Baldur’s Gate 3 – Review
Developer: Larian Studios
Release Date: August 3, 2023 (PC), later for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
Genre: Role-Playing Game (RPG), Turn-Based Strategy
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Score: 9.5/10
Overview
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a monumental RPG experience, seamlessly blending deep narrative choice, tactical combat, and immersive worldbuilding. Developed by Larian Studios, it brings the spirit of tabletop Dungeons & Dragons to life with an unprecedented level of freedom, creativity, and detail.
What It Does Well
1. Narrative Depth and Player Agency
Every choice you make—whether in dialogue, combat, or exploration—has meaningful consequences. Conversations reflect your class, background, race, and past actions, making each playthrough feel truly unique. The storytelling is rich and reactive, offering a variety of endings and branching paths.
2. Tactical, Creative Combat
Built on the D&D 5e ruleset, the turn-based combat is dynamic and flexible. You can combine spells, use environmental hazards, manipulate turn order, and more. It rewards experimentation and smart tactics without feeling overly punishing.
3. Complex, Well-Written Characters
The companion characters—such as Shadowheart, Astarion, Lae’zel, and Gale—are deeply written with compelling personal arcs. Their inter-party dynamics evolve based on your decisions, with real emotional payoff in later acts.
4. Immersive World Design
The game’s three-act structure covers a vast and diverse world—from wilderness zones and underworlds to a bustling, lore-rich city. Exploration is rewarding, with very little filler content. Almost every quest has weight and relevance.
5. High Production Values
Voice acting, facial animations, cutscenes, and music are all top-tier. The cinematic presentation is impressive throughout, and the game looks and feels polished—especially in the first two acts.
Areas of Improvement
1. Technical Issues and Bugs
Although most major bugs have been patched post-launch, Act 3 in particular still suffers from performance drops and occasional quest glitches. Inventory management also remains cumbersome, especially in larger parties.
2. Pacing in the Final Act
While Acts 1 and 2 are tightly designed, Act 3 can feel overloaded with content and less focused. Some storylines may resolve too quickly, or with less impact than expected depending on your path.
3. Learning Curve for New Players
Players unfamiliar with turn-based systems or D&D mechanics may find the early hours a bit overwhelming. While tutorials help, the depth of options can be intimidating at first.
Comparison and Legacy
Baldur’s Gate 3 stands alongside genre titans like Divinity: Original Sin 2, The Witcher 3, and Dragon Age: Origins. It honors its D&D heritage while modernizing classic CRPG mechanics in an accessible, cinematic format.
This is not just a great RPG—it’s a landmark in video game storytelling and design, and a defining title of this generation.
Final Verdict
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a bold, ambitious, and expertly crafted RPG that sets a new standard for player choice and narrative depth. Despite some technical stumbles in its final act, it remains one of the most memorable and impressive role-playing experiences in recent history.
Score: 9.5/10
Let me know if you’d like this adapted for a particular publication style (e.g., blog, magazine, short summary) or compared directly with another game.
Baldur’s Gate 3 – Review
Developer: Larian Studios
Release Date: August 3, 2023 (PC), later for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
Genre: Role-Playing Game (RPG), Turn-Based Strategy
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Score: 9.5/10
Overview
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a monumental RPG experience, seamlessly blending deep narrative choice, tactical combat, and immersive worldbuilding. Developed by Larian Studios, it brings the spirit of tabletop Dungeons & Dragons to life with an unprecedented level of freedom, creativity, and detail.
What It Does Well
1. Narrative Depth and Player Agency
Every choice you make—whether in dialogue, combat, or exploration—has meaningful consequences. Conversations reflect your class, background, race, and past actions, making each playthrough feel truly unique. The storytelling is rich and reactive, offering a variety of endings and branching paths.
2. Tactical, Creative Combat
Built on the D&D 5e ruleset, the turn-based combat is dynamic and flexible. You can combine spells, use environmental hazards, manipulate turn order, and more. It rewards experimentation and smart tactics without feeling overly punishing.
3. Complex, Well-Written Characters
The companion characters—such as Shadowheart, Astarion, Lae’zel, and Gale—are deeply written with compelling personal arcs. Their inter-party dynamics evolve based on your decisions, with real emotional payoff in later acts.
4. Immersive World Design
The game’s three-act structure covers a vast and diverse world—from wilderness zones and underworlds to a bustling, lore-rich city. Exploration is rewarding, with very little filler content. Almost every quest has weight and relevance.
5. High Production Values
Voice acting, facial animations, cutscenes, and music are all top-tier. The cinematic presentation is impressive throughout, and the game looks and feels polished—especially in the first two acts.
Areas of Improvement
1. Technical Issues and Bugs
Although most major bugs have been patched post-launch, Act 3 in particular still suffers from performance drops and occasional quest glitches. Inventory management also remains cumbersome, especially in larger parties.
2. Pacing in the Final Act
While Acts 1 and 2 are tightly designed, Act 3 can feel overloaded with content and less focused. Some storylines may resolve too quickly, or with less impact than expected depending on your path.
3. Learning Curve for New Players
Players unfamiliar with turn-based systems or D&D mechanics may find the early hours a bit overwhelming. While tutorials help, the depth of options can be intimidating at first.
Comparison and Legacy
Baldur’s Gate 3 stands alongside genre titans like Divinity: Original Sin 2, The Witcher 3, and Dragon Age: Origins. It honors its D&D heritage while modernizing classic CRPG mechanics in an accessible, cinematic format.
This is not just a great RPG—it’s a landmark in video game storytelling and design, and a defining title of this generation.
Final Verdict
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a bold, ambitious, and expertly crafted RPG that sets a new standard for player choice and narrative depth. Despite some technical stumbles in its final act, it remains one of the most memorable and impressive role-playing experiences in recent history.
Score: 9.5/10
Let me know if you’d like this adapted for a particular publication style (e.g., blog, magazine, short summary) or compared directly with another game.
