Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous reveals first hellish screenshots

Fans of the Pathfinder tabletop RPG got a nice surprise with 2018’s Pathfinder: Kingmaker. Even though it had its quirks and bugs on release, it was a fun CRPG romp. More good news arrived last month when Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous was announced. The sequel will build on the first game but features a new setting, and the story will center on a demonic invasion that the players must repel. Today, developer Owlcat Games released the first screenshots of Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.

Lead a crusade against the Abyss

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous has a new mechanic, Crusade Commander, similar to the kingdom management of the first game. Through it, players will “lead a military campaign of mythic proportions.” Players will first need to reclaim the strategic fortress city of Drezen. Afterward, it becomes the headquarters of the Crusade. From there you will need to choose allies and war assets, and your choices will influence the outcomes of the game. It almost reminds me of the all-out war against the Reapers in Mass Effect 3, a host of survivors frantically fighting against an unfathomable, all-powerful enemy. I hope that the game can keep a similar level of tension and despair.

“Players will have to carefully consider each decision they make as they lead the crusade,” says Alexander Mishulin, creative director for Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. “Recruiting and upgrading one’s armies, capturing and holding strategic points, and exploring ancient ruins to find powerful artifacts are just a few of the many activities that require one’s undivided attention. Of course, companions will try their best to help. We listened to the feedback on the kingdom building [of the first game] and acted upon it to make the most captivating crusade experience possible.”

A lot of things will be on fire

Expect to prowl through a variety of different locales. Dungeons, war camps, and demonic strongholds are all on the menu. That’s right. You get to invade Hell. If that isn’t reason enough to get excited for Pathfinder, I don’t know what is. I’m not entirely well-versed in Pathfinder, but I imagine fire resist might come in handy.

The new screenshots show off a few different locations. The burning camp, in particular, grabbed my attention. It’s exactly the type of locale with a doomed tone that would make the game a blast to play. One screenshot shows the party gathered (rather ominously, I might add) around a symbol on the ground. There isn’t any sign of the UI, but hopefully, it’s an improvement over the rather crowded toolbar of the first game. I loved how Pillars of Eternity divided skills, spells, and items under different, convenient tabs. If Wrath of the Righteous can improve the UI in a similar manner, it’ll be the icing on the cake.

New classes and mythic progression

Wrath of the Righteous will introduce mythic progression for characters. It makes sense since your enemies will be extremely powerful. Some of the new mythic paths include the trickster, the angel, and the lich. In addition, more classes are being added. Two confirmed classes include the oracle and the witch, which were sorely missed in the first game. Pathfinder has a wide variety of classes and archetypes, so there’s no telling what other classes will be revealed.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous will reveal more information on gameplay, including a video of gameplay, when the Kickstarter campaign launches on February 4. Also, you can sign up for the newsletter at the official site.