The 1990s saw a golden era for D&D-based video games. Titles like Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment not only brought the rich lore and intricate gameplay of D&D to the digital world but also introduced a new generation to the captivating fantasy universe. As gaming technology advanced however, the industry witnessed a shift towards visually stunning and action-packed games. The popularity of D&D-based video games began to wane in the late 2000s as players gravitated towards more graphically intense and fast-paced titles like Diablo, Skyrim, and The Witcher; Although, the influences of D&D can still be felt in basically any RPG video game since.

Now, three years later after Early Access, Baldur's Gate 3, an epic RPG developed by Larian Studios and building on the legacy of the iconic Baldur's Gate series, is officially out on PC, reinvigorating interest in D&D-based video games. The vast world, intricate systems, and captivating storytelling that come with the experience of D&D are promised, resonating with long-time fans and newcomers alike.

+newcomer friendly, anyone can jump in w/out playing previous games or any D&D experience
+captures the feel of Dungeons & Dragons
+plethora of origins, race, class customization
+story is open-ended and has branching storylines and consequences
+combat is highly tactical
+polished looking graphics
+amazing soundtrack
+smooth experience overall
+well-built and separate UI for both keyboard mouse and controller
+coop multiplayer option with split-screen
-mechanics can be overwhelming for newcomers


The world of Baldur's Gate 3 is a grand marvel, meticulously crafted with intricate detail and artistic brilliance, which of course is set in the Forgotten Realms. The art style beautifully blends the familiar D&D aesthetics with a touch of realism and is represented by AAA-level graphics, creating a captivating and enchanting experience for players. The soundtrack is nothing short of amazing as well, featuring a beautiful and memorable high fantasy orchestra that strikes players in the right moments, resulting in a masterpiece of an overall experience in the art department.

The narrative of Baldur's Gate 3 is a gripping tale of el​dritch horrors and dangerous quests, woven with deep lore and emotional depth. The game's grand opening sets the stage for an epic adventure. The plot unfolds organically, guided by players' choices, which often lead to profound consequences. Baldur's Gate 3 features a cast of impressively voiced characters, each with a unique personality, background, and motivations, immersing players in a world teeming with life and personality.

Newcomers to the series can jump into Baldur's Gate 3 without any prior knowledge of the previous games and still enjoy the experience. The game provides enough context and information to understand the setting, characters, and events within the game world. While it shares the same universe and is set in the iconic Forgotten Realms, the storyline and events in Baldur's Gate 3 are independent and do not directly continue the narrative from the previous games.

The story is open-ended, not as open-ended as a true D&D game, but nonetheless a pretty authentic crafted experience for players that the developers are boasting to have over 17,000 possible endings and 174 hours of cutscenes.

The companions in the game are particularly well-developed, eliciting genuine connections with the players. Each companion brings a distinct flavor to the party, sparking lively interactions and creating memorable moments throughout the journey, as well as having their own plot and questlines.

Baldur's Gate 3's gameplay is a masterful blend of classic RPG mechanics and innovative design. The game faithfully follows the D&D 5th Edition rules, featuring a plethora of numbers and systems that enrich the experience. Character creation is extensive, offering numerous options for races, classes, backgrounds, and customization, enabling players to shape their avatars to match their playstyle and vision. The D&D 5th Edition ruleset governs the character statistics, skills, spellcasting, and combat mechanics, which will feel right at home to players familiar with the tabletop game.

The turn-based combat system is strategic and tactical, encouraging players to think critically and plan their moves wisely. Environmental interactions, elemental spells, dice rolls, and dynamic physics add depth to battles, allowing players to use their creativity to overcome challenges. While the game slowly introduces the player in its mechanics, the can be a bit too much for newcomers, as there is too much going on with the mechanics; there’s so many spells and skills to choose from and use. There’s so much going on with the different conditions, reactions, and modifiers involved in both the combat and skill-checked dialogue encounters.

Baldur's Gate 3 boasts an astonishing amount of quests and side content, and players will never be short of engaging activities. Quests are designed to flow organically into one another and feature multiple solutions and branching paths, encouraging players to experiment and approach challenges in creative ways. Dialogues are an integral part of the game, and players can engage in conversations with NPCs using branching dialogue options. Role-playing is encouraged, allowing players to shape their character's personality and moral alignment, as well as utilize their skills and traits to influence the outcome of dice rolls.

The open-world design also rewards exploration, as hidden treasures, secret areas, and memorable encounters await those who dare to venture off the beaten path. As far as the environment goes, players could use their characters' actions, skills and spells to manipulate the environment, find hidden passages, or create tactical advantages in combat.

Baldur's Gate 3’s multiplayer component is primarily designed as a cooperative experience, allowing players to team up with friends for an unforgettable co-op adventure. Players can invite friends to their session and have them control any of their companions. For those groups of players looking to take co-op to another level by regularly playing and finishing the campaign together, they can also start a campaign and each of them create their own custom character.

Baldur's Gate 3 is a monumental achievement in the realm of RPG gaming, solidifying its place among the genre's masterpieces and delivering an experience that bridges the gap between real-life D&D and video games. The complexity of its systems, alongside its vast world and intricate storytelling, creates a rare and fulfilling gaming experience that leaves players yearning for more. It is truly the quintessential cRPG and Dungeons & Dragons game, and a benchmark for those who aspire to follow in its footsteps.

