The Pillars of the Earth
Review

The Pillars of the Earth (2017) is a point-and-click narrative game set in 12^th Century England. It follows the story of three very different people living in the village of Kingsbridge as it begins the construction of a cathedral to claim wealth and security. It stands out for its voice-acting that invites players to interact and influence this famous tale.

You play as Jack, Aliena and Philip as they explore each scene and influence how events unfold through decision-making and talking to other characters. Philip is a monk who looks after a small abbey. Jack is a young boy raised in the woods who becomes a stonemason. Aliena is a disgraced noblewoman. It's soon clear that these three lives have intertwining destinies wrapping around the construction of one of the greatest cathedrals England will ever see.

As you progress through the three episodes, you change events and influence how things unfold for each character. This takes you through an epic of war, conspiracies and romance spanning over 30 years. Although you can't alter the actual resulting events, you can dramatically alter your relationships and more minor features. At the end of each chapter, there's a summary of your decisions where you see how even innocuous choices can result in unexpected results.

The result is a unique way to experience this famous novel. The world is brought to life with over 200 handpainted backgrounds and animated characters. It's a slow and steady retelling of the novel, that creates both intrigue and involvement from the player.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked The Pillars of the Earth 9 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 5 months ago.