Obsidian’s Pentiment: Platforms, trailer, plot & everything we know

❘ Updated: 2022-11-08T11:00:00

Obsidian

Pentiment is a new medieval narrative game from Obsidian, the team behind The Outer Worlds. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

Pentiment is a new murder mystery game set in 16th century Germany revealed during Xbox and Bethesda’s June 2022 event. The game’s trailer shows Pentiment to be a narrative adventure taking place within the pages of an old book, and it will also feature RPG elements with player choice influencing outcomes and the flow of the story. As the pages turn, the narrative will play out based on previous events.

The art style of the game is inspired by medieval art similar to the Bayeux Tapestry. However, in truth, the art is based on a combination of styles from various centuries, giving the game its own unique look. Here’s everything we know about Pentiment.

Release date
Platforms
Trailers
Gameplay & setting

Pentiment’s art style is reminiscent of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Does Pentiment have a release date?

Pentiment will release on November 15 2022, as announced on the Xbox Booth at Gamescom 2022.

Platforms

As the game is being developed by Xbox’s Obsidian Entertainment, Pentiment is only slated to release on Xbox Series X|S, and PC. PlayStation and Nintendo platforms are unlikely to be included.

Pentiment will release on day one on Steam and Xbox Game Pass.

Pentiment screenshot showing dialogue choices

Player choice will influence everything in Pentiment.

Pentiment Trailers

We’ll keep track of all of the Pentiment trailers below:

Announcement Trailer

Gameplay and setting

Players will take on the role of Andreas Maler, a traveler, and artist working in Kiersau Abbey during a time of great social upheaval. However, players will be able to make up their own back-story for Andreas upon arrival. The game has been described as a “narrative adventure with RPG elements” rather than a full RPG like many of Obsidian’s prior works.

Upon arrival, Andreas will become embroiled in a murder mystery and must survive the story’s twists and turns while also building a life for himself in a medieval town – all while completing his masterpiece.

Every decision the player makes will impact the ending and story of the game, including the fate of Andreas and the characters he interacts with on his journey. If Andreas misses an appointment with an NPC in order to complete another task or meet another, this could have ramifications later on.

Andreas will need to solve a murder to exonerate one of his friends.

The game is set in 1518 in a town called Tassing in Upper Bavaria (East Germany). While the town and Abbey are both fictional, they are inspired by real places from the region during the same time period. Much of the game will be spent exploring the town, talking to NPCs, and gathering clues to piece together the story and solve the murder.

The events will also take place over many years, with time jumps splitting the action. The aim of the game is to solve the murder and clear the name of Andreas’ mentor and friend. The protagonist will need to gather as much evidence as possible and make their case. However, the developers have revealed that the true murderer may never be fully revealed and that it’s up to the player to reach this conclusion.

Andreas will sometimes find himself in tense and dangerous situations, this is when certain skills, developed in his past will come in handy, be it solving a problem or talking his way out of trouble.

So, that’s everything we know so far about Pentiment. For more on the biggest upcoming releases, check out our pages on some of the most-anticipated games that have been announced: