The cRPG, computer role playing game, is back in vogue after years of languishing and I couldn’t be happier. The genre has always been known for top notch story telling, and occasionally stellar gameplay. Pillars of Eternity is a game from RPG giants Obsidian, best known for making sequels to other companies games. And honestly doing a better job of it than the original developers. Continuing in the fine tradition of Balder’s Gate and Icewind Dale, Pillars of Eternity is an Isometric DnD-esque role-playing game. Complete with stats, companions, spells and moral choice.
The game was successfully kickstarted way back in 2012 and finally saw release in 2015. An expansion was released quite recently, the second part of their White March story line, which didn’t take me too long to run through. So if you’re a fan from way back when or new to the genre and hungry for more, I’m sure one of the games on this list can sate your appetite until the next game comes along.
Top Five Games Like Pillars of Eternity
#5 – Diablo 3
#4 –
#3 –
Another long awaited sequel, the original Wasteland was released back in 1988. Picking up a scant fifteen years after the original game, you’re back in control of a group of desert rangers in a turn based tactical cRPG. The first version of Wasteland 2 was released in 2014, but that’s not the version you want. The updated Director’s Cut was released a year later and it fixes every issue I had with the original release. The Menus are better designed, there is more dialogue options and the level up system has plenty more options to really make ever play through different. the games combat is tight, and the first quest was written by the legendary Chris Avellone. His name alone is enough to sell me on a game, and Wasteland 2 was no exception. It has plenty of choices, that have real effects on the world you leave behind, and a plethora of horrible creatures and disgusting people to interact with. Arizona is only half of the game. Pick this up if you want some real depth to your playing experience.
#2 – Fallout 2
#1 – Planescape: Torment
The combat in the game is terrible, no two ways about it. But it doesn’t matter that much, you can run away from most battles and when you die, you come back to life anyway. The cast of characters is engaging and occasionally subversive. I particularly enjoy Morte, the wise cracking floating skull and Falls-From-Grace, a celibate Succubus who runs a brothel. At its core you may choose who The Nameless One is in his newest life, and the breadth of choice is staggering. Please, please play this game. You won’t regret it.
The Return of The cRPG
So there we are. A few cRPG s to keep you going until the next big release. Considering their new found popularity I expect to see a fair few more in the coming years. Shadowrun Returns devs are currently working on a follow up and Inxile Entertainment have recently released the beta to Torment: Tides of Numenera. I’m not as enthused about Tides of Numenera as much these days. It is being billed as a spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment, but isn’t being written by Chris Avellone. While I’m sure it will be a fun game, part of me sees it as a cynical attempt to piggy back off of the acclaim of a previous work. At least Wasteland 2 had some of the original designers on board.
If there’s any games you’d like to suggest then leave a message in the comments and if you’re looking for more action orientated fare then check out the Top Five Games Like Diablo 3 here.
Thanks…altough there are some not on STEAM…
goVEGAN
What is Diablo 3 doing up there???
Both it and Pillars of Eternity are cRPGs? If the argument here is that Diablo has a very different focus than Pillars, I agree. But they share mechanics and style. Besides, if we discount Diablo for being almost exclusively combats focused then we have to discount Planescape Torment for being almost exclusively story focused.