Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 77

Play It

Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire improves upon the PoE formula in nearly every way – a smart RPG loaded with deep combat, richly descriptive writing, and a world filled with quests and events.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 77

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 77

Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire improves upon the PoE formula in nearly every way - a smart RPG loaded with deep combat, richly descriptive writing, and a world filled with quests and events.

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

Reviews

High Score - 100/100

Low Score - 70/100

Gold TIER

36% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100

DM Schmeyer (IGN)

8.5/10

“Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire improves upon the Pillars of Eternity formula in nearly every way, creating an RPG loaded with both strong combat and important, character-defining choices that frequently have an impact on your numerous and deep side-story adventures.”

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Andy Kelly (PC Gamer)

88/100

“A massive, bountiful RPG with richly descriptive writing, a well-realised setting, and deep tactical combat.”

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Nathan Grayson (Kotaku)

Not Recommended

“Pillars of Eternity II could’ve been brilliant were it more focused. It has a lot of good ingredients—scraps of interesting narrative, clever characterizations, a complex faction system, and pirate-themed spins on the RPG tropes of yore. The game’s got so much unfulfilled promise that, even though I think it’s a plenty enjoyable game on the whole, I can’t help but feel disappointed by it.”

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**Read all 77 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (77 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
3DNews	Денис Щенников	8.5 / 10	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is a diligent sequel that does a lot of things right. But it is just not enough to reach the level of Divinity: Original Sin 2.	Read review
ACG	Jeremy Penter	Recommended	05-08-2018	Video Review	Read review
Areajugones	Víctor Rodríguez	9.5 / 10	05-13-2018	Pillars of Eternity II is Obsidian’s new masterpiece. It is outstanding and it also features improvements that could mean a lot for the pure RPG for next years. An amazing universe with an exquisite gameplay make this game one of the best of this year so far.	Read review
Ars Technica	Steven Strom	Recommended	06-04-2018	Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is a broad, deep, and excellent RPG in the tradition of Baldur’s Gate. And it has pirates. Buy it.	Read review
AusGamers	Kosta Andreadis	9.5 / 10	05-21-2018	Plus, simply sailing around listening to your crew sing sea shanties whilst you track down rogue pirates is something we’ve always wanted to do in a grand adventure like this.	Read review
BaziCenter	Kaveh Eskandari	8 / 10	05-07-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is an extraordinary RPG experience with tons of content and a very unique setting that only falls short of greatness due to some technical and pacing issues.	Read review
CGMagazine	Preston Dozsa	9.5 / 10	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a sequel that surpasses the original in nearly every way, and is an RPG that should not be missed.	Read review
Chalgyr’s Game Room	Louis-Antoine Blain	8.5 / 10	05-28-2018	Pillars of Eternity 2 is one of the best RPGs I’ve gotten to play since Baldur’s Gate 2. I considered ending my review right there, since it’s all you need to know. If you haven’t played it, what are you waiting for?	Read review
COGconnected	Lydia Tang	93 / 100	05-17-2018	Alongside from its setting, Pillars of Eternity II improves in almost every way upon the already celebrated Pillars I, from the obvious, such as improved graphics and increased voiceovers, to the details, like better stealth mechanics and a new day-night system.	Read review
Critical Hit	Daniel Hallinan	9 / 10	05-21-2018	If you enjoyed the first Pillars of Eternity, then there’s a damn good chance you’ll mine even more enjoyment out of the sequel. Quite a few of the smaller niggling issues that hampered the first game have been addressed, and you’re certainly not as burdened to remember nearly as much history to understand character motivations. If you’re new to the franchise, you’ll be a bit under pressure to read up on characters and events from the first game, but it caters to new players (or those who have simply forgotten everything from the first game) well enough, is one of the best story-telling experiences I’ve had in recent memory, and is otherwise bloody fantastic isometric RPG.	Read review
