Pentiment

Over the last 40 hours, this has become possibly my favorite game of all time. Ever. Never before has the narrative themes of a game been so immaculately woven throughout the text, the characters, heck, even the title and the save system. Pentiment comes from the Italian "pentimenti," which is when a paint is chipped or peeled away in a painting to reveal earlier, older layers of paint.

The game is a story of anachronisms, people holding on desperately to the past, refusing to let the future progress; whether it's a monastic scriptorium trying to ply their trade in the advent of the proliferation of the movable type printing press, Catholic priests holding firm that this new-fangled Lutheranism is simply a fad, lieged lords unable to accept that the peasantry may require more agency than they've ever had, or various members of a small Alpine village refusing to let the secrets of the town's history be unveiled, the game is absolutely brimming with incredible story beats that all tie back to the themes of the game as a whole.

Additionally, the game is absolutely devoted to a *true* representation of history. To an untrained eye, the cast of characters may seem strangely diverse for early 16th-century Bavaria, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Between the excellent depiction of sexuality among the clergy, the Ethiopian itinerant priest in Act 1, or the Jewish couple fleeing mandatory expulsion acts in Act 2, the game portrays the world as it truly was, with a end-credits bibliography to prove it. There are holy men who deign to hold true the Scriptures they preach, and others whose devotion to their faith is so pure and true they voluntarily make their lives harder to live the truth the Lord they believe in has prescribed for them. It has some of the best depictions of religious charlatans and genuinely faithful piety I've ever seen in a work of fiction, and the way the game juxtaposes them is simply spectacular.

This is a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Please, please give it a try.

It’s a unique yarn that will please people with an interest in late medieval and early modern history. Elsewhere I have read it’s really just an “interactive novel”, and I’d have to agree with that description. Don’t go in expecting a regular point-and-click adventure game or an RPG, even if shares a few aspects from either. The art style and design is fantastic.

the mastermind behind so many beautiful crpgs has given us this narrative driven gem of a narrative driven rpg. its like dwelling in the medival visions of umberto eccos the name of the rose. absoloutley loved the story and the characters in this game. big recomandations to anyone who doesnt mind going through a lot of text.

Yes it's beautiful and unique and it starts off great, but:

- murder mystery without resolution, because they thought it doesn't matter for you who did it, after you just spend 15 hours trying to figure out who did it

I could stop at this point beacause it's a dealbreaker for me, but let's go on:

- horrible pacing, story just drops at one point and never picks up the tempo again
- too many fillers. I understand it helps the worldbuilding but after 3 hours of gossip with millers wife I don't need another 3 hours gossip with fisherman's wife or whatever
- mind-numbingly boring 3 Act
- at some point it changes its tone from authentic and historical to "let's preach about modern day politics"
- illusion of choice but it's really linear
- no proper save system
- everything you do is on time-constraint which some may don't like (I don't mind)

This is a truly special game. Even if you're not a fan of medieval history it's easy to be charmed by the detail and dedication on display here, and the story keeps you motivated to see the journey through. And it really is a journey, in the truest sense. Highly recommended for people who enjoy slower paced narrative games like Disco Elysium.

Really feels like you get to inhabit a unique setting with deeply fleshed out characters. This isn't a power fantasy or immersive sim where your character is just an avatar for your own decision making - they're a person in the world with limitations and the things you *can't* do are just as big a part of the experience as the things you can. I was enjoying myself pretty well but after several hours, it got its claws in me and I blasted through the rest over the weekend. It'll be a game that stays in my memory, loved it!

A fascinating murder mystery. Get ready to learn a lot about 1500s Bavaria and the Holy Roman Empire.

The puzzle/detective aspect is pretty light. The focus is more on role playing and seeing how your choices impact the story and characters. But the story and themes were still very interesting.

Note: Disregard my listed time in the game here; I initially completed my first playthrough in 16.7 hours on Xbox PC Gamepass. I enjoyed it so much, I wanted to support it here as well before I play any further!

