Pentiment Review

Pentiment doesn’t follow the usual detective game formula, relying on murder puzzles and other gimmicks to keep players engaged. Instead, it relies on craftsmanship and authenticity to tell its story.

The result is a satisfying and captivating historical murder mystery unlike anything else in video games. If you can be patient with its slow progression, this is a must-play.

The Art Style

From the creators of Fallout and The Outer Worlds, Obsidian Entertainment brings us Pentiment, a game that blends RPG mechanics with the kind of narrative focus that you rarely see in games these days. The town of Tassing and the monastery are a slice of life, populated with citizens who go about their daily lives in much the same way that you might encounter people in your neighbourhood.

While the game does have a few minor issues, overall, it’s a captivating murder mystery with an amazing art style. The sweeping landscapes and detailed characters are a treat to the eyes, and the whole experience is a testament to the developers’ love of European medieval history.

From the map exploration to the way in which the game’s font changes during conversations, every element of Pentiment has been designed to evoke medieval manuscripts and artwork. The game even has a glossary full of historical and religious figures and places so you can learn more about the world that the developers have created.

The Story

Pentiment is a game that isn’t for everyone, and it might put some off right away with its lack of voice acting and a large amount of dialogue to read through, but those willing to stick with it are in for an experience that dives deep into the issues of religion, politics and power in 16th century Europe. It might riff on The Name of the Rose, but it is its own thing entirely as it tries to portray how rationality can fall to the wayside in favour of dogma.

The game’s many layers of history and the issues it raises will keep players thinking long after its runtime is over, and it does a fine job of showing that even the best of intentions can have horrific consequences. If you can be patient with it, show it some love and give it a chance, you will find a murder mystery that will stick with you long after you have completed it.

The Audio

Pentiment is a game that will appeal to history buffs as well as players looking for a story they can get lost in. It’s a fascinating murder mystery with a winding path that feels unique to each player, thanks to the way decisions play into the outcome.

This isn’t what people might expect from Obsidian Entertainment, a studio known for first-person RPGs like Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, but it’s still an impressive title that’s worthy of the Xbox Game Pass spotlight. It’s a bookish and sometimes dry game that requires you to take its questions about religion, art, and other heady subjects seriously.

The fact that your choices in the game have an impact on who lives and dies, what kind of legacy you leave behind as a writer, and even how the town’s fate plays out is something very few games do these days. That’s a big part of what makes it so interesting and worthwhile to play, even if it doesn’t always succeed in being engaging or entertaining.

The Controls

Pentiment is a narrative game in every sense of the word, and it’s a triumph. The choices made throughout the game really matter; they affect how people react to you, and sometimes, even years later, your most well-intentioned actions can have horrifying consequences.

The citizens of Tassing and the monks of the monastery go about their daily lives portrayed in a slice-of-life style. There are dozens of characters to interact with, and the writing is exceptional. The characters grow on you over time, and you develop real sympathy for them. The unique art style reflects the illuminated manuscripts from which it draws inspiration, and the fonts and calligraphy are varied according to the character’s native language and social status.

Despite the slow start, Pentiment is an enchanting murder mystery that explores the societal and theological beliefs of one small town in a time of change. It’s not what you might expect from Obsidian Entertainment, who are known for their RPGs, but it still delivers a strong story that gives you the power to shape your world.