Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Lore & Background

Pathfinder: Kingmaker is set in the world of Golarian, the setting for Pathfinder, which is inhabited by races and creatures similar to Dungeons & Dragons, with some living in another dimension called the First World. The game's story takes place in the Stolen Lands, a harsh region plagued by bandits and monsters, serving as a buffer zone for several kingdoms including Brevoy, Pitax, and Mivon. The plot follows a hero who answers a summons from noble Jamandi Aldori to defeat the bandit leader known as the Stag Lord, after which they are granted their own barony and must manage a kingdom while contending with threats such as trolls, kobolds, and a mysterious condition called the Bloom.

The game's narrative involves a nymph called the Guardian of the Bloom, who initially aids the player but later ambushes them. Over time, the player discovers that many events were orchestrated by the Guardian, leading to a confrontation in the First World. The player's character can recruit companions, including established Pathfinder characters and new ones, and must appoint Advisors to manage kingdom stats and handle events. The alignment system fluctuates based on player choices, affecting dialogue options and how the kingdom is perceived.

Reader's Guide

Pathfinder: Kingmaker received mixed reviews, with praise for its story and management system but criticism of its difficulty curve and other problems. The game's unique aspect is its emphasis on realm-building, allowing players to acquire territories, construct settlements, and upgrade them from villages to towns to cities. Players must appoint Advisors to handle projects and kingdom events, using Crisis Points to increase success chances. The game's character customization includes classes, abilities, spells, and equipment, with an alignment system that shifts based on player actions.

An Enhanced Edition was released in 2019, and a console version called Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Definitive Edition arrived on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2020; a planned Nintendo Switch version was canceled. A sequel, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, was released in 2021. As of 2026, the game is owned by Knights Peak, a subsidiary of My.Games, and has sold over two million copies. Its legacy lies in adapting the Pathfinder tabletop system into a computer RPG with a focus on kingdom management, drawing comparisons to classic titles like Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights.

Did You Know?

• The game was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2017.
• The game's story is based on six modules from the Pathfinder Adventure Path campaign published in 2010.
• The player can conduct combat in either pausable real-time or turn-based mode.
• A Nintendo Switch version was planned but later canceled.