Many players today immediately think of Baldurs Gate when it comes to Dungeons and Dragons CRPGs. However, even before that big success, the modern CRPG Solasta appeared, a game that implemented the rules of the tabletop RPG particularly accurately. CRPGs are Computer Role Playing Games, often also called Classic RPGs, meaning a game that is deeply rooted in pen and paper rules. Solasta Crown of the Magister was released in 2021 and quickly became a hidden gem for fans of classic tactical role playing games.
Summary
- Solasta Crown of the Magister – An RPG inspired by real tabletop
- The combat system – Why Solasta offers the best D&D gameplay for many players
- The party and character creation – A classic CRPG feeling
- Community content and DLC – Why Solasta was supported for a long time
- Solasta 2 – The new generation of tactical CRPGs
- Conclusion: Solasta – A hidden gem for CRPG fans with a bright future
Players who enjoy turn based combat and party management in particular will find a very authentic RPG experience here. Now the series has received a sequel. On March 12, Solasta 2 was released in Early Access, expanding the concept significantly. The game introduces a new world, a new story, and modern technology that aims to take the series to the next level. That is why today we take another look at the history of this underrated RPG series.
Solasta Crown of the Magister – An RPG inspired by real tabletop
The first game in the series is called: Solasta Crown of the Magister. The game was developed by the French indie studio Tactical Adventures and released on May 27, 2021 for PC, with later ports for Xbox and PlayStation 5. The idea and goal behind the game was to create the most authentic digital Dungeons and Dragons experience possible. The funding for the project began through a Kickstarter campaign in 2019.
Solasta Crown of the Magister is based on the SRD 5.1 ruleset of the fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons. These rules could be used freely by the developers, but they had to create their own world and lore since official DnD content is protected. The game takes strong inspiration from classic CRPGs such as Baldur’s Gate or Neverwinter Nights. The gameplay focuses on turn based tactical combat heavily inspired by tabletop mechanics.
Tactical Adventures then created their own fantasy world called Solasta. The story takes place thousands of years after a massive catastrophe known as the Cataclysm. This event destroyed the once powerful elven empire of Manacalon. Since then, many regions of the world have been left in ruins and are filled with monsters and ancient magic.
You follow a group of adventurers who are sent by the Council of Kingdoms on a mission to find ancient artifacts from a lost empire. These relics are connected to the mysterious Crown of the Magister. During your journey, your party explores ancient cities, ruins, and of course dangerous dungeons. Even though Solasta had a relatively small budget, the developers created a hidden gem among classic RPG fans. Players who enjoy pen and paper role playing games especially appreciate how faithfully the rules of the system were implemented.
The combat system – Why Solasta offers the best D&D gameplay for many players
The combat system in Solasta is entirely based on turn based battles, similar to classic tabletop sessions. As soon as enemies are discovered, the game automatically switches into turn based combat mode. The order of characters is determined by initiative rolls, just like in the tabletop system. The dice rolls are visible in the interface, allowing players to clearly see the damage and results of every attack or spell. Each round consists of movement, a main action, and possible bonus actions.
Actions can include attacks, spells, items, or exclusive class abilities. Bonus actions allow additional abilities such as quick attacks or certain spells. Players can also use reactions, such as an Attack of Opportunity when an enemy runs past them. Solasta uses a three dimensional combat map with verticality, where positioning becomes especially important. Height differences can provide tactical advantages, particularly for ranged fighters. Depending on the location, it is even possible to push enemies off cliffs or platforms.
One particularly interesting system in the game is the lighting system. Some monsters can see better in darkness than the player characters, which means fighting in dark areas can bring disadvantages. In these situations, players must actively use torches, spells, or other light sources, which can also come with combat drawbacks. However, players must use everything around them. Bridges can be destroyed to make enemies fall or block their path. Some objects can even be dropped onto enemies. Through this combination of real D&D rules, positioning, and environment interaction, Solasta creates a very tactical combat system.
The party and character creation – A classic CRPG feeling
At the beginning of Solasta: Crown of the Magister you create your own party of four adventurers who travel together through the campaign. If you do not want to create four characters, you can also choose from pre made characters that already have classes and abilities. This group will stay with you for the entire campaign and cannot be replaced. For each character you must choose race, class, and background. There are several fantasy races available, including humans, elves, dwarves, and halflings. Races influence attributes, abilities, and special bonuses.
The classes also follow the Dungeons and Dragons ruleset very closely. Typical classes include Wizard, Fighter, Rogue, Cleric, or Ranger, and each class also has subclasses that further specialize the playstyle. Every class has its own abilities, equipment, and spells. During the campaign, characters gain experience points and level up. When leveling up, your characters receive new abilities, spells, or talents. The background of your characters determines starting equipment, abilities, and certain dialogue options.
