The 50 Best RPGs Of All Time

49 – Pillars of Eternity

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Initial Release Date: March 26, 2015

Why it’s one of the best RPGs: A spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate, Pillars of Eternity drops the player into the world of Eora and grants them the power to read souls and access ancient memories. It’s a power that comes with a price: a curse you must reverse, or go mad over time. If that sounds heavy, it’s because it is–Pillar’s of Eternity was notably very serious compared to its predecessor, though that’s not necessarily a drawback. Detailed side quests, a reputation system that changed NPC reactions, and complex classes with highly unique abilities are Pillars of Eternity’s claim to fame.

Pillars of Eternity is an excellent example of Kickstarter done well; the game was the highest funded Kickstarter ever in its time, and the end-result was worthy of the nearly four million raised for its creation. Beautiful, mechanically deep, and with an excellent story and acting to go with it, Pillars of Eternity pays homage to Baldur’s Gate while remaining a strong title in its own right.

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