Obsidian’s isometric CRPG revival is a favorite among Baldur’s Gate veterans, but the studio’s roadmap has narrowed since the Microsoft layoffs, and a third Pillars is no longer likely. If you finished the White March expansions and Deadfire and want more of that specific mix, dense reactive writing, real-time-with-pause combat, and hand-crafted 2D backgrounds, these seven Pillars of Eternity alternatives cover the range.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Steam price (USD) | Combat | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire | Direct sequel | $19.99 | Turn-based or RTwP | 60–100h |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | Modern CRPG polish | $59.99 | Turn-based (D&D 5e) | 75–150h |
| Divinity: Original Sin 2 | Systemic combat | $44.99 | Turn-based | 70–130h |
| Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous | Rules crunch | $39.99 | Turn-based or RTwP | 80–200h |
| Tyranny | Evil-leaning story | $19.99 | RTwP | 25–35h |
| Solasta: Crown of the Magister | D&D 5e purism | $39.99 | Turn-based | 40–60h |
| Wasteland 3 | Post-apocalypse CRPG | $39.99 | Turn-based | 40–60h |
Why players want a Pillars of Eternity replacement
Deadfire underperformed at launch and Obsidian shelved the setting. The White March DLCs were the studio’s high point, but nothing since Deadfire has scratched that specific itch.
The Pentiment and Avowed pivots did not land for CRPG fans. Both games are excellent, but neither uses the party-based tactical structure Pillars built its reputation on.
Deadfire’s Turn-Based Mode is a mod-tier bolt-on. Players who wanted a full turn-based Pillars from the ground up mostly moved to Baldur’s Gate 3 or Wrath of the Righteous.
1. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, Best for a direct sequel
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is the closest thing to Pillars 3 you will ever play. It runs the same engine, uses the same rules with tighter balance, and adds naval exploration across an archipelago. The three story DLCs (Beast of Winter, Seeker Slayer Survivor, Forgotten Sanctum) are among the best CRPG expansions ever shipped.
Where it falls short: Ship combat is a text mini-game some players skip entirely. The main plot pacing is looser than the first Pillars.
Pricing: $19.99 base, $34.99 for the Obsidian Edition with all DLCs. Frequently $10 or less on sale.
Migrating from Pillars 1: Import your save and named companions and choices carry over. Watchers of Caed Nua who spared Thaos will feel the changes.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: If you have not played Deadfire yet, start here. Skip only if boats bore you at the concept level.
2. Baldur’s Gate 3, Best for modern CRPG polish
Baldur’s Gate 3 is what the CRPG genre looks like with a $100 million budget and voice-acted cutscenes. Larian’s take on D&D 5e is the most reactive party RPG ever made. Nearly every companion, boss, and side quest branches on your class, race, or origin choice.
Where it falls short: Act 3 has known pacing issues on the Upper City side. Some fans of the original Baldur’s Gate feel it strays from Forgotten Realms canon.
Pricing: $59.99, no DLC. Twelve free content patches since launch.
Migrating from Pillars: Different setting and ruleset, similar depth. Custom origin characters replace Pillars’ background system.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The genre’s high water mark. Skip only if D&D 5e turn-based combat sounds slow to you.
3. Divinity: Original Sin 2, Best for systemic combat
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is Larian’s warm-up act for Baldur’s Gate 3 and still worth 100 hours. Elemental interactions (cast rain, then electrify a puddle, then freeze the electrocuted enemies) turn every fight into a puzzle. The four origin characters give it real replay value.
Where it falls short: No stealth systems worth the trouble. Difficulty spikes hard in act 2.
Pricing: $44.99, Definitive Edition includes free content updates. Regular sales to $17.99.
Migrating from Pillars: Similar party size (four), similar level cap pacing. Combat is fully turn-based instead of RTwP.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Best CRPG combat sandbox ever made. Skip if you need a serious tone.
4. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Best for rules crunch
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is Owlcat’s love letter to 3.5e-style crunch. You can respec a paladin into a mythic angel with domain access to Sun, Fire, and Glory, and the game will simulate it. The Crusade mode adds an army-management layer some Pillars fans love and others uninstall over.
