Divinity: Original Sin II is a 2017 role-playing video game created by Larian Studios. It is the sequel to Divinity: Original Sin (2014) and the fifth main game in the Divinity series. The game was first released for Windows computers in September 2017. In the game, players control a character called a "Godwoken," who is hunted because they use a powerful type of magic called Source. The player becomes an important figure in a battle against creatures called Voidwoken, which are dangerous monsters that cause chaos in the medieval fantasy world of Rivellon.
Divinity: Original Sin II uses turn-based tactical role-playing game combat viewed from a 3D perspective above the action. The game emphasizes character growth, exploration, and interactions with non-player characters (NPCs). Players can make choices that affect the story and the world. The game allows players to complete quests in many different ways. The game was designed to be played alone or with others. Players can control one to four Godwoken characters by themselves or share control of characters with one to four other players.
The game was funded through a Kickstarter campaign that raised $2 million. It became a major success, selling over a million copies in two months. It is often called one of the best role-playing games ever made, with praise for its writing, interactive story, combat system, multiplayer features, and music. A special version called Divinity: Original Sin II – Definitive Edition was released in 2018 for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Later, it was also released for macOS, Nintendo Switch, and iPadOS. Bandai Namco Entertainment published the game for all platforms except Windows. A new game in the series, titled Divinity, was announced in December 2025.
Gameplay
Divinity: Original Sin II is a role-playing video game that uses an isometric view, meaning players see the game world from a top-down angle. Like its predecessor, Divinity: Original Sin, players can play alone or with others in cooperative multiplayer. However, Original Sin II allows up to four players in a group, while the first game limited groups to two players. Six pre-made characters with background stories are available, and players can also create a custom character, choosing their race, gender, background, and abilities at the start of the game. Custom characters have unique dialogue options based on their origin story, while the six pre-made characters have exclusive dialogue choices and one special side quest each that includes unique events and interactions. In the first game, only humans could be played, but Original Sin II adds elves, dwarves, and lizards, including undead versions. Each race may have occasional unique dialogue options and affect how non-playable characters (NPCs) behave.
Players can complete the game’s story using only their starting character, but they can also recruit up to three NPCs as companions who become fully playable. On the first island of the game, only the six pre-made characters are available as companions. Later, players can hire silent companions. When pre-made characters act as companions, they react to the player’s choices and may grow to like or dislike them, which can influence the story.
The game offers many preset class options but also allows players to create custom class combinations. Combat is turn-based and uses an action-point system, where players take turns performing actions until their action points are used up. Players can choose skills from up to ten different categories, many of which can be used outside of combat. Combining skills can cause powerful effects or unique outcomes. Both players and enemies can use the environment, such as water, ice, oil, and fire, to gain advantages. Characters have health and can wear physical or magical armor that reduces damage and blocks harmful effects. Once armor is destroyed, characters become vulnerable to direct damage and status effects. A skill crafting system lets players mix and change their skills.
Players can interact with both party members and NPCs. A dialogue tree gives players multiple choices during conversations. Many situations in the game have multiple solutions that can change the game world or affect progress. Usually, only the character who starts a conversation with an NPC is involved, but pre-made characters may join in if the NPC relates to their own quest. All NPCs can die, and killing certain characters may make quests harder or require players to find alternative ways to complete them. The game includes both online and local multiplayer modes. In cooperative multiplayer, each player controls one or more party members during exploration and battle. A competitive mode allows players to fight in teams on an arena.
Story
Divinity: Original Sin II is set in the medieval fantasy world of Rivellon, which takes place centuries after the events of Divinity: Original Sin. The story begins years after the death of Lucian, a powerful Human who was called "the Divine" by the people of Rivellon. He was believed to be chosen by the "Seven," the gods of Rivellon's main religion. Now, Rivellon is under attack by Voidwoken, mysterious creatures that harm all living things. Their attacks have grown worse since Lucian's death.
In Rivellon, Sourcerers are people born with the ability to control a type of energy called Source, which they use to cast spells. However, using Source draws the attention of Voidwoken, making Sourcerers feared and hated. To protect the world, the Divine Order, started by Lucian, created a group called the Magisters to capture or kill Sourcerers. Captured Sourcerers are sent to Fort Joy, a prison on Reaper's Eye, an island once ruled by Braccus Rex, a former tyrant known as the "Source King." The Magisters are led by Bishop Alexandar, Lucian's son, who claims to be the new Divine, and his advisor, Dallis.
The player controls a Sourcerer, who can be created by the player or chosen from six pre-made characters. These characters include Beast, a Dwarf determined to stop his cousin, the Dwarf Queen; Fane, an undead-looking member of a forgotten immortal race seeking answers about his people; Ifan ben-Mezd, a Human who was once a friend of Lucian and now fights as a mercenary; Lohse, a Human struggling to control a demon inside her; the Red Prince, a Lizard who was exiled for dealing with a demon and wants to reclaim his throne; and Sebille, an Elf seeking revenge against her former masters.