What a treat this game is. Do not let the art style, genre or any perceived simplicity from the screenshots deter you. This is one of the most enjoyable stories I've explored in gaming in quite some time. Everything is so passionately thought out in a way that is hard to walk away from.

It's hard to cover much without hinting at the deeper themes or letting loose spoils, but it is such a rich expression of so many things in life, as well as being a gorgeous display of researched art forms. It is enjoyable enough to really grab hold of you for its superficial charms, but underneath it also plays around with a lot of tropes that we get really accustomed to in gaming. Nothing really escapes these themes or breaks aside to ever feel dry or educational. It feels very relatable and real, regardless of whether you wander into it with any interest in these histories or not.

Excellent stuff! Whether or not it outwardly appeals to you or if you just need a palate cleanser from something else.

This is my second most played game on steam because I'm just so completely obsessed with it. I want to try all the options, I want to see all the dialogue, I want to spend time immersed in this gorgeous world. I love history, I love learning about Germany, and I am fascinated by medieval culture and manuscripts. I felt like this game was made just for me, but it's a smash so it clearly isn't. If this game cost $50 it'd be worth every penny, $20 is a steal as far as I'm concerned. There were a few things that disappointed me, but nothing that changes how amazing this game is. I also was truly so immersed in the mystery, but also with forming connections and watching the villagers grow and change. I cannot recommend this game enough I tell everyone I know to play it!

Pentiment was a brilliant game designed by the incredibly talented studio director Josh Sawyer and it's amazing to see Obsidian focusing more on AA projects to create such masterpieces, and I hope they continue to do so.

In some ways this game feels like a medieval Disco Elysium brought to life with its distinctive writing quality and art style. The level of detail, historical design, and thought behind every design choice is incredible to see and it's very clear that this was a passion project for Josh Sawyer and Obsidian.

From a certain standpoint the language and intricacies of the game may be challenging for non-native speakers or non-European players to fully understand, but if you have the chance, I highly recommend playing it, if only to experience the amazing world that Obsidian has created. I hope they expand this approach to the Pillars of Eternity universe or explore new ideas to create more small games.

very pretty but not that replayable and your choices dont matter that much

This is a very tenuous thumbs up. The game has a nice core idea, but it needed a bit more polish and editing down, I think, to be a full thumbs up.

edit: Actually, I've made it thumbs down, simply because it's currently at Overwhelmingly Positive and I don't it should be, and so it crosses back over that thin line.


Pentiment is a cross between a Telltale style "they will remember that" point 'n' click adventure, a detect 'em up, and a Historically Accurate Medieval Simulator (HAMS?). Unfortunately it leans into the bits I'm not so interested in (HAMS), and away from the bits I am interested in, detecting.

To not spoiler things, all I'll say is that the detecting isn't as robust or as crucial to the game as I was lead to believe, which is a shame. It's more of a theme and an inciting action than a mechanic.

That aside, it's a decent adventure game, though I found it really started to drag by the end and feel far too long. The game is clearly designed around the idea of replaying it at least once, something I'm not going to do, so I'm surprised they didn't make it snappier to play through.

The game looks lovely, especially the book art and dialogue fonts and things. The use of the various hand-inked fonts was surprisingly not annoying, once I removed the animated writing style.

The controls work, but they're not the most pleasant. There's a lot of excess mouse clicking or joystick pushing just to run around and talk to people.

The sound work is so-so, with the background music and soundscapes being rather minimal but serviceable. The dialog-writing noise is tedious and repetitive, as there's almost no variation, so you keep hearing the exact same sound over and over again, every time you read a dialog bubble, of which there are a lot in a game based solely around talking to people.


The RPG-like skill picking, and the various "choices matter" choices you have to make, all ultimately end up changing nothing much about the game, other than a few dialog options and some people are/aren't present later. I think it all could have been cut, been entirely linear, and I would have enjoyed it even more.

pentiment will sit in the back of my brain for a while. i LOVED it, it's one of the most unique games i've ever played. i think my absolute favorite thing about the game is the immersion in that there really isn't enough evidence to be entirely sure of the facts, but so much pressure to be sure, and then you're left wondering what the hell you've done for the next several hours. there's a lot of replayability in choosing andreas' background, as well as other choices...i'll definitely be back to see the impact of different choices! amazingly unique artstyle, incredible story, i learned a ton of history and made a lot of connections. i absolutely loved the direction this game went and laughed so many times. an absolute must for any medieval fan, it's just SO good.

