The first Divinity: Original Sin offered almost unbridled freedom to the player, and it looks like the sequel is prepared to offer even more. Divinity: Original Sin II is designed to be played however the player wants. NPC conflicts can be handled by attempting to talk one's way out of trouble using the tag system, whether it be through charm, logic, or intimidation. Of course, the option to kill anyone in the game exists as well. Killing a quest giver might cause the player to miss out on an interesting quest, but they will still be able to complete the game. Even if every single NPC is sent to an early grave by the player's hand, it is still possible to complete the game. If a treasure box is out of reach teleportation or telekinesis are viable options. If a locked door is preventing your egress one can hunt for a key or if they have nimble fingers pick the lock. If neither of those options is feasible, bashing it down or setting it ablaze work just as well. This is not a game to hold your hand and instruct you what to do and how to do it. You will be given an objective and goal, and how you wish to achieve it will be determined by you.

Crafting in Divinity Original Sin 2 is a fascinating feature in that some players can go most of the game without knowing it even exists. The knowledge that is indeed in the game, and understanding how to use crafting can make getting through the game a little easier. Crafting can be offputting in any series as there's a lot of trial and error involved and not always enough payoff for the effort invested. It's helpful to know in advance what recipes are going to really help give the player the edge over their enem

The tag system is a new feature introduced in this sequel, which allows specific dialog options to become available based on gender, race, profession, and origin story. New tags may be gained and current tags may be lost based on character decisions and achievements. Should the player choose to design a character without an origin story, they will have the choice to add extra tags during the creation process to help personalize the experience by giving the character a unique personality and dialog options. There are presets that allow a character to begin the SLG Game Beginner Guide better suited for a play style fitting a traditional RPG class such as warrior or rogue but there are no character classes, allowing the character to be customized and built as they progress through the game however the player sees fit. The multiplayer limit has been raised from two player to four player, and players may be in direct conflict with each other during certain quest goals based on origin story, making it a spur of the moment decision to play cooperatively or competitively. There is also the new dynamic music system where the player selects a character's chosen instrument, allowing this instrument to take lead in the soundtrack during crucial moments of combat or story development.

Origin characters are ready-made characters that have their own base personality and backstory. These characters include Beast, a dwarf who led a failed rebellion against the queen, Fane, an undead human who woke up with the world he knew long gone, Ifan ben-Mezd, a human who was a crusader who lost his faith and has become a Lone Wolf mercenary, Lohse, a star chanteuse whose body is now host to a mysterious entity who makes its presence known at inopportune times, The Red Prince, a brilliant warrior general who was exiled for cavorting with demons, and Sebille, an elf slave turned assassin who hunts her former master. While certain classes make more sense for these character's history, the player is free to change their build into whichever one they wish to play as. The Origin characters can also be recruited into the player's party, and their presence will activate origin events the player can engage in specific situations and they also open up certain dialog options. When recruiting them, changing their class is worked into the dialog so the player has a lot of customization options in their party. The player can also split up the party if they want to have someone do some sneaking around alone or divide the party into two groups of two, which is easily done by moving the portraits of the character in the upper left hand corner.

Limited hands on time with the early build of Divinity: Original Sin II can only paint a very limited picture of what will be forthcoming in the sequel, but the information available should assure fans of the original that they can remain optimistic about what is to come. The enormous world and the near limitless freedom to explore it returns, as will the lauded combat system. Veterans of the original will feel at home in combat, though several improvements have been added.

The character creation process has received a massive overhaul. The player is no longer restricted to only playing as a human as Divinity: Original Sin II offers the option of also playing as a dwarf, elf, lizard, or undead. Each of these races has their own unique ability. For example, an elf can gain the memories of another individual through the simple act of cannibalism. So if you happen to stumble across a corpse, grab that severed limb, liberally apply some seasoning and let the elf party member chow down to unlock some of their memories. Dead men do tell tales, and they are also delicious part of a balanced diet.