The player's Sourcerer is captured by the Divine Order and sent to Fort Joy on the ship Merryweather. The ship is attacked and sunk by a giant Kraken Voidwoken, but the Sourcerer is saved by a mysterious force that calls them "Godwoken." On Fort Joy, the Godwoken witnesses the harsh treatment of prisoners by the Magisters, who remove their Source and turn them into mindless soldiers. After escaping, the Godwoken meets the Seekers, a group searching for Sourcerers who might become the new Divine. The Godwoken also visits the Hall of Echoes, where they meet one of the Seven, who reveals that a magical barrier called the Veil is weakening, allowing Voidwoken to enter Rivellon and drain the Seven's Source. The Seven urge the Godwoken to become Divine and stop the Void before it destroys them.
With help from the Seekers and a half-demon named Malady, the Godwoken escapes Reaper's Eye after defeating Alexandar and taking his sentient ship, the Lady Vengeance. The Lady Vengeance is attacked by Dallis and her assistant, Vredeman, killing most of the Seekers. The ship barely escapes thanks to Malady. The Godwoken travels to Reaper's Coast, where they learn to use their Source powers. Their God directs them to the Well of Ascension, where they can absorb enough Source to become Divine. They also discover that Dallis has found the Aeteran, an artifact that can remove all Source from Rivellon.
The Godwoken meets Aeterna, a being claiming to be part of the Eternals, an ancient race that once lived in Rivellon. Aeterna explains that the Seven are Eternals who betrayed their kind, banishing them to the Void and creating the mortal races of Rivellon to maintain power by draining their Source. The Godwoken learns that the Voidwoken are the Eternals cast into the Void, and the God King, their leader, seeks to reclaim Rivellon.
At the Nameless Isle, where the Well of Ascension is located, the Godwoken learns that the Voidwoken and God King plan to return to Rivellon. After defeating Alexandar, the Godwoken reaches the Well, but Dallis destroys it with the Aeteran. The Godwoken's failure angers their God, who attacks them. The Godwoken defeats the God, killing the Seven.
The Godwoken travels to Arx, a city under attack by Voidwoken. They track Dallis and Vredeman to Lucian's tomb, where they find Lucian alive. Lucian reveals he faked his death and has been draining the Seven's Source to seal the Veil permanently, eliminating all Source in the world. Dallis, secretly an Eternal, has been helping Lucian with Vredeman, who is actually the resurrected Braccus Rex.
Braccus Rex breaks free of Dallis's control and attacks the Godwoken, Lucian, and Dallis. After defeating them, the player must choose one of four final options: become the new Divine, purge all Source to seal the Voidwoken forever, release Source to make all beings Divine, or allow the God King to return and restore Eternal rule.
Development
The game was first announced on August 12, 2015. It began its Kickstarter campaign on August 26. The campaign reached its $500,000 goal in under 12 hours. Some stretch goals were achieved before they were officially announced. In the end, all stretch goals were met, with more than $2 million raised in total. Larian Studios chose to return to Kickstarter to gather feedback from the community during development and to expand the game's original vision. The game's music was composed by Borislav Slavov, who took over from Kirill Pokrovsky, the previous series composer, who passed away in 2015.
The game became available for early access on Windows on September 15, 2016, and was fully released on September 14, 2017. Although a power outage occurred in Ghent, where Larian's studio is located, on the release day, the game was successfully launched. Within a week, it had 75,000 players online at the same time, making it one of the most played games on Steam at that time. A free "enhanced edition" update was provided to original owners. The game was later released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One by Bandai Namco Entertainment on August 31, 2018. It was also released for macOS on January 31, 2019, and for Nintendo Switch on September 4, 2019. A version for iPadOS was released on May 18, 2021.
Reception
Divinity: Original Sin II received "universal acclaim" according to Metacritic, a website that collects game reviews. Many critics and publications said it is one of the best role-playing games (RPGs) ever made. Rick Lane of Eurogamer called it a "masterpiece," saying it would take many years before another RPG could match its depth and choices. Adam Smith of Rock, Paper, Shotgun believed few games offer stories and adventures as engaging as Original Sin II. Leif Johnson of IGN praised the game's stories, quests, tactical battles, and ability to be played again, calling it one of the greatest RPGs ever made. GameSpot gave it a perfect score of 10/10, making it only the 14th game in their history to receive that rating. Mike Williams of US Gamer described it as the "pinnacle" of the computer role-playing game (CRPG) genre, praising its characters, choices, settings, and battles. Janine Hawkins of Polygon said the game was "stunningly ambitious" but noted it did not fully come together in all areas.
GameSpot's staff named it the fifth best game of the year, while Eurogamer ranked it 11th on their list of the "Top 50 Games of 2017." A month after its release, the game sold more than 700,000 copies, and over a million copies were sold by November 2017.