Almost perfect game.
Persuasion mechanic is pure senseless crap.

Would love an option of a neutral review.

I absolutely loved the attention to detail and the atmosphere of the story as well as the characters and how they grow and evolve.

I despised how they made the game out of a great premise and story.
Mild spoilers about the structure of the story ahead, no name dropping:
The game consist of three story arcs that happen with a couple of in game years in between of them. In the first two arcs the story forces you to randomly accuse people of murder based upon the incomplete circumstantial evidence while ignoring that they are all manipulated from behind the scenes by someone (you also don't even have time to properly collect evidence on more than 2 out of 4 suspects, which makes it clear, that it matters very little who you end up accusing). The ending of the first arc felt unsatisfying and anticlimactic, but when I found out that I should go through the literal same scenario for the second time (7 in game years later) I ragequitted the game for several weeks. Both of the story arcs take hours of gameplay and when doing it for the second time solving a case without solution while ignoring the manipulator I strongly felt my time is utterly wasted and when you uncover the mystery in the final act it didn't have any tension behind it. I was just happy its finally over and because I had no way to collect any evidence or get closer to the manipulator in the first two acts - I just knew they are there somewhere - it could have been literally anybody, so even from the viewpoint of the actual story you just spend 80% of the gameplay going through the background exposition dump, which is... not a great feeling! And then you get to know it was "the gardener" the whole time. Ehhh, okay, so it was him. Thanks for letting me know, I don't feel I had any part on actually getting him, I WAS JUST TOLD at the end.

Also the way player actually plays the game feels like a waste of the time, you are more or less forced to backtrack at every opportunity just to check if there is a new dialogue somewhere or just miss part of the story and most of the background details about the characters.

That is no way to make a game replayable.

If you read this and want to try for yourself, I highly recommend not being a completist and just ignore most of the running around and speedrun the first two arcs of the game (twice if you are so inclined). As for myself I feel like most of my time was wasted on the game, while the rest of it was super interesting and great...

And with the resounding MEH, I'm ordering my print of The name of the rose by Umberto Eco online.

Pentiment: Paging Through a Murder Mystery... Very Slowly

RATING: 7.5 out of 10.0

Pentiment is what happens when a medieval manuscript and a murder mystery podcast have a very slow, thoughtful baby. It’s a narrative-driven adventure where you play as Andreas Maler, a 16th-century artist-turned-detective, solving murders in the small town of Tassing — mostly by talking, snooping, and making choices that actually matter. No sword fights or dragon slaying here; it’s all about dialogue, history, and watching the dominoes fall from decisions you made hours ago. Imagine a murder mystery wrapped in an artistic, hand-illuminated pages, where the real combat is who you offend at the town bakery.


The Illuminated Pros: Hand-Crafted Storytelling at Its Finest
+ Unique Storybook Presentation: Feels like playing inside a medieval manuscript. The visual style isn’t just pretty; it’s thematically perfect. You’ll remember the look and feel long after the credits roll.
+ Conversations That Bite Back: Your decisions stick. NPCs remember, call you out, and it feels earned rather than artificial.
+ Choose-Your-Own-Mystery: It scratches that childhood "choose your own adventure" itch but in a more grown-up, murder-y way. Stress-inducing in all the right ways.
+ Acts Like a Detective Thriller: Each act feels like its own contained whodunit, filled with suspects, incomplete info, and tough calls. Genuinely satisfying to uncover clues and piece things together under time pressure.
+ Obsidian Taking a Swing: Credit where credit’s due — big respect to Obsidian for stepping out of their comfort zone to make something this weird, artsy, and deliberate.


