Pathfinder: Kingmaker Reviews
A good RPG with some unique ideas, but one that ultimately plays it too safe to really stand out from the crowd.
The sword of authenticity cuts both ways for Pathfinder: Kingmaker.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a classical RPG brought to PC with some exceptional moments, though it's dragged down by a brutal difficulty curve.
Classic, intense, fun but also a little "oldie", that the way Pathfinder: Kingmaker works. A great option for RPG fans that focuses on the fans of the old style.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Pathfinder: Kingmaker sets up an epic story, expansive world, difficult combat, and lively characters, but all these elements eventually become tiresome. Its unforgiving difficulty and strict adherence to Pathfinder tabletop rules will likely turn away more players than it attracts, and while its kingdom management sim sets it apart from similar RPGs, no part of the game ever feels wholly original. Despite boldly putting players in the role of a king or queen, it never engages enough with the consequences of your decisions, or whether you have the right to make them at all.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a huge game. The depths of its mechanics seem to have no limit while the time spent playing it is equally eternal. With complex rules and stripped back tutorials, though, it is not an easy game to jump into to say the least.
In the smaller moments, Kingmaker captures the tabletop experience better than any single player game I've ever played.
Although inspired in its kingdom management system, Pathfinder: Kingmaker ultimately fails to innovate in any of its presented gameplay functions. Lacking in writing,combat, and even fun, a game that had potential to change things up just becomes a disappointment.
The case in favor of Pathfinder: Kingmaker comes with an overwhelming series of excuses. Epic quest lines exist, but a boring second act hampers them.
By committing to the systems it draws its name from, Kingmaker creates a deeply comprehensive and satisfying CRPG that is also incredibly lonely and masochistic when it wants to be.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker is the next in a long line of modern isometric RPG successes.
PC gamers looking for the old time cRPG feeling can't go wrong with Pathfinder: Kingmaker. The presentation is beautiful, the writing is excellent, and the world offers just enough life to engage the player's imagination to fill in the gaps. Still, at the time of this writing, balancing issues and bugs keep the game from being a definite recommend – at least for the time being.
A huge, imaginative CRPG that could have stood toe to toe with the genre's best, but instead finds itself crudely stapled together, clearly not ready to be released.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a product with some issues, some flaws, some grit. But the developers use it to channel their love for classic RPGs. This game is pure nostalgia trip, and a very graceful one at that. The devs clearly adore this genre and so may you, if you give Pathfinder a chance.
Review in Polish | Read full review
I've only really scratched the surface of things which are going on in this game and trust me I haven't covered everything by far. This game has a ton to offer to both new CRPG players and players who have been around the genre for a while.
A lack of balanced difficulty and explanation of core concepts set alongside too many time consuming, anachronistic design choices distract from Pathfinder: Kingmaker's nuanced story telling, moral dilemmas and enjoyable decision making.
What's so sad about Pathfinder: Kingmaker is that the combat, spells, classes, and actual gameplay are all so solid, but everything else is mired in poor planning and design.
Pathfinder Kingmaker on PC is incredibly fun and rightfully nominated in our Global Game Awards 2018 for Best RPG. Today Owlcat have already made Pathfinder Kingmaker into a beautiful looking, rich CRPG, that delivers a great place to adventure, an interesting land to rule and the tools to carve out a realm that you can call home.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a faithful representation of a pen and paper RPG experience, with all the variables and systems that the original already had, as well as a complete and detailed character creation. Although this sounds like a good thing, this game is not recommended for any type of player, who can end up having an extremely exhausting experience due to its high difficulty, complex concepts, extensive history and endless loading screens.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It's a major time commitment, sure, but Pathfinder: Kingmaker has the kind of narrative arc and development that perfectly captures the essence of playing a tabletop RPG, only in digital form.