GameSpot's Best Games of 2017 has finally kicked off, so join us as we unveil what we thought were the 10 best games released this year. At the #5 spot is Divinity: Original Sin II which is available on PC. Read on to see why we chose it as one of the best for 2017.
Divinity: Original Sin II is a highly ambitious tactical RPG whose many moving parts feel engaging, meaningful, and challenging from start to finish. Where most RPGs often make systems simpler to be more accessible to a wider market, developer Larian Studios is unashamedly doing the opposite.
Your party of one to four can be chosen from the game's six fascinating pre-made characters, or by creating your own custom hero from scratch. If you prefer, the game lets you team up with friends to take on the entire story in co-op. Original Sin 2 offers up 14 different classes wherein you can mix and match hundreds of skills, and customise attributes and ability points which affect the way you interact with the world in and out of combat. Your characters can be designed and redesigned in any way you like and skills can be adopted by any class that commits points to the associated discipline.
Original Sin 2 consists of a world deep in lore and brimming with controlled chaos that rewards exploration and experimentation. During its turn-based combat, you often change the flow of battle with elemental area-of-effect spells. Water on the battlefield can be frozen, oil set alight, and blood pools cursed or absorbed. You can string together combos like backstabbing a foe, cutting down their physical armor, and then turning them into a literal chicken. Unlike other RPGs, Original Sin 2’s world of Rivellon is not overly littered with enemies, but combat encounters you do discover are tied to the plot in interesting ways and generally provide an exciting challenge.
Rivellon is a game world full of secrets and stories. Playing a seemingly innocuous game of tag with a child in a cave can lead him to introduce you to his best friend--an ancient lord who is trapped and needs you to free his soul. Encampment leaders hide terrible secrets, and turning a corner in a forest can lead you to a towering dragon chained up in an icy landscape or a group of pigs lit ablaze with a magical fire. One of the most exciting things in the game is how many colorful characters or engaging setpieces enhance the game world without ever even appearing in your quest log.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 consists of a world deep in lore and brimming with controlled chaos that rewards exploration and experimentation.
Original Sin 2 gives you so much to care about, from the sympathetic and intriguing origin characters and their evolving stories, to the 100-plus quests that are consistently unique and feature a cast of brilliantly fleshed out and expertly voiced characters.
Original Sin 2 can be overwhelming, but facing its challenges, helping its inhabitants, and finding out more about yourself and your party members is the ultimate fantasy experience. Original Sin 2 exceeds the accomplishments of its predecessor as a spectacularly crafted RPG that ranks among the greats of the genre. Perhaps the game itself puts it best; "You're at the beginning of a long journey, Godwoken. Long, but exceedingly interesting."
