Baldur’s Gate 3 is a hot contender for my game of the year, if not the RPG of the last decade. Depthless and endlessly enjoyable, it’s a CRPG that redefines the limits of storytelling and gameplay within the genre. More than that, its astonishing graphics and turn-based combat make it the perfect game to stream through the cloud on GeForce NOW Powered by Pentanet.
The Baldur’s Gate series is legendary for a reason. The forefathers of modern-day CRPGs and the embodiment of all things Dungeons & Dragons in video game form, Baldur’s Gate 1 & 2, did so much to define what we think a CRPG should be.
So, when Baldur’s Gate 3 was announced to be coming not from Bioware, the fathers of the series, but Larian Studios, creators of the Divinity: Original Sin series, which wore its Baldur’s Gate inspirations on its sleeve, there was nervous excitement abound. They had proved their CPRG chops with Divinity: Original Sin, a modern classic in its own right, to say nothing of its sequel. But would they be able to recapture the magic of the original games?
Yes.
Oh yes.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is so far beyond my expectations, even from those among us who played it in its extended early-access period, that it almost beggars belief. No game before it has so perfectly encapsulated everything that makes RPGs and TTRPGs alike so wonderful. It’s beautiful and heartfelt, with unforgettable characters, fantastic combat systems (derived from a modified version of the D&D 5e ruleset), and an engrossing world that will see you lose hours and hours.
I’ve been running Dungeons & Dragons games for over a decade now, and I say with no shame that Larian Studios are far better dungeon masters than I’ll ever be. In Baldur’s Gate 3, you take on the role of a poor soul kidnapped by the extraplanar illithid’s to become a host for one of their tadpoles and, in turn, a new illithid, once the ceremorphosis takes over your body completely. But a crashlanding sees you and other infected scattered across the sword coast and, oddly, untransformed.
From there, the story spirals out as you band together with the other infected to try desperately to find a cure before it’s too late, only to discover this story goes deeper than the parasite. There’s much more to uncover beneath the skin.
I won’t say anything more about the story; it needs to be experienced for yourself, your way. With endlessly branching pathways, choices, and tactical decisions, the story unfolds based on the path you choose, whether heroic, selfish, or mad.
Whatever the case, the moment-to-moment gameplay supports it beautifully; with a wide array of classes pulled from Dungeons & Dragons to choose from and a supporting cast to flesh out your party, you’ll confront the dangerous world of Faerun one dice roll at a time. Going in madly with a greatsword is always a fantastic decision, but how you approach any given encounter is another spiralling web of choices; you could talk your way through, ambush them with a cavalcade of destructive spells, charm your enemies to your side mid-combat, or pull more ridiculous stunts. Detonating a half-dozen oil barrels at someone’s feet, pushing them straight off a cliff, or pickpocketing their weapon before the fight begins.
Or just go in with a big sword, that always works.
The game has the versatility of problem-solving to put many immersive sims to shame, and it’s something both dungeon masters and players alike should take note of.
Not to say that this game is only for fans of Dungeons & Dragons; I believe it’s one that anyone can enjoy, and everyone should try. If you’re itching to give it a go, might I recommend a GeForce NOW Powered by Pentanet Priority membership? Believe me, you’ll want the extended play sessions because this is a game you can disappear into for hundreds of hours, and you’ll want to enjoy the game at its most beautiful, with access to our best gaming rigs. See you in the Forgotten Realms, but this game won’t soon be forgotten.
This spotlight is written by Pentanet team member “Motley” and does not represent the opinions of Pentanet or NVIDIA.
