Pathfinder: Kingmaker
In short: Pathfinder: Kingmaker is an RPG game released in 2018 by Owlcat Games, available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Our score: 8.5/10 (highly recommended).
An acclaimed RPG by Owlcat Games.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker, released in 2018 by Owlcat Games, stands as a monumental achievement in the realm of computer role-playing games, drawing heavily from the rich lore of the Pathfinder tabletop system. This sprawling epic plunges players into the Stolen Lands, a chaotic and contested territory rife with political intrigue, ancient evils, and untamed wilderness. The core narrative revolves around the player character, an ambitious adventurer seeking to carve out their own kingdom amidst the turmoil. Gameplay in Kingmaker is a masterful blend of traditional CRPG mechanics and a unique kingdom management system. Players will engage in deep, tactical real-time-with-pause combat, utilizing a vast array of spells, abilities, and character builds drawn directly from the Pathfinder rulebook. Character customization is incredibly robust, allowing for countless combinations of races, classes, archetypes, and feats, catering to a wide spectrum of playstyles. Beyond combat, the game introduces a revolutionary kingdom management layer. Players are tasked with exploring their newly claimed territories, establishing settlements, appointing advisors, making crucial decisions that affect their people, and defending their burgeoning realm from rival factions, monstrous hordes, and internal strife. This dual focus on personal character progression and broader strategic oversight creates a compelling and multifaceted experience. What truly sets Pathfinder: Kingmaker apart is its ambitious…
Game details
- Developer: Owlcat Games
- Publisher: Deep Silver
- Release year: 2018
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Category: RPG
Our review
Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a sprawling, ambitious, and ultimately rewarding CRPG that successfully translates the complex ruleset of the Pathfinder tabletop game into a video game format. While not without its flaws, particularly in early patches, the sheer depth of content, engaging narrative, and intricate kingdom management system make it a must-play for fans of the genre. The game truly shines in its reactivity to player choices, offering a rich and personalized experience. The kingdom management, while sometimes overwhelming, adds a unique layer to the traditional RPG formula, allowing players to truly feel like a lord shaping their own dominion. Combat is turn-based and tactical, demanding careful planning and character builds. Despite some visual blemishes and occasional UI clunkiness, the overall package delivers an exceptional amount of gameplay for its price, easily providing hundreds of hours of adventuring.
Pros
- Deep and engaging story
- Extensive character customization and build variety
- Kingdom management system adds unique strategic depth
- Reactive world and meaningful player choices
- Hundreds of hours of content
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Frequent bugs in early patches (mostly resolved now)
- Graphics are serviceable but not cutting edge
- Kingdom management can be overwhelming for some
- Occasional UI clunkiness
FAQ
- What kind of game is Pathfinder: Kingmaker?
- Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a classic CRPG (Computer Role-Playing Game) that faithfully adapts the ruleset of the Pathfinder tabletop role-playing game. It combines deep character customization, challenging turn-based combat, and kingdom management mechanics.
- What platforms is Pathfinder: Kingmaker available on?
- Pathfinder: Kingmaker was originally released for PC in 2018. Later, it was released for PlayStation 4 (PS4) and Xbox One.
- Who developed and published Pathfinder: Kingmaker?
- The game was developed by Owlcat Games and published by Deep Silver.
- Is Pathfinder: Kingmaker a difficult game?
- Pathfinder: Kingmaker can be challenging, especially for newcomers to the CRPG genre or the Pathfinder ruleset. However, it offers various difficulty settings to accommodate different playstyles and levels of experience.
- Does Pathfinder: Kingmaker have kingdom management?
- Yes, a significant aspect of Pathfinder: Kingmaker is the kingdom management system. Players will establish and grow their own barony into a powerful kingdom, making decisions that affect its people, economy, and stability.
More about this game
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Last updated: 01/04/2026