OwlCat Games: Masters of CRPGs and Their Next Big Leap

A Journey Through the RPG Realms

OwlCat Games might be the little studio that could, dedicated to cranking out isometric CRPGs that pay homage to the 90s legends like Baldur’s Gate and Fallout. As they celebrated their 10th anniversary recently, I caught up with Alexander Mishulin, the creative genius behind their titles, to chat about their history, aspirations, and that shiny new action RPG, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn.

The CRPG Passion Project

Starting off with a tiny crew of just 15 enthusiasts, OwlCat’s journey kicked off with some serious street cred from stints at Nival Interactive. They dabbled in gems like Heroes of Might and Magic V, pulling together a team ready to break free from the MMORPG grind after five long years of fantasy worlds. They craved something fresh—an epic CRPG—and folks were eager for it, as proven by the incredible Kickstarter success of Pillars of Eternity back in 2012.

Pathfinder: Kingmaker became their debut entry, a dazzling adaptation that drew inspiration from tabletop adventures. And guess what? Players didn’t just slay monsters, but had to juggle kingdom-building too. Mishulin says it let players unleash their inner overlord, but also made them mindful of responsibilities. Who knew being a ruler required so much political maneuvering?

Of course, they found themselves in the deep end: “We thought we could handle it, but wow, we were ambitious!”, Mishulin admits, recalling the game’s buggy launch. Rather than scale back creativity, they decided to embrace the chaotic beauty of bugs. As Mishulin aptly puts it, they’re still battling those pesky gremlins in code with each subsequent release.

One of the joys of making a game based on a beloved tabletop RPG is that everyone on the team shared that experience. The camaraderie brought them closer with shared brainstorming sessions, leading to some of the game’s best ideas sprouting from the literal tabletop. Mishulin reflects on how tabletop dynamics influenced their game systems—like the camp mechanics that provide character banter and logistics, making each resting period feel immersive rather than just a button-push.

Fast forward, and OwlCat has morphed from a cozy team to a bustling family of over 600. With great size comes great responsibility, and while the intimate coffee break chats shifted, they still managed to rally creativity—and even seen productivity rise during the COVID-19 lockdown. Who would’ve thought isolation could spark such brilliance?

The pandemic birthed Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, a dive into the grim future of the Warhammer universe. But don’t fret, they’re still keeping their heart in the core CRPG style, focusing on compelling narratives and character dynamics—just with a darker twist.

Now, they’re diving into new waters with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, which draws more inspiration from action titles like BioWare’s Mass Effect than their traditional CRPG roots. It’s a whole new ballgame, requiring fresh learning, including a new engine and a cinematic storytelling approach that’s got Mishulin reworking some of their narrative techniques.

Despite this shift, he reassures fans they’re not sinking the CRPG ship: “We will continue to make CRPGs because we love them!” Their goal is to innovate while holding onto those cherished RPG values. They want every game to feel like a passion project, designed not just to delight others, but to inspire the next generation of creators to step up and pump out even cooler games. So, buckle up for more epic adventures with OwlCat at the helm!