Solasta: Crown of the Magister

Solasta: Crown of the Magister is Tactical Adventures’ 2021 party-based RPG, and it stands out from the rest of this list in one specific way: it’s the only game here built with an official license from Wizards of the Coast to implement Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules directly, rather than adapting them loosely. You lead a party of four adventurers through a fallen empire, chasing an ancient relic called the Crown of the Magister while dice-driven combat plays out exactly as it would on a tabletop.

Built by a small independent studio, it’s a genuinely more modest production than Baldur’s Gate 3 or Divinity: Original Sin 2, and that budget gap shows in places, but the tactical combat and verticality-focused level design earned it real respect from the CRPG community.

It’s a good fit if authentic D&D rules matter more to you than production polish.

Curious how it stacks up against the rest of the genre? See where it lands in our ranking of the best party-based RPG games you can play right now.

Is Solasta: Crown of the Magister Worth It?

Yes, with real caveats, and this is genuinely the most mixed reception of any game on this list. OpenCritic rates it “Strong” at 75 from 32 critics, but only 56% of them actually recommend it, and Metacritic’s user score sits at a genuinely mixed 7.0, 55% positive, 29% mixed, 16% negative. Reviewers consistently praise the tactical combat and just how faithfully it recreates the feel of a tabletop D&D session, verticality, environmental interaction, and dice rolls that actually matter.

Just as consistently, reviewers flag real budget constraints: stiff, poorly animated character models, a story multiple critics described as missing clear opportunities or lacking real weight, and a smaller selection of classes, races, and subclasses than the full 5th Edition ruleset offers. One reviewer put it plainly, “rough around the edges,” and that phrase shows up again and again across different outlets. The PS5 version specifically drew additional criticism for weaker performance, no cross-platform play, and no local co-op, PC via Steam is the version most reviewers recommend if you have the choice.

Gameplay & Features

Character creation covers seven classes and five races at base, with subclass options adding real depth even though some fan-favorite picks, like barbarian, didn’t make the initial cut. Combat runs fully turn-based on D&D 5th Edition’s SRD ruleset, initiative, action economy, attacks of opportunity, and height and cover genuinely affect outcomes, level design leans hard into verticality specifically to take advantage of that.

A built-in level and campaign creator, praised in multiple reviews as a genuine highlight, lets players build and share their own D&D-style adventures. Several paid DLC expansions have added new classes, subclasses, and content since launch.

• An officially licensed, faithful implementation of D&D 5th Edition rules
• Turn-based tactical combat built around verticality and environmental interaction
• A built-in level and campaign creator for building custom adventures
• Multiple difficulty modes, including options that reduce reliance on dice-roll RNG
• 20-40 hours for the main campaign, longer with DLC expansions

PC System Requirements

Solasta sits comfortably in the middle of this list for hardware demands, more than the older Pillars of Eternity, but well under Baldur’s Gate 3.

Mac support exists but requires Apple Silicon paired with an external GPU, worth knowing if you’re on a MacBook without one. There’s no official Linux version, though Steam Play’s Proton compatibility layer works for some players. Console players can find it on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, though PC remains the most consistently recommended platform.

How to Buy & Play Solasta: Crown of the Magister

It’s priced at $29.99, and it goes on sale often, sometimes dropping as low as $7.49.

• Buy Solasta: Crown of the Magister on Steam, for Windows and macOS.
• Also available on GOG, Xbox, and PlayStation 5.

After purchase, install through your chosen storefront. Buying on PC rather than console is worth prioritizing here specifically, given the PS5 version’s weaker performance and missing features. A sequel, Solasta II, is confirmed heading into Early Access in 2026 if you’d rather wait for a more polished follow-up. For a similarly authentic D&D experience with a bigger budget behind it, Baldur’s Gate 3 is worth comparing against, and our full RPG catalog covers more options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Solasta: Crown of the Magister worth buying?
Yes, particularly for D&D fans who value rules authenticity over production polish. It’s the most consistently mixed-reviewed game on this list, praised for tactical combat and faithful 5E rules, criticized for rough visuals, a thin story, and missing content from the full ruleset.

Which platform should I buy it on?
PC, if you have the choice. The PlayStation 5 version specifically draws criticism for weaker performance and missing features like cross-platform play and local co-op.

Is it actually licensed by Wizards of the Coast?
Yes, it’s built on the official D&D 5th Edition SRD ruleset under license, a genuine distinction from games that only loosely borrow D&D-style mechanics.

Does it support multiplayer?
Some co-op functionality exists on PC, though it’s less robust than in games built around it from the ground up, and it’s absent entirely on the PS5 version.

How long does it take to finish?
Around 20-40 hours for the main campaign, longer with the paid DLC expansions factored in.

Who made Solasta: Crown of the Magister?
Tactical Adventures, an independent studio, developed and published it, releasing on PC on May 27, 2021, with console versions following over the next few years.