Tyranny

Absolute move by Obsidian here with Tyranny. While you're all playing your little fantasy games being the goody-two-shoes hero saving kittens from trees, this game goes "Nah mate, you're basically working for Darth Vader, and you're gonna bloody like it!"
From the start, you're an absolute unit of authority. None of that "oh, you must be the chosen one" rubbish. You walk in, and everyone's like "Oh shit, it's the boss!" And that's because YOU ARE THE BOSS.
The writing? Brilliant. Properly brilliant. Not like those other fantasy games with their "ooh, look at me, I'm an elf who needs to save the world from the big bad dragon." No no no. This is proper grown-up stuff. You can be an absolute monster or just a bit of a prick – your choice!
Now, let me tell you about the combat. It's... fine. It's like a decent pub meal. Nothing fancy, gets the job done. Sometimes your warriors get stuck on doors like they've had too many pints, but what can you do?
And yeah, the maps are small. But you know what? I don't need a massive open world where I spend half my time walking around like a lost tourist in Leicester Square. Get in, make your choices, destroy some lives, get out. Efficient! That's what it is!
The magic system? It's like IKEA for spells. You can build your own! Bit weird, bit different, just like that mate we all have who's really into CrossFit and won't shut up about it.
Listen, the game's got problems. The economy’s more broken than a piñata at a toddler’s birthday party. Some parts feel rushed, like me trying to catch the last tube home. But you know what? It's still bloody brilliant.
The voice acting's top notch – proper actors, not like my cousin Robert who once did a school play. And the companions? There's this one called Verse who's absolutely mental, and Barik who's basically trapped in his armor like me in skinny jeans after Christmas dinner.
Look, I'll tell it to you straight: It’s still a shining gem in the treasure chest of RPGs. Could it be better? Yeah. Could it have more content? Sure. But it's got bigger balls than any other RPG out there. While other games are asking you to pet dogs and help old ladies cross the street, Tyranny's asking if you want to burn down an entire civilization or just subjugate it.
And that's what makes it special, you know? It's like that friend who always says the wrong thing at parties but somehow makes everyone laugh anyway. Absolute masterpiece of "I don't give a f***" gaming.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to play another round where I make everyone's lives miserable. Because I can.

Tyranny does some very interesting things, most of which stem from its core premise: you, the player, begin in a position of significant power, and with that comes respect and authority. This power only grows as the game progresses, which is reflected both narratively and mechanically.
The narrative is, overall, very well done. The world is fascinating, the characters feel realistic and complex, and the way that the player is regarded by other characters reflects their authority at all times.
Notably, it supports a variety of playstyles along the "evil" spectrum, so if you wanted to you could be a raving murdering lunatic, or you could play a more "realistic" evil of seeing the insurmountable might of the Overlord and seeing rebellion against their order as futile and destructive. Without spoiling anything, there are numerous moments that have the player make awful decisions or cause extreme destruction, which can only be accomplished in a setting like Tyranny's - so it's good that the developers made use of that.
That's not to say the narrative is flawless; some parts definitely fall flat where they should have shone, and other parts feel rushed, incomplete, or otherwise in need of more explanation and attention, but these negatives are firmly outweighed by the well-executed instances as well as the setting in general being unique and interesting.
The gameplay and combat are serviceable; the pathfinding is occasionally irritating and you'll end up fighting most combats the same formulaic way, but it does the job. RPG elements (leveling up, perk selection, skill increases etc.) are generally simplistic and weak.
I didn't really use the magic spell creation system (just as a byproduct of party composition), but it'll be attractive if you like combining spell parts to create 'custom' spells.
I feel like only about two skills, maybe three, got used; I can't even name the other ones. Training also trivializes any of your skill increases from other places, which is an issue that's exacerbated by the poor in-game economy and item selection / distribution.
It's a real shame that Paradox owns the IP here, as the disparity between Paradox and Obsidian (in conjunction with the generally niche popularity of Tyranny) means that this IP is unlikely to ever see the light of day again, which is the strongest point of Tyranny. With a different format (ex. turn-based) or a bigger budget and marketing, a sequel to Tyranny could do some absolutely fascinating and unique things.
TL:DR, the narrative, world, and writing are great. Gameplay and combat are serviceable. Skills / skill use, perks, items / economy are weak. Overall worth playing just to see the unique parts of Tyranny's setting.

