While Baldur’s Gate 3 undoubtedly dominates the conversation as perhaps the greatest Dungeons & Dragons video game ever made, there remains a legendary contender: Planescape: Torment. With its masterful blend of exceptional writing and a fever-dream setting, it holds a unique place in gaming history. Yet, the dream of a sequel—Planescape: Unraveled—remains tragically shelved.
The vision for a continuation was championed by those deeply invested in the classic RPG lineage, particularly Beamdog and figures like Trent Oster and former BioWare scribe David Gaider. They pitched their idea to Wizards of the Coast, envisioning how the narrative could evolve. The initial discussions were promising; they connected on concepts like tying the sequel into official source books.
But the dream hit a wall of corporate risk aversion. While the creative concept was well-received by the gaming community, the publishers proved hesitant to foot the bill for external development and take on the inherent risks. The cycle often seemed to follow: Wizards would consider internal development, find it too expensive, and then license the IP out to partners who could handle the financial burden.
When outside investors were brought in, the response was equally dismissive. As one source noted, pitches for external funding met with skepticism—the idea that spending money on an existing, profitable intellectual property might not yield sufficient returns. The frustration is palpable: the desire to realize a sequel clashed with a system prioritizing immediate financial safety over creative ambition.
For those who championed the original, the shelving of the sequel was deeply disheartening. It felt like being robbed by risk-averse publishers who preferred safe licensing deals over daring creative leaps. Despite not being an immediate commercial blockbuster, Planescape: Torment deserved a follow-up more than many realize.
The beauty of the original lies in its limitless potential. The setting of Sigil—that ever-shifting, intensely weird multiverse—is fertile ground for new adventures. Imagine what a modern sequel could achieve if it embraced that scope, marrying it with stronger combat systems and a deeper focus on tabletop-inspired roleplaying.
That kind of evolution could crown a new champion in the RPG genre. While waiting for that perfect realization, players are spoiled for choice with phenomenal successors like Torment: Tides of Numenera, the mind-bending narrative depth of Disco Elysium, and the sheer brilliance of Esoteric Ebb. These games share that unique, profound sense of world-building that made Planescape: Torment an enduring masterpiece.
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Credit: PC Gamer
