Summary
After a lengthy early access period,Baldur’s Gate 3has officially launched and seems to have exceeded expectations. The world is beautifully realized, the combat is exhilarating, the customizability is top-notch, and players have been given almost limitless control over every aspect of the story. It feels like the closest gaming has ever gotten toa trueDungeons and Dragonsexperience, and future games can hopefully continue to deliver.
Baldur’s Gate 3may be a fantastic game, but its quality will likely put futureDungeons and Dragonsgames in a bit of a tough spot. These games will have to deliver everything that Larian Studios was able to do while also taking the concept to the next level. Every RPG from here on out will be endlessly compared toBaldur’s Gate 3, and those expectations may prove impossible to match, leading to a very different RPG landscape going forward.
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Baldur’s Gate 3 Has Created Lofty Expectations for the Future
Baldur’s Gate 3is quickly becoming one of the most popular RPGs ever made since it actually delivers what fans have been wanting. It is one of the few games that gives players immense freedom in how they go about their world, and that is backed up by an amazing cast of characters and countless intriguing stories waiting to be told. There is so much to do and explore that it may putgenre kingpins likeThe Elder Scrolls 5: SkyrimandThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntto shame and will likely continue to do so for years to come.
Baldur’s Gate 3has helped redefine what an RPG can be, and Larian Studios’ commitment to the playerbase makes the experience even better. It truly feels like the game was made byDungeons and Dragonsfans forDungeons and Dragonsfans. The developers will likely build upon its foundations for years, and players may never want to leave its world. Quality and commitment have helped make the gameone of the biggest titles on Steam, but that success may have some ramifications.
WhileBaldur’s Gate 3’s success is not a bad thing, it could impact the future of RPG games. Hopefully, upcoming RPGs end up taking notes from Larian Studios so that they can deliver just as powerful experiences.Baldur’s Gate 3has set a high bar for future RPGs to follow, and that bar may be impossible to match. Every RPG from here on out will be compared to this title, and fans may ignore them if they falter even a little.
BeforeBaldur’s Gate 3, almost every new RPG was compared to eitherThe Elder Scrolls 5: SkyrimorThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Those two games are some of the best RPGs on the market, and fans were hoping that every other RPG could emulate them. When a game failed to make the same impact, sometimes it would just be forgotten about shortly after release and players would return to those two games instead. This made it hard for some RPGs to make their mark, and nowBaldur’s Gate 3has done the same thing.
Baldur’s Gate 3has set a new standard for RPG games, and that is fantastic for fans of the genre. However, future RPG games will also need to attempt to emulate it if they want any chance at exciting the fanbase. It will be a while before something can match Larian Studios' RPG and other studios will have a lot of expectations behind them to see if they are up for the challenge.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available now for PC. The PlayStation 5 version will be available on September 6th, 2023. A version for Xbox Series X/S is still in development.