The most underrated RPG I've played. While the combat is passable, the story and setting make the entire experience worth it. The premise of the world is interesting enough that I would have read this in novel form, but being interactive fiction allowed for some really interesting decisions required by the player. If you like slow narrative based RPGS and can stomach mediocre gameplay, this might be something you'll enjoy. It's a shame we'll never get a sequel.

A party-based game with in-depth dialog and immersive strategy game play. Graphics fit the game well and mechanics are fun to adventure with. One of the best games of this genre I have ever played...big thumbs up!

One of the top five in the genre. Seriously underrated for some reason. The story is top shelf and if you wanna go magic as a primary, it has a fantastic magic system where you build all your spells how you want. A must own really.

Original, compelling, and conceptually different in so many awesome ways. Frees you from some of the more tropey "Save the world / You're the chosen one / The power of friendship and love overcomes all" stuff in RPGs. If you like playing RPGs that truly allow you to be your own character rather than railroading you toward 4 or 5 versions of the same character, this is it. Obsidian, PLEASE MAKE ANOTHER GAME SET IN THIS UNIVERSE!!!!!

After around 35 hours, I can confidently say Tyranny is one of the most unique CRPGs I’ve ever played. Instead of the usual "you’re the chosen one, now go save the world" narrative, you play as a Fatebinder—essentially a magical lawyer—in service of an empire that’s already conquered most of the known world. You’re not here to stop evil. You are the evil. Or at least, you're working for it. And that’s exactly what makes it so compelling.
Ever wanted to pit two allied factions against each other just to make your own position more secure? You can totally do that.
Want to torch a massive ancient library with the scholars still inside? The game hands you the matches.
Feel like tossing a smug NPC off a cliff and turning them into red paste? You can, and if you're feeling extra efficient, you can even strap a letter to their body for your allies to pick up down below.
What about infanticide? Would you kill a baby so that order may be instilled in the land? because Yes, the game even gives you the option to kill a baby for the sake of “law and order.”
The writing is easily the best part. The world is dark, politically messy, and full of genuinely great characters. And your choices actually matter. I don’t mean just a few different dialogues. I mean entire quests, zones, and even companions can change depending on what you do. It’s the kind of game that makes you want to start a second playthrough right away to see how else things could play out.
There’s also a reputation system. You build loyalty and fear with your companions, and favor or wrath with factions. These affect not just how people talk to you, but also unlock special dialogue options, interactions, and even abilities.
But one of the most unique things in the game is the magic system. You don’t just learn preset spells. Instead, you collect sigils (like fire, illusion, lightning, etc.) and expressions (like AoE, single target, chain). Then you mix and match to build your own spells.
Want a lightning spell that jumps between enemies, causes bleeding, and lowers their lightning resistance? Done.
A fireball that also freezes people? Weird, but yes.
You're only limited by your Lore stat, and it’s honestly one of the most fun systems I’ve seen in an RPG.
That said, Tyranny isn't without its flaws.
The ending is kind of a let down. After all the great writing and build-up, the last act feels super rushed. Plot threads just get tied up in minutes, and instead of a real finale, you get a basic slideshow wrap-up which I’d be fine with but even those feel more like placeholder slides. Not terrible, but definitely underwhelming.
The combat is okay. It’s real-time with pause, and it works, but it gets repetitive pretty quickly. The build variety is kind of limited, so once you settle into your strategy, fights start to feel samey. and enemy variety isn’t great either—you’ll fight the same few types of enemies over and over, with only minor variations. After a while, battles start to blend together. It’s definitely not the game’s strong point.
And lastly, it’s a bit short. I played pretty thoroughly and still hit the end credits at 35 hours. It felt like the story was just ramping up when it suddenly stopped.
Still, even with those flaws, Tyranny is absolutely worth playing—especially if you love story-driven RPGs and want something different from the usual hero’s journey. The whole “servant of a tyrant” setup is pleasantly refreshing, and the game really lets you lean into being a clever manipulator, a brutal enforcer, or a defiant rebel. Your choices matter, and the world reacts to them.
Highly recommended if you’re into CRPGs and looking for something a little darker and more original.