The Slow-Burn Cons: Bring Coffee
- The Slowest of Starts: The first hour is borderline painful. If not for strong word-of-mouth and reviews, you might’ve bounced faster than a peasant avoiding taxes
- Exposition Overload: At times, it’s like reading a textbook in calligraphy. Dense, slow-moving dialogue dumps can make it feel like homework.
- Act 3 Fizzles: The final act loses momentum. It shifts focus and, while there’s a twist, the payoff feels more like "huh" than "holy crap."
- Pacing Whiplash: The game knows how to slow down... and sometimes forgets to speed back up. Between Acts and upon returning after a break, it can feel like dragging yourself back into a medieval study group.

The Neutral Margins: Not for Every Monk in the Scriptorium
+/- Text-Based Fantasy Disguised as a Game: If you love text-heavy, lore-dense storytelling, you’ll be in heaven. If not, you’ll feel trapped in church during a very long sermon.
+/- Subtle Impact of Choices: Some decisions don’t alter fates as dramatically as you’d hope; they shape social dynamics more than plot twists. Might feel unsatisfying for fans of chaos.
+/- Religious and Historical Weight: The constant heavy-handed theology and historical detail can be a lot. If you’re into that, great; if not, brace yourself.
+/- Feels Like a Netflix Miniseries: Episodic pacing with slow builds and drawn-out conversations. If you're expecting thriller pacing, temper those expectations.


Verdict:
Pentiment was on my wishlist forever, and I knew it needed the right mood — and the patience of a monk. With time (and coffee), it unpacks into a rewarding, thoughtful murder mystery told in a way only Obsidian could pull off. The payoff? Satisfying, if slightly predictable. Respect to them for their creativity, ambition, and risk.

Would I recommend it? Yes — but only with a giant asterisk. If you want action and spectacle, this isn’t for you. But if slow-burn mysteries, beautifully illustrated storytelling, and decision-driven narratives get you going, Pentiment will reward your patience. Just... maybe don’t start it when you’re sleepy.

A charming interactive novel, if a bit tiresome towards the end. Uncover the mystery of a 16th century town in Southern Bavaria, make friends and enemies in townsfolk and clergymen alike, and reconcile with your own past in a quest to discover the ultimate truth behind ancient legend.

Tremendous story with more than simple gameplay (click-read-click-read-click-walk-click-read), soundtrack that deserves endless praise, and overall a well-researched look into the not-so-distant past. If you don't mind the tediousness of visual novels, you will more than likely adore this game. Great work!

An all-around very good game. Compelling, well-written story, very good characters, decent gameplay, excellent music. It's even highly educational about life in 15th and 16th-century Europe.
My only complaint: I wish that there was some visual cue that told you whether or not you'd exhausted dialogue with an NPC, it gets quite tedious to go talk to literally every NPC you can just to figure out if there was anything more to say.

An absolutely, incredible, one of a kind game. No other game I've played has done such a good job of transporting to a different time and place, enthralling you in 16th century Austria. Spread over 3 acts, the very noticeable downside is that act 3 mostly plays as a very slow epilogue with a well earned ending.

Recently bought the game on PC (after 34 hours on Xbox) and I just have to put it out there - this game has been one heck of an experience; way more fun than some boring professors and their history lectures.

Apart from the story itself, I love the historical references which are fun and informative, love the manuscript art style, and the fact that you can pet the dog!

Also, have taken a liking to illuminated manuscripts and all things medieval ever since I played the game.
Would recommend to history nerds and casual players alike.

One of my all time favourites!

Some notes for potential players: it really doesn't get old, and what it's trying to say is fascinating and unique and the way it does it isn't really done much. Also very interesting from a historical point of view.

Been gaming for three decades now, and this stands out as one of the most unique, original, and charming games I've ever played. An absolute must if you have a steamdeck.

I knew I would enjoy this game's setting, genre, and aesthetic. Even better, I was deeply moved by the story and the degree to which the player can affect it. Highly recommended, especially if you have an inkling you're interested in this subject matter.

