PC Gamer Annual - UK (2022)

33

PLANESCAPE:

TORMENT ENHANCED EDITION

RELEASED 2017 | LAST POSITION 11

Jody: There’s an argument that the real

defining feature of RPGs is the areas

between fights where you just talk to

people, and Planescape’s Sigil – a city on

the inner surface of a ring with magic

doors that connects it to multiple

dimensions – is one of the best. There’s a

guy who’s been on fire so long everyone’s

used to it and he’s become a local bar’s

mascot, a zombie called The Post whose

body is used as a billboard, a hivemind of

several thousand psychic rats, and a

part-demon thief voiced by Sheena

Easton. The combat isn’t great, but

there’s not much of it and way more

multidimensional weirdos worth meeting.

Steven: I’d recommend Torment as a kind

of dessert to anyone who played and loved

Disco Elysium.

32

DARK SOULS

REMASTERED

RELEASED 2018 | LAST POSITION 31

Rich: The only downside to Dark Souls’

success is that the game has been so

influential that it’s almost a cliché to talk

about how good it is. One of the greatest

adventures in games, set in a world

realised with outstanding imagination,

mingled with a deliberately vague and

surprising multiplayer element.

James: Dark Souls is challenging, but like a

good coach. Take a breather. Stretch out.

Check yourself. Sleep on it. Come back

when you’re feeling better. Don’t give up.

The Top 100

FE ATURE

OLD WORLD

RELEASED 2021 | LAST POSITION New

34

Fraser: I’ve been waiting a long time for a
historical 4X game that can give
Civilization a run for its money, and here
it is. Mohawk Games has taken all the
best parts of the venerable series, but
focused on antiquity rather than all of
human history. Every turn represents a
year, which allows Old World to take a
more intimate approach, exploring
characters instead of just empires.

There are plenty of innovations, such

as an Order system that teaches you to

prioritise actions for that turn, but it’s

definitely the Crusader Kings-style

characters and abundance of narrative

events that feel like the most important

addition. Leaders age, die, get married,

have children, plot... and you’ve got a

whole court of people to worry about. It’s

Civ reimagined as a life sim and RPG.