How Many Hours is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire (PoE2)? A Comprehensive Guide
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire (PoE2), a sprawling and intricate role-playing game (RPG), offers a rich and immersive experience that can vary significantly in length depending on your playstyle. Focusing solely on the main objectives, you can expect a playthrough of around 42 hours. However, for those seeking a 100% completion experience, delving into every nook and cranny, uncovering all secrets, and completing every quest, the game can easily consume upwards of 96 hours or even more. This variability makes it a game that caters to both those seeking a focused narrative experience and those who want to fully immerse themselves in its vast world.
Diving Deep into Deadfire: What Affects Playtime?
Several factors contribute to the overall playtime of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. Understanding these elements can help you manage your expectations and tailor your experience to your preferences.
Playstyle and Completionism
As mentioned earlier, your approach to the game has the most significant impact. A completionist run involves meticulously exploring every location, engaging in all side quests, and attempting to achieve all possible endings. This naturally leads to a longer playtime than a playthrough focused solely on the main questline.
Difficulty Setting
The difficulty setting you choose can also affect playtime. Higher difficulties require more strategic planning, careful resource management, and potentially more time spent in combat encounters. Lower difficulties allow you to breeze through combat, shortening the overall experience.
Combat Approach: Real-Time with Pause vs. Turn-Based
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire offers two distinct combat modes: Real-Time with Pause (RTwP) and Turn-Based. RTwP allows for faster-paced combat, but requires quick thinking and micromanagement. Turn-Based combat provides a more tactical experience, allowing you to carefully plan each move, but can significantly increase the duration of each encounter.
Multiclassing and Character Builds
Experimenting with different multiclassing options and character builds can add to your playtime. Trying out various combinations and optimizing your party’s composition can be a rewarding, but time-consuming, endeavor.
Dialogue and Lore Immersion
The game features a vast amount of dialogue and lore. Engaging with these elements and fully immersing yourself in the world of Eora can significantly extend your playtime. Skipping dialogue and ignoring the lore will obviously shorten your overall experience. The Games Learning Society emphasizes the importance of narrative engagement in games, and PoE2 offers ample opportunity for this type of deep immersion.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify the scope and depth of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, here are some frequently asked questions:
1. How large is the game file size for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire?
The game requires approximately 45 GB of available storage space on your hard drive.
2. What is the maximum level achievable in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire?
The maximum level for player characters is 20. However, creatures and NPCs can reach a maximum level of 30.
3. Is there a time limit or a sense of urgency in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire?
No, there is no time limit or imposed urgency. You are free to explore the world and complete quests at your own pace.
4. Is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire fully voice acted?
Yes, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is fully voice acted, contributing to the immersive experience.
5. Is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire an open-world game?
Yes, the game features an enormous open world, allowing you to freely explore the Deadfire Archipelago.
6. Do I need to play Pillars of Eternity 1 before playing Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire?
While not strictly required, it is highly recommended to play Pillars of Eternity 1 first. The sequel contains spoilers for the first game, and understanding the established lore and characters will enhance your experience.
7. Can I multiclass my character later in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire?
Multiclassing is selected during character creation and cannot be altered later. This decision significantly impacts your character’s progression and abilities.
8. Is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire based on D&D rules?
While not explicitly based on any specific D&D ruleset, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire draws inspiration from tabletop RPGs, particularly 4th edition D&D.
9. Is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire bigger than the first game?
Yes, the game’s size and scope are significantly larger than the original Pillars of Eternity.
10. Are Pillars of Eternity 1 and 2 connected in terms of story and lore?
Yes, both games are set in the same world of Eora and share a connected story and lore.
11. Are the DLCs for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire worth purchasing?
The DLCs are generally considered to be worthwhile additions, offering new quests, locations, and storylines that expand the game’s content. They are, however, completely optional.
12. What are the main differences between Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire?
Deadfire builds upon the foundation of the first game, offering an expanded open world, improved graphics, a refined combat system, and a more engaging narrative.
13. What makes Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire a good RPG?
The game offers a deep and complex RPG experience with a compelling story, memorable characters, strategic combat, and a vast world to explore.
14. Does the choice of Real Time with Pause or Turn Based combat affect the length of the game?
Yes, Turn Based Combat, with more tactical play will increase the length of each fight, which makes the game overall longer.
15. What is the size of the community for Pillars of Eternity 2?
While not as massive as some other RPG communities, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire maintains a dedicated and passionate fanbase. The games are studied in the context of narrative and design at institutions like the GamesLearningSociety.org.
In conclusion, the playtime of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire varies greatly depending on your playstyle, difficulty setting, and combat preferences. Whether you aim for a focused narrative experience or a complete exploration of the Deadfire Archipelago, the game offers a rich and rewarding RPG experience that can keep you engaged for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours.