Baldur's Gate 3 (2023) (PC) (Larian Studios)
0The Internet certainly doesn't need a lapsed YouTuber to belatedly declare that Baldur's Gate 3 is pretty good. But I'm going to say it anyway: Larian has crafted a truly exceptional successor to all Bioware-style modern RPGs from the previous two decades, and the game will surely stand the test of time at least as well as the original BG1-2, Dragon Age, KOTOR or even Mass Effect.
I didn't capture much gameplay during my 150+ hour playthrough, but here's some semi-random Act 3 footage to go with my typically verbose video description.
I may have pretended to be some sort of retro game expert when this channel was first launched some 15 years ago, but my understanding of D&D mechanics really only goes so far. I'm usually quite content with the path of least resistance; i.e. to learn as much as I need to, but not enough to get truly creative in my approach to combat. And while the turn-based battles and character development in BG3 can certainly be challenging to engage with, the game's standard difficulty level still feels completely fair and manageable even with suboptimal builds and rudimentary tactics. My favorite element of BG3's combat is simply the wide range of distinct and memorable combat encounters (especially in the second half of the game), which keeps the core gameplay from becoming stale over the course of what can be a very lengthy campaign.
For an older millenial like myself, perhaps the single most satisfying element of Baldur's Gate 3's astonishing success is just how much it has been embraced by younger players; many of whom have never played a complex computer roleplaying game in their life. Seeing all those trendy streamers becoming heavily invested in a deep CRPG like this was something that definitely caught me off guard. I know the gaming population as a whole has diversified a lot since I was a kid or young adult, but this kind of reception would have been unimaginable even when Dragon Age: Origins (the game BG3 most closely resembles) was released in 2009.
One explanation for the surprisingly deep inroads Larian's latest release has made into the gaming mainstream is surely the development of social media and services like Twitch, where BG3's story drama and epic encounters can really draw in the peanut-crunching crowd. Of course, the developers and amazing voice/motion capture actors also deserve all the praise in the world for their exemplary work in bringing this high fantasy Dungeons & Dragons adventure to life.
Much fuss has been made about the romance subplots and overall thirstiness of the game, but the larger point is that Baldur's Gate 3 (its darker plot points notwithstanding) is just a deeply humane and relatable story all around. And while all of the prominent characters have their immediate crowd-pleasing signifiers (whether it be the life-affirming brashness of Karlach, the sassy grace of Shadowheart or even the mournful dignity of Ketheric Thorm), there's always plenty of complexity and nuance to keep the player hooked for the long haul. I believe the technical term for this is "good writing"!
As stated from the outset, so much has already been said about this RPG that yet another glowing review is fairly redunant at this point. But, for what it's worth, I can already safely say that Baldur's Gate 3 is Demiath's Game of the Year 2023.