Games You Might Have Missed: Tyranny

(Note: this piece was originally posted over on Obilisk, but I wanted to bring it over to our new home)

If you were a fan of RPGs like Baldur’s Gate, Obsidian’s Tyranny might be just what the doctor ordered. With visuals that simultaneously take advantage of modern graphics and maintain the classic aesthetics of D&D style RPGs, along with a great story, and well done characters, this game provides warm nostalgia with a creative twist.

You are a Fatebinder, a decision-maker for the invading emperor, Kyros. His takeover is almost complete at the start of the game, and it’s up to you to determine how the final flames of resistance will be squelched. Tyranny’s innovation becomes clear through these choices. No matter what, you work for a cruel and ruthless dictator, so your choices will always feature some kind of brutality, however you get some leeway in how far you’re willing to take it.  Do you blow up a city with everyone still inside, or do you give them a few hours warning before torching it? These are the kind of decisions Tyranny will force you to make.

That’s my favorite part of Tyranny. Your choices matter. Friends and foes alike will remember your actions and treat you differently based on them. A decision you made in the prologue can impact who will work with you down the road in the campaign, and even those who work alongside you will treat you differently based on which faction you chose and how you decide to deal with your enemies.

By focusing on what it means to be a part of a ruthless, evil regime, Tyranny takes the usual tropes of decision-based RPGs and turns them on their heads. There are no “goodie two shoes” options. There are less extreme paths, but they usually stem from cold calculation instead of compassion. This game forces you to see what it means to be the bad guy, and beyond that, what a corrupt government really looks like. You can’t trust anyone, and every choice will help or hurt your rise.

Unfortunately, Tyranny is only available on Windows, Linux, and Mac, so console gamers won’t be able to get in on it. But if you’re a PC gamer and have any love for old school RPGs, this game should definitely be on your radar. It’s available over on Steam for $44.99 (but as of 1/26/18 it’s on sale for $15.29!)

All Image Credit to Paradox Interactive.