Cubed3	Michael McCann	9 / 10	03-07-2020	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a lesson in sequel creation. Instead of making some slight alterations, or simply changing the setting, this smooths all the rough edges of the first game, while keeping the plot, writing, and role-playing aspect in top form. While not without flaws, and although the seafaring business is not equally awesome as the rest of the experience, this is, without a single doubt one of the best Dungeons & Dragons-inspired RPGs of the year. Kudos in spades Obsidian Entertainment!	Read review
Cultured Vultures	Emil Gunnarsson	9 / 10	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is an excellent game with a few minor hiccups that keep it from being perfect.	Read review
Digiato	Sina Mostafavi	76 / 100	10-18-2018	Great story and deep characterization, gorgeous graphics and flawless sound design all make the Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire one of the finest CRPGs. However, slow-paced gameplay and confusing combat somehow is a pain in the neck.	Read review
Digital Chumps	Ben Sheene	9 / 10	03-01-2017	Having all the updated content only further adds to the value of an already valuable package. If you’re willing to wade in these salty waters, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition is worth its weight in gold.	Read review
Digitally Downloaded	Pierre-Yves Lanthier	4.5 / 5 stars	05-16-2018	brilliant storytelling, character development, places to see and many ways in order to do what is needed, there’s no shortage of adventure to be had. Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is a fantastic experience and honestly should be a must for any admirers or lovers of the RPG genre.	Read review
Eurogamer	Robert Purchese	Recommended	05-15-2018	Layers of rum-and-sunshine soaked RPG adventuring to lose yourself in. Does it really matter it doesn’t quite tie together in the end?	Read review
Fextralife	Fexelea	8.5 / 10	01-29-2020	If you are into cRPGs or a fan of the original game, this is an easy purchase.	Read review
Game Debate	Stuart Thomas	9.5 / 10	10-19-2018	Pillars of Eternity, for me, is the best D&D series there never was.	Read review
Game Informer	Matt Miller	8.8 / 10	05-08-2018	A richly imagined seafaring setting lends novelty to what is ultimately an evolved iteration of very traditional isometric RPG fun	Read review
Game Revolution	Jason Faulkner	4 / 5 stars	05-26-2018	It’s a much bigger, more polished game than the first in almost every way and a worthy successor.	Read review
Gameblog	Camille Allard	8 / 10	05-15-2018	Pillars of Eternity 2 is a very good sequel. It doesn’t takes a lot of risks (muddled combat system, not enough serendipity in quests), but is still is an awesome lesson of how build a good RPG, with a fantastic writing and a beautiful art direction.	Read review
GameCrate	Nate Hohl	8.8 / 10	05-10-2018	Pillars of Eternity II isn’t a perfect RPG, but it comes pretty darn close. The game’s highly refined dialogue, combat, exploration, and character development systems come together in a way that just feels right for fans of old-school isometric RPG’s. Making a sequel to one of the best roleplaying games in recent memory was a tall order to be sure, but Obsidian definitely cleared the bar and then some.	Read review
Gamefa	Mohammad Hossein Bajalan	9.2 / 10	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is an Amazing great RPG with lots of good mechanism, rich story, great team work and deep gameplay elements. It has seen many improvement over the first game in every directions and we are definitely want to see more from Poe series in the future. With all this positive points, Pillars of Eternity 2 still isn’t the game for every one and because of its isometric view some may find this game boring. If you are OK with isometric games and if you are a fan of deep RPGs, Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is one of the best choices for you that definitely worth your time and money and it’s one of the best games in action RPG genre.	Read review
GameMAG	Unknown	8 / 10	01-28-2020	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire	Read review
Gamers Heroes	Blaine Smith	8 / 10	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is not for everyone. The web of intertwining features and mechanics are as deep as they are complicated, but for those looking for more from their RPGs – more character, more wonder, more life – Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a fantastic homage to the true roots of the RPG genre.	Read review
GamesBeat	Jason Wilson	92 / 100	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire puts the gods, warts and all, at the forefront of the story, and at this point, it shines when it focuses on your interactions with these powerful-but-flawed beings.	Read review
GameSkinny	Ty Arthur	10 / 10	05-08-2018	Clear your calendars, folks, because the RPG of the year has arrived.	Read review
GameSpew	Chris McMullen	9 / 10	05-28-2018	Carefully crafted and complex, but never offensively so, Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire will satisfy even the most demanding role-playing gamer.	Read review
GameSpot	Daniel Starkey	8 / 10	05-08-2018	Ship management and naval battles fit neatly into the dark fantasy setting of Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire.	Read review
