Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

About Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

Obsidian Entertainment returned with Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire in May 2018 as the sequel to their hit RPG. You play as a Watcher hunting the god Eothas, who just destroyed your home and threatened the world. This story sends you across the Deadfire Archipelago, a massive collection of islands featuring lush jungles, barren deserts, and new cultures. The game launched on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Mac. It brings back the deep narrative and tactical combat that defined the original title while expanding the world to include uncharted seas and colonial settlers.

Gameplay

You control a party of up to five characters in real-time with pause mechanics. Combat feels deliberate since you stop time to issue commands for spells, attacks, or movement. You manage resources like health, mana, and stamina during these encounters. Outside of battle, you explore islands on foot or steer your ship between locations. Dialogue choices shape the story and determine how factions view your character. You can recruit companions with their own quests and backstories that intertwine with the main plot. The system allows for deep customization of stats, skills, and equipment to suit different play styles.

What Players Think

Critics and players agree this is a top-tier RPG. Metacritic holds an 82 out of 100 while IGDB rates it 83.6 based on 113 user ratings. The community values the depth here since only 18.8% of achievements unlock on average across all 55 available. "Burning Bridges" stands as the rarest challenge with just a 2.50% completion rate among players. Most users spend significant time in the world, reflecting the game's reputation for lengthy, dense content. Review snippets often praise the writing quality and tactical battles while noting the steep learning curve for newcomers.

PlayPile's Take

Deadfire is worth your money if you want a serious RPG with complex systems. The price varies by platform but the value comes from hundreds of hours of content. Only dedicated players will earn the rarest achievements or finish every side quest. This title suits fans of deep storytelling and tactical combat who do not mind reading lots of text. It is not a casual game for quick sessions. You should play this if you are ready to invest time in a challenging experience with meaningful consequences.

Storyline

Eothas has returned. The god of light and rebirth was thought dead, but he now inhabits the stone titan that sat buried under your keep, Caed Nua, for millennia. Ripping his way out of the ground, he destroyed your stronghold and left you at the brink of death. To save your soul, you must track down the wayward god and demand answers - answers which could throw mortals and the gods themselves into chaos. Your hunt takes you to the Deadfire Archipelago. Located even farther east than the colonies of the Eastern Reach, Deadfire comprises hundreds of islands spanning thousands of miles - ranging from lush tropics to barren deserts. Many of these lands have never been charted, while others are inhabited by rich native cultures and a new wave of colonial settlers.