Biznooz

Tag: #CRPG

  • From Tabletop Dreamers to RPG Royalty: Celebrating 10 Years of Owlcat Games

    From Tabletop Dreamers to RPG Royalty: Celebrating 10 Years of Owlcat Games

    Ten years ago, a small party of passionate adventurers sat down at a metaphorical table, rolled their dice, and made a bold decision: they were going to build their own computer role-playing games (CRPGs).

    Fast forward to today, and Owlcat Games is officially celebrating its 10th birthday. What started as a tight-knit indie crew with big dreams has evolved into one of the most respected powerhouses in the modern RPG renaissance—and they are now even helping other indie devs as a third-party publisher.

    To celebrate a decade of critical hits, natural 1s, and legendary storytelling, Owlcat dropped an epic anniversary trailer looking back at their incredible journey. Let’s take a look at how this studio redefined the genre.

    The Critical Hits: A Decade of Mastery

    Owlcat didn’t just step into the CRPG arena; they conquered it. Their journey is a testament to what happens when tabletop lovers get the keys to the digital kingdom.

    1. The Pathfinder Era

    The studio put itself on the map by adapting Paizo’s beloved tabletop system.

    • Pathfinder: Kingmaker (2018): Despite a bumpy, bug-heavy launch, Owlcat’s dedication to community feedback and relentless patching transformed this kingdom-building RPG into a cult classic.
    • Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (2021): A monumental achievement. Selling over a million copies, it gave players unprecedented role-playing freedom, unforgettable companions, and the epic Mythic Path system. It remains a high-water mark for modern isometric RPGs.

    2. Venturing into the Grimdark 41st Millennium

    • Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (2023): Owlcat took a massive leap from high fantasy into sci-fi, delivering what many consider one of the absolute best games in the Warhammer 40k universe. It captured the vast, bureaucratic, and brutal nature of the setting flawlessly.

    Levelling Up: Becoming a Publisher

    Perhaps the biggest testament to Owlcat’s growth is their evolution into a third-party publisher. Instead of just focusing on their own campaigns, they are now using their industry weight, knowledge, and resources to champion other indie developers creating deep, narrative-driven experiences. They’ve grown from a party of adventurers into the ultimate Guildmasters.

    What’s Next on the Horizon?

    If you thought Owlcat was planning to rest on its laurels for the next decade, think again. The studio already has some incredibly tantalising projects cooking in the war room:

    • Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy: Returning to the grimdark universe, this upcoming RPG promises to let players dive deep into the investigative, perilous world of the Inquisition.
    • The Expanse: Osiris Reborn: Moving away from traditional isometric formats, this newly revealed title is set to feature Mass Effect-style combat in the beloved hard sci-fi universe of The Expanse.

    “We had no idea what kind of campaign was ahead – the lucky rolls, the critical failures, TENTACLES, the moments we wanted to flip the table and the moments we couldn’t believe we pulled it off! But you were there… The campaign is far from over!” > — Owlcat Games Team

    From all of us at Biznooz, Happy 10th Birthday, Owlcat! May the dice rolls ever be in your favour.

    Source – https://owlcat.games/

    #CRPG #OwlcatGames #RogueTrader #PathfinderWotR #GamingNews

  • A Divine Disaster: Esoteric Ebb Lands on PC This March 3rd

    A Divine Disaster: Esoteric Ebb Lands on PC This March 3rd

    Get your d20s ready and your existential dread polished. Publisher Raw Fury and solo developer Christoffer Bodegård have officially announced that the highly anticipated “Disco-like” fantasy CRPG, Esoteric Ebb, will launch on March 3, 2026, for PC via Steam.

    If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you dropped a 5e Cleric into the middle of a political thriller written by a philosophy professor on a caffeine bender, this is the game for you.

    The Setup: Tea, Politics, and Explosions – In Esoteric Ebb, you step into the muddy boots of The Cleric—less of a holy warrior and more of a “glorified government goon” tasked with menial labour. The setting is Norvik, a sprawling Arcanepunk metropolis on the verge of its first-ever democratic election.

    The campaign kicks off when a local tea shop explodes. Naturally, since no one else wants to touch the paperwork, you and your goblin companion, Snell, are sent to investigate. What begins as a simple “whodunnit” quickly spirals into a web of political conspiracies, ancient secrets, and internal debates with the voices in your own head.

    Key Features: Why You Should Care – Esoteric Ebb wears its inspirations on its sleeve, blending the deep, narrative-driven DNA of Disco Elysium with the mechanical soul of tabletop RPGs.

    The Questing Tree: Forget standard quest logs. This system combines your journal, skill tree, and mind map into one. As you progress, “Quest Branches” take root in your mind, unlocking game-changing feats and altering your playstyle.

    Trust the Dice: Success is great, but in true TTRPG fashion, failure is often where the best stories happen. Whether you’re trying to wrestle a dwarf or talk your way out of a bribe, a bad roll won’t end the game—it’ll just make it weirder.

    Warp Reality: You aren’t just a detective; you’re a practitioner of the esoteric. Use magic to read minds, detect secrets in the city’s underground tunnels, or even speak with the dead (though they usually have nothing nice to say).

    The Voices Within: Your Ability Stats aren’t just numbers; they are personalities that will interrupt, argue, and advise you during dialogue, often leading to “wonderfully ridiculous” outcomes.

    Play the “First Day” Right Now – Can’t wait until next Tuesday? You don’t have to. A substantial demo is currently available on Steam.

    Pro Tip: The demo allows you to play through the entire “First Day” of the game, covering nearly 50% of the content thanks to its non-linear design. Best of all? Your save file will carry over to the full launch on March 3.

    Final Verdict – With a completionist run clocking in at around 50 hours (or one hour if you’re a speedrunning god with incredible luck), Esoteric Ebb is shaping up to be the next indie darling for RPG fans who value agency over action.

    Mark your calendars for March 3. Whether you save Norvik or bumble your way into accidental tyranny, it’s going to be a hell of a ride.

    Find out more here – https://esotericebb.com/

    #RawFury #ChristofferBodegard #fantasy #CRPG #EsotericEbb #games #gaming #gamers #platformgames #gameplay #demogames #videogames