While Baldur's Gate 3 offers players ample opportunity to embrace a villainous persona, from betraying companions to ascending as a vampire lord, some dedicated fans of morally ambiguous or depraved choices might find that even its expansive narrative eventually nudges players toward mercy or penalizes dark decisions by cutting off questlines. This often feels like the necessary compromise for exploring villainy in contemporary RPGs.
However, Obsidian Entertainment's 2016 dark fantasy CRPG, Tyranny, presents an alternative by eschewing traditional good-versus-evil narratives. In Tyranny, evil has already conquered the world, and players assume the role of a Fatebinder, a judge and law enforcer serving the god-emperor Kyros. The game immediately immerses the player in this premise by presenting an interactive war-map storybook. Here, players make pivotal decisions about which factions to crush and which alliances to forge, knowing they will likely be betrayed later. This narrative setup, reminiscent of Obsidian's later titles like The Outer Worlds and Pentiment, builds a history directly shaped by the player's answers, establishing from the outset that their choices will provoke horror in the game's inhabitants.
Once the player has firmly established their role as a tyrannical figure, the game allows for a wide range of depraved actions. Players can choose to annihilate populations in specific regions, destroy libraries containing unwanted knowledge, or plunge territories into famine and ruin through calculated strategy or careless whim. An early-game decision might involve poisoning a town's water supply to break its resistance. Such actions are not forgotten; townsfolk will confront the player directly about these deeds throughout the game, a level of accountability that mirrors the potential real-world consequences. While a tyrant wouldn't apologize, these characters will continue to bring up past misdeeds, prompting the player to consider whether to ignore their guilt or find ways to silence them.
Unlike games that might offer a helpful warning light for disapproving characters, Tyranny avoids assisting in malevolence. Betraying a trusted ally does not come with a clear notification; instead, the game simply informs the player of the resulting consequences, leaving them to navigate the fallout without a clear path forward. This can lead to moments of introspection, where players might pause to consider the weight of their decisions.
The game's relationship tracking system further enhances its grim, calculating atmosphere. Instead of a traditional morality slider, Tyranny tracks the 'Favor' and 'Wrath' different factions feel towards the player, alongside the 'Loyalty' and 'Fear' inspired in companions. These metrics are not binary; a player can simultaneously instill fear and unwavering loyalty in the same companion, or be admired by one faction while despised by another. Companions like Lantry, a scholar, might detest the player, while Sirin, a young woman with volatile powers, might remain steadfastly loyal. These companions are integral to the game's real-time-with-pause combat and courtroom-style confrontations, and their complex emotional states can be exploited for the player's benefit.
As players progress, they are faced with a critical decision: continue serving Kyros or turn their forces against the empire. The game's conclusion, potentially impacted by budget constraints during development at Obsidian, may feel abrupt or unsatisfying. However, the experience of confronting one's own nature and the philosophical questions raised by Tyranny ensure it remains a memorable playthrough.
Tyranny serves as a unique self-examination, prompting players to consider the extent of their own capacity for ruthlessness. Its exploration of consequence and power draws parallels to Planescape: Torment, another game renowned for its philosophical depth. For players who enjoyed the darker narrative paths offered in Baldur's Gate 3, Tyranny provides a compelling, purpose-built alternative that has been available since 2016 and is currently playable on Windows PC via Steam.