Where it falls short: The Crusade mode is optional and rough. Character creation can overwhelm new players.
Pricing: $39.99 base, $59.99 with Season Pass. Regular sales.
Migrating from Pillars: Bigger party (six), deeper class trees, and mythic paths that fundamentally change your character. Turn-based mode is fully supported.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The deepest character builder on this list. Skip if you dislike managing subsystems.
5. Tyranny, Best for an evil-leaning story
Tyranny is Obsidian’s other CRPG from the Pillars era, and it plays with alignment in a way no D&D-based game can. You start as an agent of the empire that already won the war. Every faction choice locks out another, and no ending is clean.
Where it falls short: Shorter than Pillars. Act 3 was clearly cut for budget.
Pricing: $19.99. Regularly under $10.
Migrating from Pillars: Same engine, similar RTwP combat, no shared setting. Party of four instead of six.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The best evil-run CRPG on Steam. Skip if you want a longer campaign.
6. Solasta: Crown of the Magister, Best for D&D 5e purism
Solasta is what happens when a small team with a proper D&D 5e SRD license builds a CRPG. Verticality actually matters, spell components matter, and the ruleset feels exact. It lacks Baldur’s Gate 3’s production budget, and that is why players who wanted rules-first gameplay preferred it.
Where it falls short: Voice acting is uneven. Writing is functional, not dazzling.
Pricing: $39.99 base, $59.99 with the Palace of Ice and Lost Valley campaigns.
Migrating from Pillars: Turn-based combat and D&D 5e rules instead of Pillars’ unique system. Party of four you fully create.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: The most rules-accurate D&D game on PC. Skip if you want a story-forward CRPG.
7. Wasteland 3, Best for post-apocalypse CRPG
Wasteland 3 trades high fantasy for post-nuclear Colorado but keeps every CRPG staple. Squad of six Rangers, dialogue branches with real consequences, and turn-based combat with cover and burst-fire. inXile’s writing punches above its budget.
Where it falls short: Dialogue-heavy encounters can drag. Bugs on launch scared off some players who never came back.
Pricing: $39.99 base, $59.99 with both DLC expansions. Regular deep discounts.
Migrating from Pillars: Turn-based combat instead of RTwP, six-Ranger squad instead of six-companion party. Setting is retro-future not high fantasy.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Best post-apocalyptic CRPG on the market. Skip if you want swords and spells.
How to choose
Pick Deadfire if you skipped it. Pick Baldur’s Gate 3 if you want the best-produced CRPG on PC. Pick Divinity: Original Sin 2 if you love combat as a system to break. Pick Wrath of the Righteous if character builds are your favorite part of an RPG. Pick Tyranny if you want a short, dark story. Pick Solasta if you want rules-first D&D. Pick Wasteland 3 if you are done with fantasy for a while. Stay on Pillars 1 if you have not finished the White March DLCs.
FAQ
Is Baldur’s Gate 3 a Pillars of Eternity replacement? It scratches similar itches (party tactics, deep dialogue, meaningful choices) but uses D&D 5e rules and is more cinematic. Pillars fans usually love it once they accept that Larian’s tone is warmer than Obsidian’s.
Which of these have real-time-with-pause combat? Deadfire, Wrath of the Righteous, and Tyranny support RTwP. Deadfire and Wrath also support turn-based. The rest are turn-based only.
Can I import my Pillars 1 save into Deadfire? Yes, and it changes companion greetings, faction reputation, and several quests. If you never played Pillars 1, Deadfire offers a story summary you fill in.
What is the best free Pillars of Eternity alternative? None of these are free. Wait for sales. Deadfire, Tyranny, and Divinity 2 all regularly drop below $15.
Do any of these run on Steam Deck? All seven run on Steam Deck. Pillars, Deadfire, Tyranny, and Solasta are Deck Verified. Baldur’s Gate 3 and Wasteland 3 are Playable with some UI trade-offs.