It is an excellent game for a very niche audience. The game is mostly text and some light puzzles, but it has a lot of good things going for it. It tries to do something new and interesting in the genre, and I for one applaud Obsidian for their efforts. The simple exterior hides a very rich and well made game.

The plot is very good for the most part, there is a whole host of characters but they are fleshed out in a way that makes them memorable and interesting. The writing and dialogue works very well and the fact that the social class of the character can be detected from the fonts used in the dialogue is a nice touch.

The best part of the game is the feel of the game, however. Historically, it is very well done, if not perfect. The medieval world oozes from the art style, the dialogue and everything else. The UI and the art both reflect medieval art styles very well and bring them to life. Religion is front and center in the story and constantly present in every interaction (a bold move for a modern game) and it is obvious the game designers wanted to get it right. They've done a lot of background work (this is the only game I know that has a bibliography at the end of the credits!) and it shows. For anyone who wants to explore a medieval world that tries its best to be historically accurate, I couldn't think of a better recommendation.

This game is a really good combination of dialogue-driven gameplay with choices and typefaces in a historical setting. It's really hard to sum up in a simple way. At first I thought it was a bit one-note, but after finishing it I realize that it has so many layers to it. If you like medieval Europe and dialogue-driven games, give this a look. The only negative I can come up with is that I would like the game to telegraph which people end the current time period in the game, but it's no biggie.

Pentiment is a beautiful game set in a Bavarian town towards the end of the medieval era. You play as Andreas, an apprentice artist who is doing some work on the side at the local abbey's scriptorium. You end up playing detective after a murder and the process of collecting clues was exciting. However, there is no way to find the "true" culprit. It is more like there are several likely culprits and you end up having to accuse one of them. This was a difficult decision for me! It wasn't quite as satisfying as other detective games in that regard. Still, in some ways, this felt more true to how real life goes. Sometimes you never really know what happened.

The visuals are inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts, and the UI makes the whole game into part of an illuminated manuscript. After one playthrough, I have the impression that my choices could have affected a few side stories, but I believe that the main ending is the same no matter what. The historical details were surprisingly accurate, and I was pleased to see a bibliography in the credits. This game made me more curious about what life in medieval abbeys was like, and immersed me in village life in a way that no other medieval fantasy game had even tried.

Good game, IMHO, it is not for everyone, but if you liked Disco Elisium and looking for something similar, Pentiment is the best option among in this genre. I enjoyed very much, also learned many new things. 15th century has ups and downs for sure, it was not a pleasant time since the corrupt religions and ignorance and lack of science. This game provides a glimpse of it. I give 8.7 over 10.

I remember seeing this game in passing before. 'Looks a little like a medieval tapestry, the characters especially. Interesting choice for a setting, the Holy Roman Empire only a few years after the Twelve Articles. But how did they make it work? And what was worth writing about here?' Imagine my surprise when I later picked it up, read that Obsidian had developed it, and after only a few hours it had sunken its hooks into me.

Pentiment is not exactly an RPG with much freedom of choice, all plot hooks eventually lead to the same conclusion with only small variations along the way, and that's really the only bad thing I have to say about it. I'm not even sure it IS a bad thing, perhaps it is so by design. Which design, by the way, is detail-oriented in just the way I like it. For one simple example, the dialogue bubbles of characters who are illiterate are written in a simple, coarse font, whereas the literate characters speak in varied typefaces depending on how they came into their literacy.

And the plot Pentiment presents is rich with historical details, theological discourse and deep, well-written characters. It lures you in in the guise of a simple whodunnit premise, and then it starts to flow. It talks of the cycles of history, of belief, of God and therefore Man, of the inevitability of change. It speaks of loss and despair, and also of hope and renewal. It touches on so many of the basic facets of the crystal of life that all of us are eventually going to see ourselves reflected through independently of the era we live in, and by doing so it forces us to self-evaluate. Yes, there is art here, and beauty.

If your eyes glazed over during that last paragraph, think of this as a slightly more compressed early Renaissance Disco Elysium, buy it and experience it. Be prepared to ask, and answer, many questions of yourself.

