Fit check
Is Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- RPG players who want to shape characters without fixed classes
- Fantasy fans interested in settings combining magic with industrial technology
- Players who prefer solving quests through combat, dialogue, or theft
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking a compact adventure may find the world’s stated traversal time of over 30 real-time hours too large
- Players who prefer a single straightforward combat format may not want a game offering both real-time and turn-based encounters
- Players looking for a puzzle game or a focused prison-escape story may prefer another type of RPG
Our take on Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
The broad character system trades simplicity for choice: progression spans attributes, skills, spells, and technology disciplines. The large setting and multiple quest approaches also require players to manage more possibilities than a tightly directed adventure.
What is Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura?
Arcanum is a role-playing game set in a world where magic and industrial technology coexist.
Character development uses a classless, point-based system covering 8 basic attributes, more than a dozen derived statistics, 16 skills, 80 spells across 16 magical colleges, and 56 technological degrees in 8 disciplines. The world reacts to the character’s chosen path. Exploration includes more than 300 characters and monster types, quests with solutions involving combat, conversation, or theft, and day-night cycles that affect gameplay. Combat can run in real time or turn by turn. Automatic character management is available, and the game includes an online cooperative or competitive multiplayer scenario.
How Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura plays
- 01Classless Character Building
- Point-based progression covers attributes, derived statistics, skills, magic colleges, and technology disciplines.
- 02Magic And Technology
- Character development can follow either magical or technological paths, with the world responding to that choice.
- 03Multiple Quest Solutions
- Quests can be approached through fighting, dialogue, or stealing.
- 04Flexible Combat Modes
- Encounters can use real-time action or turn-based planning.
- 05Day-Night Effects
- The passage of day and night changes elements such as combat and thieving skills.
- 06Online Multiplayer Scenario
- An included scenario supports cooperative or competitive online play.
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura compared to similar games
Arcanum centers on a broad, reactive world with classless character development, magic and technology paths, and quests open to combat, dialogue, or theft. Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition emphasizes an unconventional story and character-focused exploration of a strange city, while Back to the Dawn focuses on surviving and escaping a maximum-security prison.
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura: platforms & release
Is Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura worth it?
It is worth it if: RPG players who want to shape characters without fixed classes. Skip it if: players seeking a compact adventure may find the world’s stated traversal time of over 30 real-time hours too large.
Where can I download Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura on?
Windows only.
