Arx Fatalis

Arx Fatalis takes place in a world plunged into eternal darkness after the sun disappeared. Communities fled underground into mines that became cities, and the wars between trolls, goblins, rat-men and humans intensified as food and drink ran out. Akbaa, the god of destruction, has risen to exploit the chaos.

The rune-drawing magic system is the signature mechanic. Fifty spells cast through mid-air mouse gestures, combined and layered, give the magic side of the game tactile weight rare for the genre. Character creation lets you allocate skill points across spellcasting, weapons, armor and stealth to build your champion as a fighter, mage or hybrid.

Arkane's signature design philosophy shows in the nonlinear pathing through ancient temples, bustling cities and abandoned mines. Multiple endings respond to your choices throughout, and intelligent storytelling threads through puzzles that respect the player's intelligence rather than gating progress behind brute force.