GameWatcher	Aron Gerencser	10 / 10	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is as close to the perfect RPG as one can get. The fantastic setting, grand story, exceptional writing and voice acting, engaging combat all coalesce into an exemplar of its kind. This is the game that sets the bar. This is the game that needs to be aspired to.	Read review
GamingBolt	Ravi Sinha	9 / 10	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is a sequel that plays all of its cards right. It’s an enthralling adventure, both for veterans and newcomers, bringing a fantastical world to life that you’ll want to explore again and again.	Read review
God is a Geek	Chris White	9 / 10	01-28-2020	Pillars of Eternity II is incredible. From the layered-but-accessible combat, to the deep conversation systems and sailing around a world packed with quests and events; there are few RPGs out there that can stand up to this giant.	Read review
GRYOnline.pl	Hubert Sosnowski	9.5 / 10	05-07-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire mixes some classic epicness from Baldur’s Gate 2 with freedom of exploration from Fallout, and still offers a modern and surprising story and a great set of characters. Pretty much every element of the game has been improved. All hail the new king of classic RPGs!	Read review
Guardian	Jonathan Allford	4 / 5 stars	05-08-2018	The fights are less fearsome, but if you liked Baldur’s Gate or Planescape: Torment you’ll enjoy this retro role-playing game	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Chris Shive	4.5 / 5 stars	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a worthy successor to the original.	Read review
Hobby Consolas	Alberto Lloret	80 / 100	02-03-2020	It’s the amazing RPG of 2018 with all the systems and mechanics well adapted to console controls, with a superb writing and translation. But, all that great things get muddier because of the long and habitual loading times: 60-90 seconds for every single time we cross a door, change area… Until a patch fixes it, it’s a pain in the ass.	Read review
IGN	DM Schmeyer	8.5 / 10	05-09-2018	Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire improves upon the Pillars of Eternity formula in nearly every way, creating an RPG loaded with both strong combat and important, character-defining choices that frequently have an impact on your numerous and deep side-story adventures.	Read review
IGN Italy	Andrea Giongiani	8.9 / 10	05-30-2018	An excellent conclusion to an already excellent game. Ship navigation and above all ship combat are lackluster, but the general experience is fun and engrossing. Overall one of the best RPGs out there.	Read review
IGN Middle East	Zaher Albalbisi	8 / 10	05-10-2018	Pillars of Eternity II Deadfire is great addition to what was already a great game, with a few setbacks that could hinder your experience but its still one of the best CRPG games nonetheless.	Read review
IGN Spain	Carlos G. Gurpegui	9.2 / 10	05-08-2018	Deadfire is the first time Obsidian gets to work in a sequel of it’s own and that’s makes the game special. The open world approach to it’s narrative is really interesting. They managed to build a new game looking foward the future of the studio but not forgetting the past of the genre.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Chris O’Connor	4.5 / 5 stars	05-16-2018	Tasked with pursuing a rogue god you will find yourself exploring land and sea in order to fulfill your destiny.	Read review
Jump Dash Roll	Rob Kershaw	8 / 10	05-09-2018	Polished and well-written but a little too familiar, Deadfire offers dozens of hours of RPG fun in a beloved setting.	Read review
Kotaku	Nathan Grayson	Not Recommended	05-29-2018	Pillars of Eternity II could’ve been brilliant were it more focused. It has a lot of good ingredients—scraps of interesting narrative, clever characterizations, a complex faction system, and pirate-themed spins on the RPG tropes of yore. The game’s got so much unfulfilled promise that, even though I think it’s a plenty enjoyable game on the whole, I can’t help but feel disappointed by it.	Read review
Marooners’ Rock	Joseph Siemsen	8.6 / 10	09-17-2018	Pillars of Eternity II gave me the tools and the inspiration to spin a yarn of my own design that rivals those told in my favorite epic fantasy series and novels with the opportunity to go back and do it all again and for that, Obsidian, I thank you.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	8 / 10	05-15-2018	Another unapologetically old school role-player that gives its audience exactly what it wants and adds some fun pirate-themed exploration for everyone.	Read review
MMORPG.com	Suzie Ford	10 / 10	05-08-2018	If you’re looking for the next, and perhaps greatest, grand cRPG; if you’re aching for an epic single player adventure; if you’re seeking a setting outside the norm; if you’re hoping for a story that takes you in and hangs on, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire fills the bill. It is something special, something you’ll want to play again and again and is a game that will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the genre’s best.	Read review
