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“You awaken as a disembodied spirit adrift in a boundless void between life and death. Memories beckon, leading you back to a time long past, when the fury of a god of light swept across a nation five years prior. Children born without souls, a cruel judgment upon mortals for slaying a god. Nightmares of stolen lives plague your mind, compelling you to seek the one who inadvertently granted you the sight of departed spirits. Fate has chosen you, Watcher, to become a god-killer and unravel the mysteries held by the god of light.”

Surprise! You’re dead again, thanks to another colossal, rogue god rampaging through the Deadfire Archipelago, draining the very life from its inhabitants. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire begins with a sense of ironic déjà vu, almost expected of a direct sequel. So, we don our eyepatch and set sail, venturing across uncharted tides, guns blazing, to once again thwart a divine being.

A World Rich with Lore

New to the Pillars of Eternity universe? Fear not. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire not only recaps the previous game’s events in a concise introduction but also allows players to shape key decisions and character fates during character creation. Borrowing Tyranny’s helpful tooltip system, the game explains crucial lore and events without lengthy NPC exposition. Simply hover over highlighted keywords for instant context, streamlining the experience and highlighting the impact of your initial choices. Deadfire ensures newcomers aren’t lost in the rich history of Eora.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Review

A Masterclass in Storytelling and Gameplay

Deadfire’s narrative delivery is equally accessible. Throughout the 40-hour campaign, encompassing roughly 80 quests, the game expertly blends narrative and gameplay elements. It balances dialogue-driven storytelling, CYOA (Choose Your Own Adventure) scenarios, real-time combat, impactful choices, and Deadfire Archipelago exploration aboard your customizable ship, complete with turn-based tactical and micromanagement “metagames.”

CYOA segments appear during unexpected encounters, whether traversing small areas, navigating at sea, solving pictographic puzzles, or facing ambushes and scripted events. These segments also feature in Deadfire’s most poignant moments, as you’re judged by Eora’s six gods and forced to account for your pursuit of Eothas, the god of light—depicted as a colossal statue striding across Deadfire, intent on reshaping reality. These interactions between you, the Watcher, and the gods create a compelling paradox. Regardless of the victor in this divine power struggle, mortals seem destined to lose. Your influence on Eothas’s goals is limited, yet the pressure on the “chosen one” remains immense, even with Eora’s fate seemingly predetermined.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Review

Companions and Factions Amidst a Looming Apocalypse

Despite the looming apocalypse, Deadfire isn’t entirely grim. A pirate’s journey (whether you choose to be a pirate is up to you) wouldn’t be complete without companions. Thankfully, Deadfire offers a colorful cast of allies, each with their own quirks, loyalties, and hidden depths. Managing their interpersonal relationships is a challenge, especially given their ties to Deadfire’s factions, where even the strongest bonds can be tested.

The factions—the Royal Deadfire Company, Vailian Trading Company, Principi pirates, and the Huana—each offer compelling reasons for allegiance or betrayal. In Deadfire’s lawless society, morality is often a matter of negotiation. While the faction interplay isn’t as intricate as Fallout: New Vegas, and companion questlines can feel somewhat underdeveloped, the overall narrative remains meticulously crafted, with accessible prose, toned-down “flowery” language, and well-written dialogue that defines each character. This journey demands faith and humility; take the time to savor the tranquil moments at sea, accompanied by the evocative soundtrack.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Review

Refined Gameplay Mechanics

Deadfire refines and expands upon the original’s classic Infinity Engine-inspired gameplay. Resting to replenish abilities is gone, replaced by class-specific Power Sources that recharge after combat and increase with level, impacting specific abilities and class stats.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Review

Multiclassing, a significant addition, allows combining two classes, enabling diverse character builds and unprecedented skill synergy. This comes at the cost of slightly slower progression, as attributes and base stats are averaged between classes upon leveling, and skill points are stretched thin. All four defenses (Deflection, Reflex, Fortitude, Will) receive a +3 bonus, regardless of multiclassing. With over 100 named multiclass combinations, each with unique stat balances and subclass benefits, character progression feels limitless. The original playthrough, for example, focused on a Liberator, combining Paladin’s support auras and Druid’s elemental debuffs for a versatile, durable support character. This showcases Deadfire’s vast customization potential, with roles limited to support, attack, defense, and crowd control, maximizing potential combinations and creating a nuanced, visually engaging, and deep combat system.

A Treasure Trove of Items

Deadfire’s item system is a revelation. Where Divinity: Original Sin 2 stumbled, Obsidian triumphs, crafting arguably the best CRPG item system since Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Godlike-specific amulets, wide-ranging area-of-effect ranged weapons, skill-scaling items (e.g., bows scaling with Survival), unique Grimoires for wizards, and cloaks inflicting stun or poison on stealth attacks are just a few examples. Deadfire makes money genuinely valuable, with demands from enchanting, crafting, upgrading, ship maintenance, and crew provisioning.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Review

Sailing the High Seas

One-third of Deadfire takes place at sea, introducing engaging “metagames.” Micromanagement—provisioning food, medicine, cannonballs, and repair materials—is simple but demanding, as resources are finite. A fully crewed ship also means escalating wages. Naval combat, turn-based and CYOA-driven, is less thrilling than discovering an island’s inhabitants outlevel your party. Bounty hunting is lucrative, but enemy difficulty varies across the map. Naval combat involves positioning, predicting enemy movements, and boarding actions. While not groundbreaking, it fills the open-world’s void effectively.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Review

Conclusion

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is a worthy successor, expanding and refining the original’s formula. Its rich narrative, engaging gameplay, and deep character customization offer a compelling RPG experience. While some minor shortcomings exist, Deadfire ultimately delivers a captivating journey through a vibrant world brimming with lore, intrigue, and challenging choices. This is a must-play for fans of classic CRPGs and those seeking a deep, rewarding narrative experience.