Summary
CRPGs are some of the mostadvanced and memorable storytelling experiencesavailable to gamers through the video game medium. No other genre comes close to the amount of well realized, expansive, choice-based narratives that the CRPG genre holds, and this is for one reason above all - the genre’s adherence to the principles of narrative freedom that make up the tabletop genre.
But like all stories,text heavy RPGs, and CRPGs in a more general sense, the most important part of the narrative is the characters. Who does the protagonist mesh with? Who do they clash with? Who experiences positive arcs and grows in the story? And who experiences a villainous tragedy, becoming more bitter and broken as the story goes on? Thesegames feature excellent companionsthat showcase how powerful good character writing can be in CRPGs.
Plenty of games allow forbad or evil-aligned choicesin their stories.Tyrannyis one of those delicious morsels of a game that gives players the option of evil in flavors. Whatkindof evil should one pursue? Ravenous and chaotic? Stoic and imperious? Subtle and manipulative?Tyrannyhas the rare accolade of having more ‘evil’ paths to go down than good, but this is really a matter of perspective. The game offers such a slew of options that it can be tempting to try and ‘optimize’ the experience by researching the best paths in any scenario, but it is at its best when players take on the story’s choices as their own - for good or ill.
In that vein, the companions available in this game and the paths they can go down are excellent. Barik has an incredibly wide array of directions to take based on how the player guides them, while frighteningly powerful characters like Sirin show a level of vulnerability and emotion that makes for some excellent character stories. Ina game as bleak asTyranny, the powerful, emotive stories of the companions shine through all the brighter.
It’s hard to articulate just how influentialPlanescape: Tormentwas on the video game industry. Today, only CRPG experts give this older title a whirl, but the resonance it has on storytelling in this medium cannot be undersold. From a story about finding the memories of one’s past self, players are introduced into an incredibly novel and cosmic world that takes place across various planes of existence.
Matching the quality of this RPG’s broader story is its host of companions, who are written on a level that matches the narrative itself. The companions in this title have all interacted with the Nameless One’s past lives, and this makes for a very rich backstory being baked into each of them - one that the Nameless One unknowingly had a role in.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteoushas one of the best and most expansive combinations of systems and mechanics in any CRPG. There’s a level of depth and technicality here that might scare off those not familiar with CRPGs or even those who are but simply have not played anyPathfindercontent in tabletop or video game settings. That said, for those who can work past this, there is an incredible game to be found with so much going on that makes it unlike any other CRPG on the shelves today.
Part of what makes this game so incredible are its companions, who all have some excellent stories, motivations, andarcs that continue to flourishas the game continues. Companions such as Daeran and Ember have incredible banter, but beyond this, they have really compelling stories that are guaranteed to make the player feel attached to them.
WithAvowedreleasing early next year, gamers have more reason than ever to explore the marvelous, wonderfully written and shaped world ofPillars of Eternity. Both the first and second titles offer CRPG experiences that rank among the best in the genre, featuring great deals of depth, strategy, and character building. Classes, races, and even backgrounds all have a part to play in how the player experiences the story overall.
The second game in particular features some fantastic companions within its roster, including the sidekicks, who are really only there for mechanical bonuses and don’t have the same depth as full-fledged companions but continue to stand out. Maia alone is a great reason to play this game for her story alone, buther skills as a rangeralso make her a great addition to one’s party.
After years of early access and fan feedback,Baldur’s Gate 3eventually released in its entirety and quickly became one of the most celebrated games of all time. It was a phenomenon so spectacular that many feared it was going to set the standard for RPGs too high for any other developers or games to match. How could people not discuss a game that was supposedly of destructive, industry-ending quality?
Amongthe many companions inBaldur’s Gate 3, almost all of them have incredibly deep and modular backstories, changing as the player interacts with them and further defines their relationships. It really evokes the feeling of playing with a bunch of gamers who’ve all put work into deep characters around a table better than any other CRPG.