New Game Network	Josh Hinke	76 / 100	05-24-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a fine game that makes it easy to get swept away in the pirate life and the thrills of ship combat. It’s a solid evolution on the first outing, though the technical flaws are significant and ultimately detract from the overall impression.	Read review
Niche Gamer	Carl Batchelor	9.5 / 10	05-10-2018	Pillars of Eternity 2 is an excellent CRPG that improves upon the original in every single aspect, as well as creating the best naval combat minigame in the history of gaming. Combine that with the huge world, 100 hour quest, supreme non-linearity, and immense replay value afforded by the deep character creation and you have the one game you shouldn’t be allowed to miss this year.	Read review
NoobFeed	Bogdan Robert Mateș	74 / 100	05-07-2018	Pillars Of Eternity II: Deadfire is a gorgeous, meaty beast undermined by a short main quest and unimpressive naval combat.	Read review
Pardis Game	Reza Liaghat	8.5 / 10	06-02-2018	In Pillars of Eternity 2 : Dreadfire always choose with patience because you might regret the consequences. These Amazing RPG elements combined with a challenging combat system, though too hard during the earlier experience, makes for an amazing experience that is flawed due to technical issues.	Read review
PC Gamer	Andy Kelly	88 / 100	05-08-2018	A massive, bountiful RPG with richly descriptive writing, a well-realised setting, and deep tactical combat.	Read review
PCGamesN	Phil Iwaniuk	9 / 10	05-07-2018	It’s an extraordinary game. One that you’ll feel faintly lost in at first, while its many systems permeate your grey matter. But all the while its story unfolds and reveals new wrinkles, the sense of place growing deeper.	Read review
Player2.net.au	Unknown	Recommended	05-27-2018	Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is a fantastic old-school RPG with shiploads of deep side quests. Its flaws are easily overlooked when compared to the wonderful worldbuilding Obsidian has treated us to.	Read review
PlayStation LifeStyle	Blake Grundman	8 / 10	02-03-2020	So, for those keeping track at home, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is an extremely authentic port of the PC experience that stays very close to the source material. It certainly doesn’t hurt matters much when you consider how legitimately stellar the writing is. If it weren’t for the unfriendly control scheme and obscene loading times, this could very well have been an early contender for best PS4 RPG of 2020. Regardless, it can still easily stand on its own as an extremely solid title that’s very much worth your attention.	Read review
PowerUp!	Leo Stevenson	9.2 / 10	05-15-2018	In a market flooded with first and third-person-shooters, games that play it safe and game after game after game that could be a reskinned version of the one before, Pillars of Eternity 2 is a big, beautiful breath of fresh air.	Read review
PSX Brasil	Thiago de Alencar Moura	95 / 100	01-28-2020	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire	Read review
Push Square	John Cal McCormick	7 / 10	01-28-2020	Pillars of Eternity II is a 9/10 RPG tragically trapped inside a 7/10 game. The quality of the writing and the world-building is second to none, and the tried and tested combat mechanics are meticulously tuned, but the outrageous loading times and other technical issues are too upsetting to ignore. It’s like sitting in a fine Italian restaurant, sipping a glass of wine and nibbling on breadsticks, enjoying your date, and then the waiter comes over and drops a dead dog on the table. Wrong table, mate. I ordered the carbonara. Now get that dead dog out of my sight.	Read review
Rapid Reviews UK	TmXGhost	4 / 5 stars	09-05-2020	PoE2 isn’t groundbreaking, it’s not something new and exciting, but it is a quality bit of storytelling, acted by incredible voice talent and fleshed out with characters developed so well, it makes you want to stick around.	Read review
Rock, Paper, Shotgun	John Walker	Not Recommended	05-08-2018	As it is, despite having spent dozens of hours playing this, I’ve always felt at arm’s length.	Read review
RPGamer	Joe Hanley	3.5 / 5 stars	05-06-2019	The learning curve is a bit steep, the seas may get choppy, and the deck can get rather slippery, but with some patience and perseverance, even the greenest sailor can go from lowly deckhand to decorated captain.	Read review
SECTOR.sk	Ján Kordoš	9 / 10	05-23-2018	Amusing voyage full of surprises. One of the best RPG of this year and another masterpiece from Obsidian.	Read review
Shacknews	Charles Singletary	9 / 10	05-08-2018	The original Pillars of Eternity is a tough act to follow, but Obsidian has knocked it out of the park once again.	Read review
