The Best Obsidian Games

Key Takeaways

• Obsidian Entertainment is known for RPGs, but has also made unique games like Grounded and Pentiment.
• Their diverse portfolio includes titles like South Park: The Stick of Truth, Tyranny, and Fallout: New Vegas.
• Their success with Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic II showcases their ability to create compelling RPG experiences.

Obsidian Entertainment has made quite a name for itself over the years. The game development studio was founded in 2003 and released its first game, Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic II, in 2004. Since then, the company has produced a wide range of games, from sci-fi capers to epic adventures set in the world of Dungeons and Dragons.

Obsidian is primarily known for their RPG outings, though in recent years it has flexed its creative muscles to create games that are really quite unlike many others. So here’s a look at every game that Obsidian has ever made.

There are a few games, such as Skyforge, that have been excluded as Obsidian was not the primary developer on those games.

Updated December 8th, 2024 by Hilton Webster: Obsidian Entertainment has been around for quite a while, having built from the remains of Black Isle Studios. And over that lifetime, it has created an illustrious portfolio of games. So let’s look at more than just its best games. Let’s look at all of them.

12

Dungeon Siege 3

The third numbered Dungeon Siege game and the fifth overall at the time of its release, this was the first and only Dungeon Siege game made by Obsidian. The game employs plenty of classic aspects of western RPGs, from the four member parties to the isometric perspective.

The game’s story even takes slight alternations depending on who you choose at the beginning, with the remainder becoming companions later. While it isn’t th emost accomplished or renowned of Obsidian’s catalog, it’s a nice little entry all the same.

11

Neverwinter Nights 2

Obsidian has gained something of a reputation for making follow-up games to pre-existing series, and they made quite a few for Bioware. One such game was Neverwinter Nights 2, building upon the gameplay mechanics while presenting a completely independent story.

Like its predecessor, Neverwinter Nights 2 used an isometric perspective, but put a heavier emphasis on your own characters role in the world. They were not an assumed hero, but one who actually had to fight to be respected.

10

South Park: The Stick Of Truth

Of all the games that Obsidian has made, to count South Park amongst them is an odd act indeed. And yet here we are, with South Park: The Stick of Truth amongst the grand pantheon of Obsidian’s game. And like most everything they make, it is an RPG.

You play as a custom character and are forced to endure some truly absurd attempts at humour within the confines of a surprisingly competent combat and class system. Really, if you gave the game a separate visual indentity you’d be on to a real winner with it.

9

Grounded

In a dramatic shift from Obsidian’s typical RPG endeavours comes Grounded. Originally released in early access, Grounded is a cooperative experience, with a much stronger leaning towards survival elements.

You are also teeny-tiny, having to run around the Backyard and survive against onslaughts of suddenly fearsome insects. It’s a joyous little game that feels birthed from the mind of a school child, the lightweight story and whimsical vibes a real selling point.

8

Alpha Protocol

Not enough people make spy dramas. We get them in movies, but games are few and far between in bringing to life the thrill of gadgets and espionage. To that end, Obsidian made Alpha Protocol, an immensely polarising but incredibly unique adventure.

You take on the role of Agent Thornton, creating a build for him that determines his skills, and can make plenty of dialogue choies with him too. The game has a structure somewhat akin to earlier Hitman games, with you building a loadout before missions, and building up your upgrades across the game. And after being delisted for years, you can finally experience Alpha Protocol once again.

7

Tyranny

While Pillars of Eternity was followed-up with a formal sequel afterwards, Tyranny was for the time a spiritual successor. It built upon many of the ideas from the original Pillars of Eternity, and twisted them into a game with a more freeform character expression.

Before you even make your character, Tyranny has you establishing the state of the world, letting you create a custom state before you even enter it. Plenty of freedom is afforded in character builds as well, with you getting to freely customise your skills without having to every fully lock yourself into a class.

6

Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (released in 2004) takes place five years after the events of the previous installment of the series and offers a darker grim tone to the world’s atmosphere. Despite not creating the first game, Obsidian Entertainment did a fantastic job of continuing the story while adding its own creative spin on the project. This time, you play as a Jedi Knight that was banished from the Jedi Order. After the Sith Lords almost completely wipe out the Jedi Order, you are believed to be the last remaining Jedi. From there, your decisions impact your progress into the ways of the Jedi or the Sith.