Party members actively participate in dialogues and depending on their personality or background they comment on situations and decisions. This often leads to small conversations or humorous remarks within the group. You can assemble your party in many different ways. Many players prefer the classic combination of a tank, support, and damage classes, but unusual party combinations are also possible. That freedom is exactly what many players appreciated about Solasta.
Community content and DLC – Why Solasta was supported for a long time
After its release in 2021, Solasta: Crown of the Magister continued to be supported until mid 2023. The developers released regular updates and expansions, which kept the game relevant for RPG fans. Over time the game received several major DLCs that expanded it with new classes, races, campaigns, and gameplay options. An early example is the Primal Calling DLC. This expansion introduced new classes such as Barbarian, Half Orc, and Druid.
Story expansions were also released. One of the most popular is the Lost Valley campaign, which launched in April 2022. This DLC adds a completely new campaign from level 1 to 12. In it you explore new regions and make decisions between different factions. The original story was also continued later in the Palace of Ice DLC. This expansion continues the main story and focuses on high level parties between level 10 and 16. It also introduces new enemies, areas, equipment, and races.
A particularly important feature that was added for free after release was the Dungeon Maker. With this tool players can create their own dungeons and campaigns. These adventures can then be shared online with other players, creating a huge amount of additional free content. Many players created their own campaigns with new stories, quests, and battles. A multiplayer co op mode was also introduced, allowing players to experience the campaign together with friends. Through DLCs, updates, and community content, Solasta continued to grow for years and significantly extended the lifespan of the game.
Solasta 2 – The new generation of tactical CRPGs
After the success of Solasta: Crown of the Magister, developer Tactical Adventures announced Solasta 2 during The Game Awards 2024 and immediately sparked strong interest among CRPG fans. The game aims to further develop the ideas of the first title while delivering a much larger and more modern player experience. Early Access launched on March 12, 2026 on Steam for PC. This version currently contains the first act of the campaign, offering around 10 to 15 hours of gameplay. Early Access is mainly used to gather community feedback and expand the game until its final release.
The story of Solasta 2 takes place several decades after the events of the first game. The setting has also changed. The sequel takes place on the new continent of Neokos. This region has barely been explored and contains areas full of ancient ruins and dangerous creatures. You take control of four Colwall siblings who begin a dangerous journey after the death of their adoptive mother. Once again you create a party of four characters with different classes, races, and abilities. During their journey they encounter divine powers, ancient secrets, and political conflicts.
During their travels they discover a mysterious threat called Shadwyn, which plays a central role in the story. The narrative places a strong focus on the relationship between the siblings, making dialogues and decisions more connected. From a gameplay perspective, Solasta 2 remains true to its DNA. It again features turn based combat with a focus on tactics and positioning. The mechanics are based on the fifth edition rules of Dungeons and Dragons, now using the updated 2024 version of the rules.
At the start of Early Access there are six playable classes available: Fighter, Rogue, Cleric, Paladin, Wizard, and Sorcerer. Each class also includes multiple subclasses that significantly change the playstyle. However, not everything remains the same, several gameplay systems have been expanded. Players now have more options for prepared actions and tactical planning. This is meant to make battles feel even closer to a real Dungeons and Dragons session. During Early Access the developers plan numerous updates and expansions, including new classes, playable races, and additional story chapters.
Once new content is released, the level cap will also be increased significantly. New systems such as factions, crafting, and additional gameplay features are also planned. A co op mode like in the first game is not yet available but is expected to be added during Early Access. Developer Tactical Adventures plans to develop Solasta 2 in Early Access for at least one year, meaning a full release is likely not expected before 2027. With modern technology, a new world, and expanded gameplay systems, Solasta 2 aims to represent the next generation of tactical CRPGs. For fans of classic role playing games, it could become one of the most exciting RPG releases in the coming years.
Conclusion: Solasta – A hidden gem for CRPG fans with a bright future
With Solasta: Crown of the Magister, Tactical Adventures showed that even a relatively small indie studio can create a complex and deep CRPG that strongly follows classic pen and paper rules. The faithful implementation of Dungeons and Dragons mechanics, the tactical combat system, and the flexible party creation made Solasta a hidden gem among fans of traditional role playing games. Through numerous updates, DLCs, and community content, the game remained relevant for several years and built a loyal player base.
With Solasta 2 the series is now preparing for its next major step. Early Access already shows that the developers want to keep the core concept while expanding and modernizing it. A new world, a more focused story around the four siblings, and improved systems aim to bring the experience even closer to a real Dungeons and Dragons session. If Tactical Adventures successfully delivers the planned content, Solasta 2 could not only continue the success of the first game but also establish itself as one of the most important modern tactical CRPGs in the long term.
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I've played the first Solasta. The engine was a bit clunky and the cutscenes were not great. The gameplay was fine though. This one seems to be more enjoyable, at least aesthetically. I will give it a shot when it comes out of Early Access.