D: OS2 (Divinity: Original Sin II) is a turn-based role-playing game released in September 2017 by Larian Studios, who just recently released a similar game: Baldur’s Gate III.
While the Divinity and Baldur’s Gate series are unrelated to each other, they share very similar gameplay mechanics and storyline aspects, with one being character creation.
For its time, D: OS2’s character creation is highly extensive. It provides players with a vast array of skills, abilities, and even races to pick and customize their own “heroes” with. Or “villains” depending on your playstyle.
The game’s class system is extremely flexible, which encourages players to replay again and again, to experiment with different, diverse playstyles and stories. Not to mention, the ability to play in Game Master mode further expands adventure customization, ensuring each playthrough is a completely new experience.
Combat is another big highlight of the game, using the classic turn-based system with a twist. The combination of action point management, elemental skills, and environmental hazards creates a unique PvE (player versus enemy) experience that encourages adaptability and strategy.
In addition to the critical thinking combat, one of D: OS2’s best-selling factors is the multiplayer function, which allows up to four players to participate in one campaign. I am typically not a huge fan of multiplayer in turn-based combat, but I do admit that it perfectly suits a game like D: OS2, introducing a new challenge to all the players of your party.
However, if you are unfamiliar with Dungeons & Dragons, or the genre in general, the learning curve can be steep, as the amount of action and dialogue freedom can be overwhelming for most.
Despite this, I wholeheartedly believe that D: OS2 is a truly divine game.
I honestly feel that not many recently released games have captured the “pen-and-paper Dungeons & Dragons” vibe quite like D: OS2 did in its time. Every dialogue choice and decision felt purposeful and sometimes even made me question some of my own morals. In the RPG genre where moral choices tend to be diluted, and side-quests are dumbed down, D: OS2 shines out among most RPG titles, which makes it a notable favorite in my game list.