Sirus Gaming	Leif Rey Bornales	8 / 10	04-24-2020	All in all, Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire has delivered. Comparing it to the previous game, this sequel has better visuals, in-depth mechanics, and great story-telling. This sequel emphasized on immersion, exploration and shaping the world through decision making. It gave fans what they asked for and more and gives non-fans a chance to explore the cinematic story. It took nostalgia and dressed it up to something fancy. If you have the time and money, take a step back and save Eora. Buy this game.	Read review
Slant Magazine	Steven Scaife	4.5 / 5 stars	05-09-2018	More than just a faithful recreation of an old subgenre, its greatest strength lies in its impeccable writing.	Read review
Softpedia	Cosmin Vasile	9 / 10	05-23-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is hands down one of the best RPGs launched in the last couple of years, but I’m more anxious to learn when we’ll get PoE III since the ending of Deadfire is awesome in a painful way.	Read review
SomHráč.sk	Róbert Herda	85 / 100	05-30-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is the right choice for everyone who likes classic isometric RPGs. And if you’ve played the first game, the experience becomes even more powerful.	Read review
SpazioGames	DottorKillex	8.5 / 10	01-28-2020	Pillars of Eternity II Deadfire plays it safem just like its predecessor, and it has a worst main storyline, but it compensates with a greater and richer world to explore, better friendly AI, a refined combat system and much better sidequests. in short, a must buy for fans of cRPGs.	Read review
TechRaptor	Richard Costa	8.5 / 10	06-25-2018	A swaggering sequel that reaches for the future as it embraces the past, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a unique and ambivalent roleplaying experience.	Read review
The Games Machine	Lorenzo Bonaffini	8.7 / 10	05-24-2018	The tribute to the great Western RPGs of the first chapter was not easy to overcome: Obsidian has deservedly tried to change the cards on the table, bringing new contents not always perfect with a great overall result.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Jason Coles	9 / 10	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a game about choices and epic story lines, grounding itself with the unique characters you find and the fact that your ultimate aim is to get the rest of your soul back. Having such a personal quest at the centre of such a fantastical plot really keeps you invested in both the people and the world, whether you’re carrying on your adventure from the first game or starting afresh. Either way there’s a genuinely likeable cast, both personal and global stories and the pleasure of mastering all its systems. A genuine joy of a game and one which is simultaneously approachable and impossibly deep, Deadfire is a fantastic sequel and one which you will be thinking even when you are away from its world.	Read review
Twinfinite	Ed McGlone	4.5 / 5 stars	05-08-2018	We’re starting to run long here, and that’s because Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is such a huge game that one review that wants to remain reasonably sized in terms of word length is going to have a hard time getting to everything. So let me leave you with this: Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire rises well above the typical role-playing fair, and will provide an unforgettable experience for those that are willing to put the time to fully embrace what it is offering.	Read review
USgamer	Doc Burford	4.5 / 5 stars	05-08-2018	It’s always refreshing to see an RPG try something new. Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire deftly blends classic RPG fundamentals with more intriguing pirate-themed gameplay. If you enjoy RPGs, you’ll almost certainly want to give Deadfire a shot.	Read review
VG247	Fraser Brown	Recommended	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, within the first couple of hours, contains the phrase “Cannon-fucking your boat to sodden splinters.” Pirates might not make everything better – you wouldn’t invite them to a booze-free wedding – but they’ve done wonders in Obsidian’s RPG sequel.	Read review
Wccftech	Nathan Birch	9 / 10	05-08-2018	Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is an exceptional roleplaying experience that truly lets you forge your own path in a rich, multilayered, grog-soaked world. Occasionally the game is just a touch too retro for its own good, but, for the most part, Pillars of Eternity II proves Obsidian has set the right course. It’s clear sailing ahead for the classic computer RPG.	Read review

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Game Info

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Obsidian Entertainment proudly presents the sequel to our crowdfunded and critically-acclaimed role-playing game, Pillars of Eternity. Welcome to Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. With Pillars II, we are revisiting the rich narrative, beautiful environments, and tactical combat that made Pillars of Eternity one of the highest-rated PC games of all time.

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