Fans of developer Obsidian Entertainment's crowdfunding-era have no doubt been keeping a close eye on Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. The sequel to the impressive original that introduces a new location, the archipelago that is Deadfire. Even without a long list of visual improvements Pillars of Eternity II still impresses thanks to the wonderful story and focus on exploration and freedom.

There’s a convergence of style that feels quite unlike anything else out there. The choose-your-own-adventure storybook sequences, exploring islands in a fashion not too dissimilar to a boardgame or a JRPG overworld from the 32-bit era, turn-based ship battles, and simply spending hours exploring a city and getting to know its districts and citizens. The overall pacing may not be perfect, as is the case with an RPG featuring a long list of memorable characters and locations, but there’s a connection and cohesion to the world that is hard to deny. The pirate theme, or hook, might play into the feeling sure – but Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire can sit comfortably next to ‘insert your favourite RPG here’.

Click Here to Read Our Full Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Review