Easily my favorite game of all time. Simplistic gameplay yet an absolutely phenomenal story. The characters are very deep and it is easy to get attached to everybody. I can't recommend this game enough. 10/10

I picked up Pentiment having heard of it based on its art style and setting. A mystery story set in Renaissance Bavaria, with both a thematic and artistic focus on art of the era. I didn't know quite what I was getting into, and have had an intriguing and moving time with this game.

Pentiment is primarily a story-driven game, with limited RPG elements. You're here for the plot, for the characters and themes, and for the mysteries of Tassing, a village you will unpeel the layers of with as much fascination as you do the central mystery. It's a story about people and faith, and Obsidian continuously surprised me with the depth and insight of their writing of people who lived in a time where Christianity infused all aspects of society. This game feels culturally immersive, like a very well-run tabletop RPG.

This game is a must for history buffs, and even if you have only a passing interest, you'll likely learn a lot, because Obsidian helpfully provide a little encyclopedia that pops up if you need it whenever historical places, concepts or events are mentioned in the dialogue.

One very thorough and relaxed playthrough took me around 20 hours. As a mystery game, this may be a single playthrough game, or perhaps you may want to relive it someday. But appropriately for this game's thematic purposes, you can't quite erase your knowledge of what happened...

This is a niche game. If you are like me and you like text based games that are rich in (hi)story and symbolism with a unique art style this game is worth every penny.
As the player you delve deep into the history of a ficticious bavarian town and have to make fateful decisions along the way.
I just recently played it a second time and will likely play again, because even when i know how things will turn out there is still more to unlock and the game has already managed to entangle me into the lives of the characters twice. As someone from germany i am quite fond of the work the british developer made to bring this story to life.

In an era of bloated games, Pentiment is welcomed respite. Obsidian Entertainment distills storytelling and choice into an engaging, intimate, and rewarding venture.

Its greatest triumph is the dialog system, setting a new standard for interactive storytelling. While many games tout the infamous "characters will react to everything you do" selling point, this is one of the few games that means it. In nearly every conversation, there is a sense that a character is truly listening, remembering or riposting. Going from a casual conversation to detailed list of every failed speech check is a welcomed surprise from beginning to end. This system is not without its flaws, however. There were a few times a journal entry referred to a character the player hadn't met yet, or a received quest that was no longer actionable given previous conversations.

Another downside is the general lack of content between conversations. Although walking about the town is enjoyable, walking from character to character could feel a little grating at times. Often, the player could be rewarded for interacting with characters off the beaten path, but there is a sense there could've been more content. Future installments might do well incorporating an in-universe dice game, or card game, or anything to give the player an excuse to hang out with their new favorite characters.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Pentiment is an experience that lingers long after the credits roll. Its rich storytelling, masterful dialogue, and stunning presentation make it one of the most unique narrative-driven games in recent years. Though the journey may be over, the desire to revisit its world and explore different outcomes remains strong—a testament to Obsidian’s commitment to meaningful player choice and immersive storytelling.

Pentiment is a game that thrusts the player into medieval Europe. A time of strife and change which is reflected beautifully through it's changing acts, characters, locations, and passage of time. This story felt so reactive to all of the things I said and did, which then showed later as time progressed. The artwork and writing is so immersive and helps me to transport into medieval Europe. This is an amazing experience for those interested in an interweaving story, great writing, beautiful artwork, and experiencing an overlooked part of European history.

I love this game. Not only is it expertly crafted, but it is just as engaging on repeated playthroughs. There is no perfect path and little choices can make huge, unexpected impacts. I played on a SteamDeck with no issues. Take your time with this one - enjoy, explore, and learn.

I love the style of the game, it is much longer than I was expecting which is nice. Highly recommend turning up the dialogue speed in options if you feel it is going too slowly

can't really put into words how deeply this game touched me and how much i related to the main character (that's a cry for help), but i can say that you should not go without experiencing this outstanding work of art.

Beautiful game with a beautiful story. The depth of history and writing is unmatched in most games today.

