Pillars of Eternity: The White March Part 1

This is a worthy expansion of the main game that adds two new characters (Zahua the monk and robotic rogue the Devil of Caroc) as well as new locations, gear, levels, and objectives. This superb new content takes players on a breathtaking adventure that offers them plenty of opportunity to engage in good old-fashioned role-playing. The expansion starts by adding two new character levels (the new max is 14) and improving the behaviors of non-player characters; that means smarter companions and smarter enemies. To defeat the latter, players can dabble in talents outside their own class and make use of powerful new soul-bound weapons.

Cool as these things are, they pale in comparison to the expansion's new story line. The White March is an icy region full of beastly dangers such as wolves and trolls and more human threats such as mercenaries and religious fanatics. The region is as beautiful as it is treacherous, marked by snow-covered vales and shadowy ruins and begs to be explored. Conspiracies, legends, and hidden treasures are revealed as players make acquaintances and learn a variety of cool new spells and abilities. Clocking in at around three hours, this new chapter tells a well-developed story with a satisfying conclusion, and it whets players' appetites for what's coming in Part 2.