Background image from the game Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (2001)
Game logo of Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (2001)

Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura by Troika Games, released in 2001 is one of the most distinctive RPGs of its era. The setting was Victorian steampunk: gnomes building steam engines, elves preserving ancient spells, newspapers sold on the streets, trains cutting across the continent. The atmosphere was remarkably dense — the world felt alive long before such genre hybrids became fashionable.

The central mechanic was the physical mutual exclusion of magic and technology. The closer a character leaned toward the technological pole, the worse their spells performed, and vice versa: firearms misfired in the hands of a mage, potions had no effect on an engineer. This created genuine dilemmas when choosing equipment and party composition — the choice carried mechanical weight rather than being purely cosmetic.

The role-playing possibilities were exceptionally generous. A character's race determined how the entire world responded to the player: a half-ogre received contemptuous remarks from some NPCs and respect from others, an aristocratic gnome opened certain doors while a pauper opened different ones. Most objectives could be solved in multiple ways, many quests had no obviously correct answer, and side stories frequently surpassed the main storyline in depth and elaboration.

Combat remained a weak point. The real-time mode functioned poorly, companion AI let players down, balance was uneven, and some schools of magic were noticeably more powerful than others. Technical rough edges at launch alienated part of the audience — and that likely cost the game its commercial success.

Despite this, Arcanum gradually became a cult classic. The combination of deep world-building, mechanically meaningful role-playing choices, and a willingness to address themes of racism, class conflict, and the price of industrialisation — without moralising, through concrete situations — made it an enduring classic. Players who discover it decades later frequently call Arcanum one of the greatest RPGs of all time.

Recommended Files

Tiberium Essence
Mod

Tiberium Essence
C&C3: Tiberium Wars (2007)

Total Conversion

Author:

Carnius

Tiberium Essence is a global mod for C&C 3: Tiberium Wars that brings back technologies and units from Tiberian Sun. The result is an alternative version of Tiberium Wars with reworked factions, new units, and a distinct atmosphere.

Heat of Battle: RUSH
Mod

Heat of Battle: RUSH
Battlefield 2 (2005)

Total overhauls

Author:

Heat of Battle

Heat of Battle: RUSH is one of the most ambitious mods for Battlefield 2, radically transforming the game and bringing it closer in quality to modern shooters. The project focuses on three key areas: animation, sound, and gameplay — and achieves impressive results in each.

Tiberian Apocalypse
Mod

Tiberian Apocalypse
C&C3: Tiberium Wars (2007)

Total Conversion

Author:

Sarge_Rho

Tiberian Apocalypse — a total conversion of Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars that aims to become an authentic continuation of Tiberian Sun on a more modern engine.

Ultimate Apocalypse Mod
Mod

Ultimate Apocalypse Mod
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War (2004)

Total Conversion

Author:

Official Ultimate Apocalypse Mod Team

Ultimate Apocalypse is arguably the best mod for Dawn of War: Soulstorm, turning the game into a true apocalypse set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. 12 factions, hundreds of new units, colossal Titans, new maps and modes. One of the best ways to play DoW today.

Battlefield 2: 1943
Mod

Battlefield 2: 1943
Battlefield 2 (2005)

Total Conversion

Author:

Battlefield 1943 mod group

Battlefield 1943 is a mod for Battlefield 2 that fully recreates the game Battlefield 1943 on PC, originally released exclusively for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It places you at the heart of the conflict between the US Marine Corps (USMC) and the Imperial Japanese Navy, with authentic World War II weapons and vehicles.

Command & Conquer: Generals Universe
Mod

Command & Conquer: Generals Universe
C&C3: Tiberium Wars (2007)

Total Conversion

Author:

ÐetroyT[RU]

Command & Conquer: Generals Universe is an unofficial remake of C&C Generals: Zero Hour built on the Tiberium Wars engine, featuring ground-up models, textures, and effects rebuilt to modern graphical standards.

Kane's Wrath Reloaded
Mod

Kane's Wrath Reloaded
C&C3: Tiberium Wars (2007)

Total Conversion

Author:

PurpleGaga27

Kane's Wrath Reloaded is a mod for C&C3: Tiberium Wars that brings content from Kane's Wrath and C&C4: Tiberian Twilight into the game. Ten factions, over 40 new and reworked units, new maps, and improved balance.