Read the full review here: https://www.taptap.io/post/6109877

The 1990s saw a golden era for D&D-based video games. Titles like [i]Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment[/i] not only brought the rich lore and intricate gameplay of D&D to the digital world but also introduced a new generation to the captivating fantasy universe. As gaming technology advanced however, the industry witnessed a shift towards visually stunning and action-packed games. The popularity of D&D-based video games began to wane in the late 2000s as players gravitated towards more graphically intense and fast-paced titles like [i]Diablo, Skyrim, and The Witcher[/i]; Although, the influences of D&D can still be felt in basically any RPG video game since. [h1]Baldur's Gate 3[/h1] Now, three years later after Early Access, Baldur's Gate 3, an epic RPG developed by Larian Studios and building on the legacy of the iconic Baldur's Gate series, is officially out on PC, reinvigorating interest in D&D-based video games. The vast world, intricate systems, and captivating storytelling that come with the experience of D&D are promised, resonating with long-time fans and newcomers alike. [h1]🟩Pros[/h1] +newcomer friendly, anyone can jump in w/out playing previous games or any D&D experience +captures the feel of Dungeons & Dragons +plethora of origins, race, class customization +story is open-ended and has branching storylines and consequences +combat is highly tactical +polished looking graphics +amazing soundtrack +smooth experience overall +well-built and separate UI for both keyboard mouse and controller +coop multiplayer option with split-screen [h1]🟥Cons[/h1] -mechanics can be overwhelming for newcomers [h1]A Grand Marvel [/h1] The world of Baldur's Gate 3 is a grand marvel, meticulously crafted with intricate detail and artistic brilliance, which of course is set in the Forgotten Realms. The art style beautifully blends the familiar D&D aesthetics with a touch of realism and is represented by AAA-level graphics, creating a captivating and enchanting experience for players. The soundtrack is nothing short of amazing as well, featuring a beautiful and memorable high fantasy orchestra that strikes players in the right moments, resulting in a masterpiece of an overall experience in the art department. [h1]Choices and Luck, Does Matter[/h1] The narrative of Baldur's Gate 3 is a gripping tale of el​dritch horrors and dangerous quests, woven with deep lore and emotional depth. The game's grand opening sets the stage for an epic adventure. The plot unfolds organically, guided by players' choices, which often lead to profound consequences. Baldur's Gate 3 features a cast of impressively voiced characters, each with a unique personality, background, and motivations, immersing players in a world teeming with life and personality. Newcomers to the series can jump into Baldur's Gate 3 without any prior knowledge of the previous games and still enjoy the experience. The game provides enough context and information to understand the setting, characters, and events within the game world. While it shares the same universe and is set in the iconic Forgotten Realms, the storyline and events in Baldur's Gate 3 are independent and do not directly continue the narrative from the previous games. The story is open-ended, not as open-ended as a true D&D game, but nonetheless a pretty authentic crafted experience for players that the developers are boasting to have over 17,000 possible endings and 174 hours of cutscenes. The companions in the game are particularly well-developed, eliciting genuine connections with the players. Each companion brings a distinct flavor to the party, sparking lively interactions and creating memorable moments throughout the journey, as well as having their own plot and questlines. [h1]Masterful Gameplay[/h1] Baldur's Gate 3's gameplay is a masterful blend of classic RPG mechanics and innovative design. The game faithfully follows the D&D 5th Edition rules, featuring a plethora of numbers and systems that enrich the experience. Character creation is extensive, offering numerous options for races, classes, backgrounds, and customization, enabling players to shape their avatars to match their playstyle and vision. The D&D 5th Edition ruleset governs the character statistics, skills, spellcasting, and combat mechanics, which will feel right at home to players familiar with the tabletop game. The turn-based combat system is strategic and tactical, encouraging players to think critically and plan their moves wisely. Environmental interactions, elemental spells, dice rolls, and dynamic physics add depth to battles, allowing players to use their creativity to overcome challenges. While the game slowly introduces the player in its mechanics, the can be a bit too much for newcomers, as there is too much going on with the mechanics; there’s so many spells and skills to choose from and use. There’s so much going on with the different conditions, reactions, and modifiers involved in both the combat and skill-checked dialogue encounters. [h1]Content Overload[/h1] Baldur's Gate 3 boasts an astonishing amount of quests and side content, and players will never be short of engaging activities. Quests are designed to flow organically into one another and feature multiple solutions and branching paths, encouraging players to experiment and approach challenges in creative ways. Dialogues are an integral part of the game, and players can engage in conversations with NPCs using branching dialogue options. Role-playing is encouraged, allowing players to shape their character's personality and moral alignment, as well as utilize their skills and traits to influence the outcome of dice rolls. The open-world design also rewards exploration, as hidden treasures, secret areas, and memorable encounters await those who dare to venture off the beaten path. As far as the environment goes, players could use their characters' actions, skills and spells to manipulate the environment, find hidden passages, or create tactical advantages in combat. [h1]Both singleplayer and coop[/h1] Baldur's Gate 3’s multiplayer component is primarily designed as a cooperative experience, allowing players to team up with friends for an unforgettable co-op adventure. Players can invite friends to their session and have them control any of their companions. For those groups of players looking to take co-op to another level by regularly playing and finishing the campaign together, they can also start a campaign and each of them create their own custom character. [h1]Conclusion[/h1] Baldur's Gate 3 is a monumental achievement in the realm of RPG gaming, solidifying its place among the genre's masterpieces and delivering an experience that bridges the gap between real-life D&D and video games. The complexity of its systems, alongside its vast world and intricate storytelling, creates a rare and fulfilling gaming experience that leaves players yearning for more. It is truly the quintessential cRPG and Dungeons & Dragons game, and a benchmark for those who aspire to follow in its footsteps. [b]Read the full review here:[/b] https://www.taptap.io/post/6109877