The success ofPentimentand its murder-mystery narrative puts the game in a good position to receive a sequel continuing story threads left after its conclusion.Obsidian Entertainment’s latest title puts players at the heart of 16th-Century Bavaria in the small village of Tassing, with its nearby Kiersau Abbey driving a conflict between local villagers and the Abby’s monks. However, the themes ofPentimentextend beyond the confines of its small-town setting, making it possible for a sequel set outside of Bavaria.
The ending ofPentimentsees the town of Tassing starting to rebuild after the traumatic events of the game’s 25-year-long story. Main characters Andreas and Magdalene are left to deal with the fallout of the finale, which reveals that the town’s Pagan roots run deeper than they seemed. While a sequel or evenPentimentDLCcould follow the story of Magdalene as she travels to the bustling city of Prague,Pentiment’s universal themes and worldly characters leave the door open to a variety of possible settings.
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Andreas' Potential Backgrounds Hint at Future Settings
One feature ofPentiment’s role-playing mechanics is the ability to shape thebackground of protagonist Andreasby choosing where he has studied and worked across various parts of Europe. Depending on which options the player chooses, Andreas can gain access to boons that help unlock dialogue over the course of the game. For example, choosing to spend his Wanderjahre in Italy allows Andreas to understand some Italian and Greek, which can help players decipher clues.
Aside from influencing available dialogue options, the potential backgrounds for Andreas also provide clues as to wherePentiment’s story could head next. Italy is a prime location for a future sequel since it is home to the Vatican, the heart of the Catholic Church. Given the theme of religious conflict between the Church and Paganism, as well as Catholicism and Protestantism, a story taking place so close to the epicenter of the Catholic Church could have interesting narrative implications.Pentiment’s village of Tassingalso has ties to the Roman Empire that play a crucial role in its story, and could connect a sequel to the historic capital city of Rome.
At the start of Act 2, players can expand Andreas' background by choosing where he spent the last seven years working as an artist. One of these choices that would make for a great potential setting is England due to the conflict between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church after its founding in 1534. This date fits right in with thetime period ofPentiment’s setting, making it a natural choice for a future story. The Roman Empire also conquered parts of England during its height, giving the location a tie to Tassing’s history.
With a lot of room left for storytelling,Pentimentdeserves a sequel that can expand on the themes of religious conflict and tradition while also exploring a new setting. Although the ending ofPentimentimplies that Andreas' days of adventuring are over, his well-traveled background could find him at the center of a new story should the game get a follow-up. While Obsidian hasn’t yet confirmed future content related toPentiment,the groundwork has already been laid for a title that translatesPentiment’s major themesto a new historical setting, so the studio could have more in store.
Pentimentis available now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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