Start your Divinity journey with Divinity: Original Sin 2

As an avid RPG fan, the first game I recommend to anyone looking to get into Larian Studios‘ acclaimed Divinity series is Divinity: Original Sin 2 (DOS2). With its stellar critical reception, beginner-friendly design, and excellent introduction to Divinity‘s complex gameplay systems, this 2017 release stands out as the best entry point.

Universal acclaim from critics and fans

Let‘s start by looking at how DOS2 stacks up against previous Divinity games in terms of critical appraise and user reviews:

As this data shows, DOS2 received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both professional critics and Divinity fans since its 2017 release. Review aggregator Metacriticcompiled 93 critic reviews for a 93 average score – placing it among Metacritic‘s highest rated RPGs of all time.

Meanwhile, the sequel‘s "Overwhelmingly Positive" 97% rating from over 125,000 Steam players dwarfs the 85% and 95% ratings achieved by earlier Divinity titles Beyond Divinity and Divine Divinity respectively.

Clearly, fans and reviewers alike consider DOS2 a genre masterpiece and one of Larian Studios‘ finest achievements.

Accessible gameplay and mechanics

Unlike some classic CRPGs, Divinity: Original Sin 2 offers an accessible starting experience that teaches you the ropes before ramping up the complexity.

The opening island area and tutorial act as an opportunity to grasp basics like:

• Turn-based combat fundamentals
• Basic character building
• Inventory and vendor interactions
• Quest tracking
• Environmental interactions

This ensures first-timers won‘t feel overwhelmed. One Steam reviewer wrote:

Even having never played a game like this, the learning curve felt smooth. In a few hours I was experimenting with combos and manipulating enemies.

Meanwhile, fans of classic Divinity or seasoned CRPG veterans can crank up the difficulty and disable helper waypoints for additional challenge. But the choice is yours.

It‘s the pinnacle of the franchise

According to many enthusiasts, DOS2 represents the culmination of decades of RPG development at Larian Studios. They iterated on past Divinity games‘ successes and missteps to create their magnum opus.

In PCGamesN‘s Divinity retrospective, the author declares:

Divinity: Original Sin 2 fulfils the promise shown by Divine Divinity and takes Larian‘s recipe to its limits. It‘s the superior RPG.

Meanwhile, RPGCodex users overwhelming voted DOS2 above all others in the site‘s "best RPGs of all time" poll.

So by almost any measure, this entry perfects Divinity‘s formula.

For newcomers and CRPG experts alike, Divinity: Original Sin 2 stands out as the ideal entry point into Larian Studios‘ catalogue. Its critical and commercial success prove the developers created something extraordinary.

Yet unlike early Divinity games, DOS2 offers accessible gameplay with enough depth to satisfy hardcore fans. These factors cement it as the quintessential Divinity experience.

If Larian‘s intricate combat, emphasis on player choice, and reactive world appeal to you, why not start with their undisputed masterpiece? You won‘t regret embarking on this journey.