There’s no shortage of fun RPGs to play when looking to scratch thatBaldur’s Gate 3itch, but modern offerings that feature stories with the same depth and complexity can be harder to come by. While the most obvious comparisons are usually Larian’sDivinity: Original Singames, competitors like Obsidian’sPillars of Eternityand Owlcat’sPathfindertitles occasionally enter the conversation. One relevant RPG doesn’t get discussed quite as much, however, and considering that it’s available forXbox Game Passusers, it’s time for that to change.
Released in 2016, not long afterDivinity: Original SinandPillars of Eternitydebuted,Torment: Tides of Numenerais another successor to a classicD&DRPG. As a follow-up toPlanescape: Torment,Tides of Numenerasheds the license but builds on the same foundation. It’s not the right RPG for everyone, but if you find discovering the secrets ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s world and characters to be a large part of its appeal, failing to check outTides of Numeneramight be doing yourself a disservice.
Torment: Tides Of Numenera Is A Rich Narrative Experience
Less Combat, More Reading
To address the elephant in the room,Torment: Tides of Numeneraisn’t for everyone. At times, it can feel more like reading a book than playing a game, and you’ll be looking at fewerexpressively animated charactersand more walls of text thanBaldur’s Gate 3. All of this writing can feel a bit disconnected at times, and if it doesn’t hook you, the infrequency of combat encounters won’t give you a mechanical reason to stay.
If you’re able to get on its wavelength, though,Tides of Numenerahas a lot going for it. The story is complex and literary, with plenty of moral questions that require a bit more thought than deciding whether toraid the Emerald Grove. It’s not all reading, either, asexcellent puzzles more than make up for the de-emphasized combat.
Xbox Game Pass Is The Perfect Way To Check Out Torment
No Harm Done If It Doesn’t Click
For those who haven’t played the originalPlanescape: Torment, I’d still recommend checking it out beforeTides of Numenera.It’s nice to appreciate some cross-references between the games, but more than anything,Planescape: Tormentis a stone-cold classicof the genre that every CRPG fan should play. Boasting virtually all ofBaldur’s Gate’s strengths in aweirderD&Dworld, it’s a shining example of why CRPGs mattered to begin with.
If you’ve got free access toTides of Numenerathrough Game Pass, though, don’t let any lack of familiarity with the original game stop you. It’s still easy to enjoy the spiritual successor on its own, and it’s high time for it to get more of the recognition it deserves.Torment: Tides of Numenerawon’t appeal to everyBaldur’s Gate 3fan, butXbox Game Passusers who consider storytelling a priority shouldn’t look any further for an interestingBG3alternative.