Knights Of The Old Republic II is an exhilarating RPG with intense lightsaber combat. The game has been praised for its compelling story, dialogue, and moral ambiguity throughout the adventure. Obsidian’s edition to the series was a huge success (and likely a big part in why there’s plenty of demand for a third installment). Knights Of The Old Republic II is a great game not only for Star Wars fans to enjoy but for anyone that wants a fun RPG to sink some hours into.

5

Pillars Of Eternity II: Deadfire

Pillars Of Eternity II: Deadfire, an impressive follow-up to an already fantastic game, was released in 2018. Once again, you play as a Watcher, a person with the ability to look into other people’s souls to read memories. At the start of the game, your stronghold is destroyed by the awakening of Eothas, the god of light (who also happens to drain everyone’s souls, including your own. Which is a little rude of him, right?).

Pillars Of Eternity II builds upon its predecessor in terms of gameplay, such as by adding new classes and sub-classes to offer even more adaptability to your playstyle. The customization available provides a lot of freedom which has always been a core aspect of a roleplaying game. It has an exciting world to explore, captivating characters, and is worth checking out.

4

Pillars Of Eternity

Pillars Of Eternity is a fantastic isometric RPG that was released in 2015. It introduces you to an intricate new world that has you captivated from the very start. Despite its sequel, Deadfire, having many improvements to its gameplay, what puts the first Pillars of Eternity game ahead is its fantastic story. You begin as a visitor to Dyrwood in the fantasy world of Eora. When a deadly storm hits your caravan, you seek shelter in a cave and uncover a mysterious cult meddling with a soul-stripping machine.

Pillars Of Eternity can be a little overwhelming at first, with so many possible builds to choose from. Every decision you make about your character, from their background to their class, impacts how you can progress and the decisions you can make. But, this complexity is also a considerable part of Pillars Of Eternity’s appeal. Your next playthrough could be drastically different from the last, allowing you to immerse yourself in each character you design.

3

The Outer Worlds

The Outer Worlds was released in 2019 and is a science-fiction role-playing game set in the far reaches of space. The Outer Worlds has a wonderful mixture of satire and action, giving insight into an alternate future where corporations have entirely taken over people’s lives. You play as a passenger of the Hope colony ship.

The Outer Worlds has fantastic gameplay that can fit any style of character. You can be a charismatic charmer, a computer genius, a fierce fighter, or anything else that suits your style. You upgrade yourself with unique perks, flaws, and skills. Alongside this, you can even customize your companion’s abilities or even complete insightful quests to learn more about them (and gain additional perks for doing so). Your various skills and companions unlock new ways to deal with situations, ensuring that no playthrough is precisely the same. The Outer Worlds is a fun, silly game that also tackles fascinating themes and dilemmas.

2

Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout: New Vegas was released in 2010. The story involves you taking on the role of a courier transversing the post-apocalyptic desert to deliver a package to New Vegas. After being intercepted and left for dead, you are rescued, helped recover, and then set out to find your attempted killer (and retrieve the missing package, too, of course). Along the way, you meet several factions and get caught up in a battle to control these lands.

The best selling point of Fallout: New Vegas has to be its many branching paths. There are several factions to join and decisions to make throughout the game. Your character’s personality and skill all play a vital role in shaping the narrative, as well. Fallout: New Vegas captures the true sense of a role-playing experience. This variety allows you to keep coming back to the world of New Vegas time and time again and still discover something new.

1

Pentiment

The greatest thing you can bring into any medium is a deep interest in something completely independent of it. For example, Pentiment is the kind of game that could only be created by someone very specifically obsessed with medieval illuminated manuscripts, with a very specific focus on Bavaria.

It is such a beautifully niche creation. It literally looks like an illuminated manuscript, and various fonts are used to express personality over voice-acting. There is such dedication to presenting the game based upon its source material. Yes, you can make choices and interact with people differently, but more than anything, Pentiment is a celebration of just how amazing a niche interest can be.