The New Golden Standard

After nearly a century in video game years (or so it feels), Baldur’s Gate 3 has finally emerged from early access as a fully realized RPG—and what an extraordinary achievement it is. Larian Studios hasn’t merely revived a beloved franchise; they’ve redefined what we should expect from modern RPGs. This is a landmark title that combines the depth of classic CRPGs with the accessibility and production values of contemporary gaming, all while staying true to the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons that inspired it.

The result is not just the best RPG in years; it’s a new benchmark for the genre, a game so ambitious and well-executed that it feels like a watershed moment in interactive storytelling. Bold statement? Perhaps. But after spending well over 100 hours in its world, I’m convinced this is the case.

A Tale of Mind Flayers and Mental Fortitude

Baldur’s Gate 3 begins with you as an unwilling host to a Mind Flayer tadpole—a parasitic creature gradually transforming you into one of these tentacled horrors. This predicament sets you on a journey to remove the parasite and uncover the conspiracy behind a Mind Flayer invasion of the Sword Coast. What begins as a personal quest for survival gradually expands into a sprawling narrative with world-altering stakes, all while maintaining connections to the legacy of the previous games.

The writing consistently impresses, both in the main quest and the myriad side stories. Larian understands that the most compelling narratives emerge from character, not just plot mechanics. While the overarching story hits familiar fantasy beats (ancient evils, powerful artifacts, competing factions), it’s the nuanced character work and moral complexity that elevate the storytelling. There are no simplistic good or evil choices here, but difficult decisions with genuine consequences that ripple throughout the game world.

The companion characters deserve special mention. From the sardonic wizard Gale to the enigmatic Githyanki Lae’zel, each companion is richly developed with their own motivations, secrets, and character arcs. Your relationships with these characters evolve based on your actions, leading to friendships, romances, or bitter rivalries. Some of the most memorable moments come from the quieter interactions at camp, where vulnerabilities are revealed and bonds are formed or broken.

Freedom Within Structure

Baldur’s Gate 3’s greatest triumph may be how it balances structured narrative with player freedom. The game offers extraordinary latitude in how you approach objectives, acknowledging and accounting for player creativity in ways that continually surprise. Want to talk your way past guards, sneak through sewers, or simply teleport to a balcony to bypass an entire section? The game not only allows these approaches but anticipates them, providing unique dialogue and consequences for even the most unorthodox solutions.

This commitment to player agency extends to the narrative as well. Major storylines can branch dramatically based on your choices, sometimes closing off entire questlines while opening others. Actions have consequences that may not become apparent until dozens of hours later, creating a genuine sense that your decisions matter beyond simple binary outcomes.

The game’s willingness to let players fail is particularly refreshing. Unlike many modern RPGs that ensure success regardless of your choices, Baldur’s Gate 3 allows for genuine failure states that force adaptation rather than reload. A botched negotiation might not end your game, but it could dramatically alter your path forward, requiring new strategies and alliances.

D&D Come to Life

As an adaptation of the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons ruleset, Baldur’s Gate 3 achieves a remarkable balance between faithfulness to the source material and necessary adaptations for a video game format. The core mechanics—ability checks, combat rules, spell systems—are implemented with impressive accuracy, while systems like reactions have been streamlined to maintain flow without constant interruptions.

Character creation offers the full range of classes, races, and backgrounds from the Player’s Handbook plus several additions, providing unprecedented customization for a CRPG. Each choice affects not just gameplay but how the world responds to you. Playing as a Drow invites prejudice and suspicion in many settlements, while a Tiefling might find unexpected kinship with others of their kind who face similar discrimination.

Combat deserves particular praise for its tactical depth and cinematic presentation. Encounters take place in meticulously designed arenas with verticality, environmental hazards, and interactive elements. The system rewards creative thinking—using telekinesis to drop chandeliers on enemies, igniting oil slicks with fire arrows, or shoving opponents off cliffs. These interactions create emergent gameplay moments that feel both authentically D&D and uniquely video game.

A Feast for the Senses

Technically, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a towering achievement. The visual presentation marries detailed character models and environments with dynamic lighting and weather effects that create a world that feels alive. From the oppressive gloom of the Underdark to the verdant forests of the Sword Coast, each region has a distinct visual identity that enhances the sense of place.

The audio design similarly excels, with ambient soundscapes that shift subtly based on location and events. The voice acting deserves special mention—every line of dialogue is fully voiced with performances that range from good to exceptional. The main companions in particular are brought to life by nuanced vocal performances that capture both grand emotions and subtle inflections.

Technically, the game is remarkably stable for its scale and complexity. On high-end systems, it maintains smooth performance with impressive visual fidelity. Loading times are reasonable considering the amount of data being processed, and crashes are infrequent—an impressive feat for a game of this ambition.

Small Flaws in a Masterpiece

For all its excellence, Baldur’s Gate 3 is not without flaws. The inventory management system, while improved from early access, still becomes cumbersome in the later stages when your party accumulates hundreds of items. The companion AI occasionally makes questionable decisions in combat, though this can be mitigated by taking direct control.

Some players might find the final act slightly less compelling than what came before, as it shifts toward more linear progression compared to the wide-open exploration of earlier regions. These criticisms, however, are minor considerations in an otherwise extraordinary achievement—the equivalent of noting smudges on the Mona Lisa.