Classic Games

Pillars of Eternity

The Kickstarter resurrection

Obsidian Entertainment's crowdfunded Pillars of Eternity revived the classic isometric RPG, proving appetite remained for deep, text-heavy adventures.

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Overview

When Obsidian Entertainment launched a Kickstarter for a spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate, backers pledged $4 million. Pillars of Eternity delivered on the promise: an original fantasy world with deep lore, party-based combat, meaningful choices, and walls of text. The CRPG genre, seemingly extinct, proved it had only been dormant.

Fast facts

  • Developer: Obsidian Entertainment.
  • Publisher: Paradox Interactive.
  • Director: Josh Sawyer.
  • Crowdfunding: $4.16 million via Kickstarter (2012).
  • Engine: Unity (custom isometric).
  • Sequel: Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire (2018).

Design philosophy

Honouring the classics:

  • Isometric perspective: top-down party management.
  • Real-time with pause: Baldur’s Gate combat model.
  • Text-heavy: extensive dialogue and lore.
  • Choices matter: decisions affect world and endings.

The setting

Eora’s unique elements:

  • Souls: measurable, transferable spiritual essence.
  • Reincarnation: souls return in new bodies.
  • Gods: demonstrably real, actively interventionist.
  • Colonial themes: exploration and exploitation.

See also