Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth
Give it 10 hours
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 3 reviews are negative (37%); after 15h it's 1 in 35 (3%).
- Fully opens up by hour 15.
- 41% of players who start reach the ending.
- Most players drop off before “End of Book One” (Complete Book One): only 67% of starters get there.
- Only 33% of owners have even the first achievement — the rest barely played.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 7,652 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 298 reviews: 17h for positive, 5.6h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (33.4% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- End of Book One Complete Book One. Most players quit here 67% −33
- End of Book Two Complete Book Two. 46% −22
- The End. Complete Book Three! 41% −4
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (41)
story milestone ending side
- Tattletale Report a crime to the monks in Kingsbridge. 100%
- Let there be darkness Dim the lights in the cathedral. 84%
- Man of politics Get involved in your brother's politics. 84%
- Yet another secret Unlock a secret room in Kingsbridge. 82%
- Friends of sorts Become friends with Alfred. 75%
- End of Book One Complete Book One. 67%
- Full house Invite everybody to the chapter meeting. 60%
- Garden of Eden Support Milius' dream of a garden. 60%
- Wannabe knight Try becoming a knight. 55%
- Help an old friend Take care of your pony. 53%
- Two of us Stay together. 52%
- End of Book Two Complete Book Two. 46%
- Workers' union Help the fullers. 45%
- Negotiation skills Negotiate the best deal for Kingsbridge. 43%
- Jack was here! Find Jack's tracks. 43%
- The oath Fulfill your vow. 41%
- The truth revealed Reveal the conspiracy. 41%
- The End. Complete Book Three! 41%
- Everything's in order Bring order into William's chaos. 41%
- Brother Marcus Meet the consequences of your past. 35%
- Twist of Fate Wisen up before you cause great disaster. 35%
- Exterminator Take care of Kingsbridge's insect problem. 35%
- Good midwife Be especially supportive during birth. 34%
- Whodunnit Catch the suspect. 33%
- First profit Make a profit. 31%
- Friar Tuck Steal from the bishop at every opportunity. 29%
- Nothing but make-believe Find all telling clues. 28%
- A cry for help Take care of a kindred soul. 28%
- Team player Give moral support to the knights. 28%
- Skilled merchant Negotiate well. 26%
- Silentium est aureum Let the others do the talking. 25%
- Vox Populi Gather an army. 23%
- Rebel without a cause Get into trouble with the Earl of Shiring. 20%
- Staring contest champion Return the stare. 18%
- Countess Aliena Become countess. 18%
- Lone wolf Become enemies with Alfred. 17%
- Self-defense Prepare Elizabeth for the worst. 16%
- Revenge Take revenge. 16%
- A brush with death Escape the knights. 15%
- Care, like a brother cares Use every opportunity to teach Martha how to use your slingshot. 14%
- Boy of mystery Keep quiet about your past. 11%