Published and Developed by Tactical Adventures which was formed in 2018, Solasta is the first game they have made and they have done a great job, as I feel it is the best D&D experience I have had outside of actually playing D&D. Solasta: Crown of the Magister takes place in the land of Solasta many years after a cataclysmic event known as the Rift, a disaster that destroyed an empire and changed the course of the world. The remains of the empire are known as the Badlands, and only the bravest and strongest of adventures will venture to get reward with treasure long forgotten.

Sticking with the traditional four-person party, players can create their own heroes from scratch, starting as either a Human, Half-Elf, Dwarf, High Elf, or a Halfling, and the character creator system is very well done with wonderfully detailed features to pick from. You then get to choose a class for your character, featuring standard D&D skillsets such as being a Fighter, Paladin, Rogue, Wizard, Ranger, or a Cleric. There is also a back story section, and your selection will reflect how the character acts as well as how effectively they can talk their way out of a situation.

If you are looking for a more in-depth single-player experience that allows you to focus on a single character, you’ll find yourself somewhat disappointed. You create the party and you see the events from the group’s perspective for a while, so you’ll encounter numerous dialogue options, but actual character development takes a bit of a hit.

The combat Solasta: Crown of the Magister offers up is the best yet, with a combat system that is closest to the D&D ruleset I have encountered. I have played many games like this to fill my D&D void, and while others barely scratch that itch, Solasta: Crown of the Magister goes the extra step. Even simple things such as lighting during a fight can either be advantageous or a great disadvantage in an area for a fight and is just one of the small things I noticed they implemented.

The titles graphics are good, though there are a few slight issues with textures in the environment and features on the characters during the cutscenes that are still present from the preview I last played, but the voice acting is on point. Be it casual chatter in a tavern or the combat dialogue, it is great and really helps the characters feel more lively.

Newly added to Solasta is a Dungeon Creator. This will make any D&D fan happy as they’ll be able to make their own place and throw together a quick mission while playing the role of a Dungeon Master. The Creator Mode is easy to use with the tutorial system implemented, giving great in-depth instructions and well worth taking the time to read each window that pops up. I do hope over time an online play will be added in, but as it stands this is a great game. Multiplayer with friends and others in the community would just help to make it so much better.

Written by: Shane Walsh