memorable.
Mar 22, 2026
10
A stunning RPG with deep story, rich world-building, and challenging combat. Pillars of Eternity is a true classic.
May 18, 2015
90
Pillars of Eternity is not only one of the best role-playing games in a long time, it also keeps it up classics like Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale. Expect a somewhat steep learning curve but once the mechanics has settle it is difficult to put away.
Apr 7, 2015
90
Pillars of Eternity is an outstanding game. It can be criticized with number of individual issues, but as a whole it works great, almost perfect. I know that all veterans of isometric RPGs will enjoy this game, and I firmly believe that not only them will do so.
Mar 26, 2015
90
High quality, old-school RPG with a lot of fresh ideas, providing hours of fascinating gameplay.
Apr 1, 2015
85
77,000 people wanted to relive their glory days of Baldur’s Gate and paid for the luxury of doing so. The result I think is a remarkable recreation of that flavor of gaming.
Jul 7, 2015
70
Pillars is a title that should make old-schoolers happy while still offering a solid core game, story, and a rich setting for new-schoolers.
Jun 27, 2025
10
Pillars of Eternity is everything you’d want from a classic-style RPG, and then some. It nails that old-school Baldur’s Gate vibe with deep lore, smart writing, and a world that feels alive from the moment you step into it. The real-time-with-pause combat gives you tons of control, and building your party to fit your playstyle is super **** choices you make actually matter, too—dialogue, quests, even how you treat your companions can change how things play out. The story digs into heavy themes but doesn’t feel like it’s trying too hard, and the writing is consistently sharp. It’s the kind of game where you lose hours without realizing **** you’re into rich fantasy worlds, tactical combat, and a ton of player freedom, Pillars of Eternity is absolutely worth it. It's a love letter to the genre, and it delivers on every front.
Nov 1, 2024
7
Honestly, I don't understand the popularity of this game. It's not a bad game, but to give it anymore than a 7.5 is a stretch to me. Quest outlines are vague. You never really know exactly what you're supposed to be doing. Areas are very small. It's easy to get lost and find yourself somewhere you're not even close to being leveled for. There's just several problems with this game no one ever wants to address.
Aug 27, 2024
7
The main thing bad about this game is the main quest line. Trying to find out why you turned into a watcher and your characters desire to be changed back. That is so low stakes it's ridiculous. I don't CARE. First of all being a watcher is pretty cool. It's a neat power. Finding out how and why it happened... I dunno, it's just not high stakes enough. The main quest line should involve saving someone, or some place or something where if you don't do it you or someone will die essentially or lie will be much harder. Something like that. Also many of the quests are too morally ambiguous. And sometimes you're not fully aware they are. Like who in their right mind would support animancy. Animancers are more or less turning people into zombies. But it's justified because babies are being born without a soul so they need to figure it out. I dunno, like it's kind of ridiculous. Sometimes I did quests just for experience even though I didn't think it was a good thing to do. A more grounded approach might have benefited. Yes it's different I'll give it that. Honestly, I prefer games that are more based on timing and hand to eye coordination. An isometric game that's like zelda where attacking is based on your hand to eye coordiantion but with a touch of Baldur's gate skill & numbers based stuff and more intricate role playing & multiple party members would be the greatest game ever.
Mar 30, 2023
4
I really wanted to like this game, as a fan of Obsidian and the CRPG genre, but after 3 attempts this game feels a bit lifeless. I would say I held some hope for it after the intro sequence, where some interesting things do happen. Unfortunately this is not representative of the adventure that follows it. It reads as an inferior Dragon Age Origins, with less engaging characters, cluttered lore and dry dialogue. It even feels a step back mechanically, which when considering this game is 6 years newer than DAO it's profoundly clear how dated Pillars of Eternity feels. I have gripes including, but not limited to: Antiquated mechanics and UI/interface Excessively long exposition dumps Flat, uninspired writing Companions that range from dull to obnoxious (Durance), but rarely likable Predictable enemy encounters which makes combat feel repetitive Complicated mechanics with barebones explanations Over rehearsed voice acting that lacks a feeling of authenticity Graphically ugly for a game made in 2015 Despite the above, it is still a serviceable game in the sense that it does evoke the nostalgia + framework of an old school CRPG, and the combat is decent enough - I will admit that I struggle to play original BG1&2 because of how dated they are and this game is just enough of an update to be more playable, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be doing a lot better. Therefore if you enjoy those games and can frame PoE as if it was a early noughties release (along with all the shortcomings that come with that time period), and can see past the plain writing then feel free to disregard this review. I'm writing this however because it has been compared to other contemporary more dynamic, inventive, exciting CRPGs that I have adored, which is why it is disappointing to me that the drop off in quality is so apparent here. Buyer beware! Despite all of this, I will be trying PoE2 next, as I have heard that it corrects a lot of the mistakes of the 1st game, has more engaging combat, less monotonous writing and optimisation of its systems. Fingers crossed.
Feb 27, 2020
4
I started this game 3 times, but I couldn't get in it. Maybe if it actually came out in 2005, but it was not engaging enough for me now.
SummaryEternity aims to recapture the magic, imagination, depth, and nostalgia of classic RPG's that Obsidian enjoyed making - and playing. Eternity takes the central hero, memorable companions and the epic exploration of Baldur’s Gate, adds in the fun, intense combat and dungeon diving of Icewind Dale, and ties it all together with the emotion... Read More
Rated Mfor Mature
Platforms:
- PC
Initial Release Date:Mar 26, 2015
Developer:
Publisher:




