A game about people, the flow of time, God, and the relationships between the three; Pentiment is a beautiful game both in it's visual design and as a story to be told. It is not an experience everyone will enjoy, and someone who is disinterested by a game that some might describe as an interactive novel will likely not find this game holds their attention. In my opinion however, it stands tall among other contemporaries in it's genre like Disco Elysium as a testament to the fact that video-games can move us, shape our minds, and leave us changed for the better as much as any literary classic or renaissance painting. In short, it was a pleasure to play this game.

Pentiment is not what I expected. What it is is an engaging visual novel with lots of interesting choices to make, and some cool history to learn about. It's a bit slow at times. And I was occasionally frustrated by sections of the story which put me on rails, but overall a well-written story. The main focus of a lot of the hype was the font-system, which is a neat gimmick, but ultimately pretty inconsequential, and at times I forget it even existed until it exerted itself.

I admit that it was double interesting since I'm a relatively recent transplant into Bavaria, so a lot of the places and history the game goes into is still that I'm just starting to become familiar with in my adopted home.

Absolute art of storytelling. I did't read it word to word but the worldbuilding and design of this game are mesmerizing. This is some exquisite experience. If you're asking yourself if you should give it a try, the answer is YES

Great art, great story, and characters to fall in love with!

Excellently told story. I felt my choices really mattered, maybe even more than they actually did. They really make you feel and care about the characters.

Visual and textbased storytelling of high quality. Beautiful to look at, well written and good sound design. The games story is also designed in a way that kept me engaged for the 20+ hours it took to complete. Glad to have experienced this.

Great story, highly accurate depiction of life in the Holy Roman Empire at the time.

Formidable game. And as a typography, print and medieval history fanatic, it scratched just the right itch for me. I felt this game quite deeply, grew attached to all of the characters - no exception. Good writing, good type design, great art direction. This game makes you face the consequences of time, too. It makes you ask the right questions. Pentiment's extremely great.

This is not a game for everyone. It's has a slow pace and it's very narrative heavy. It took me a while to get into it but once I did, I was completely engrossed. The game looks beautiful and I just fell in love with the world and all of the characters. Overall, a fantastic experience.

Pentiment is amazing. but it's a big reading game. Understandably people that aren't in to reading, character drama and far less action packed games may not enjoy Pentiment. However for me, I have had rare experiences with books that have treated the history of the time, the hardships of its people and murder with such depth.

Pentiment Review (No Spoilers)

Just finished Pentiment after 22 hours, and it’s truly a bizarre yet fascinating experience. The game delivers a rich, layered story with well-developed characters who evolve over time. The art style, inspired by medieval manuscripts, is a joy to watch, and the '2.5D' animations between characters add charm to the experience. Some of the cut-scenes are spectacular, bringing the world to life in a unique way.
The choices you make feel genuinely meaningful, shaping the town and its people across decades. The mystery at the heart of the game is thought-provoking, and there are plenty of twists to keep you engaged.
That said, Pentiment isn’t for everyone. It’s more of an experience than a game, with a slow, deliberate pace. Much of the game-play involves walking around and talking to people, and the game only gives back as much as you invest into it. But, if the art style and historical setting appeal to you; it’s absolutely worth playing. I’m looking forward to a second play; to see how different choices affect the story.

The most thematically complex game I've ever played with one of the best endings for a game I've ever played. Fundamentally: a game about history and how history is told, or how it is not. An extremely profound story.

As a game, it does have significant flaws-- a lack of real challenge, a limit to the importance of your choices-- but it's hard not to trust the game until its destination.

Narratively, Pentiment will intentionally infuriate you from time to time, but by the end, it won't disappoint you.

More than anything, this is a living and breathing piece of fictional history.

This game is incredible. Thoughtful art style - I love how characters look different based on their background, age, etc. and the art is inspired by real styles. Beautifully researched (there's legit a bibliography in the credits). Empathetic & compelling storytelling. Starts out as a murder mystery in an abbey and becomes so much more. If you're a history nerd who loves the idea of a surprisingly cozy murder mystery that turns into a game about the way we shape the stories we tell about our past... this game is for you. One of my favs.