When Baldur’s Gate 3 was released last August, no one could’ve predicted the cultural phenomenon it would become. While eagerly anticipated, this is a Dungeons & Dragons-based franchise that started in 1998 with a plateaued peak in popularity. It also took D&D owners Wizard Of The Coast three years before entrusting Divinity makers Larian with the licence due to the studio’s fledging status.
It wasn’t until early access to 25 hours of gameplay was made available in October 2020 that players got a sense of BG3’s epic scale. Even more impressive, the explorable map was only one-fifth of its total size. Record-breaking sales, gushing critical reviews and the industry’s biggest awards – including Game Of The Year at the Game Awards and BAFTAs – followed. Even now, it consistently hits 100,000 players every day and the internet is still awash daily with videos, fan art, fiction, memes, and handmade merchandise from fans. So high is the bar Larian has set, that other developers have complained about the weight of fan expectations going forward.
You could attribute BG3’s success to many things, from its intricate plotlines to its phenomenal voice cast, culminating in the addictive replayability that transforms a title from a flash in the pan to an enduring classic. I think a lot can be said for its accessibility, too. Gender and sexual orientation preferences are unfussily catered for, and the balance of horniness and heartfelt romance builds realism and fantasy. Integrating D&D’s dice roll system into narrative scenes makes social interactions as high-stakes as combat, satisfying both hack‘n’slashers and role players alike.
Moreover, BG3’s difficulty level doesn’t shut players out as modern masterpieces like Elden Ring and Dark Souls do. Simply put, lots of people are still playing BG3 because they can. So stop sweating, developers, and take note.
Baldur’s Gate 3, £49.99-£57.99 (PC, Mac, PlayStation, XBox).
Info: baldursgate3.game
words HANNAH COLLINS
