Here's the thing about generational games: you know them when you play them. Baldur's Gate 3 doesn't just raise the bar for CRPGs—it launches it into the stratosphere. After spending well over 100 hours exploring the Sword Coast, delving into the Mind Flayer conspiracy, and watching my choices cascade into unexpected consequences, I can confidently say this is one of the finest RPGs ever crafted.
Larian Studios faced impossible expectations following Divinity: Original Sin 2, and somehow they've delivered something even more ambitious. This is a game that trusts you completely—to experiment, to fail, to discover your own path through a world that feels genuinely alive.
Review Score Consensus
[!important] Save frequently and maintain multiple save files, especially in Act 3. Several players report game-breaking bugs that can corrupt saves, particularly around the Stormshore Tabernacle sequence.
Gameplay: Freedom Redefined
What sets Baldur's Gate 3 apart isn't just that it adapts D&D 5th Edition rules faithfully—it's how it embraces the spirit of tabletop roleplaying. You'll want to quicksave constantly, not because the game is punishing, but because you'll keep discovering wild solutions to problems you didn't know existed.
The combat system is pure tactical bliss. Turn-based encounters demand careful positioning, resource management, and creative thinking. Environmental interactions add incredible depth—you can shove enemies off cliffs, douse them with water before hitting them with lightning, or talk your way out of fights entirely. The key here is that multiple approaches feel equally valid. Stealth, diplomacy, brute force, or outright chaos—the game accommodates all of it.
Character progression follows D&D rules closely, offering genuine build diversity. Multiclassing opens up fascinating combinations, and respeccing is available if you want to experiment. The level cap sits at 12, which might disappoint tabletop veterans hoping for high-level play, but it keeps the power curve manageable across the campaign's scope.
What most players miss in their first playthrough is just how reactive the world is. NPCs remember your actions. Side quests interweave with main story beats. Decisions made in Act 1 can fundamentally alter Act 3 encounters. One player reported spending 60 hours in Act 1 alone—and that's entirely believable given the density of content.
[!tip] Don't rush to level 5. The game truly opens up once you hit this milestone and gain access to third-level spells and major class features. If you're struggling to connect with the game early on, push through to this point.
Graphics & Audio: Cinematic Excellence
Larian has achieved something remarkable with the presentation. This feels like a prestige HBO fantasy series brought to interactive life. Facial animations during dialogue convey genuine emotion, and the motion capture work is exceptional. Every major character feels like a real person, not a collection of dialogue trees.
The world design deserves special recognition. From the sun-dappled forests of the Emerald Grove to the gothic architecture of Baldur's Gate itself, each location is meticulously handcrafted. You'll find yourself stopping just to admire the environmental storytelling—a skeleton clutching a letter, a hidden shrine, environmental clues that hint at larger mysteries.
The orchestral score complements the action perfectly, swelling during pivotal moments and fading to ambient soundscapes during exploration. Voice acting across the board is stellar, with standout performances from the origin characters. Pro tip: play with headphones to fully appreciate the spatial audio design during combat.
That said, performance can be inconsistent, particularly in Act 3's densely populated areas. Frame rate drops and occasional visual glitches become more common in the final act, though they rarely break immersion entirely.
Story & Characters: Living, Breathing Companions
The narrative hook—you're infected with a Mind Flayer tadpole and racing against transformation—provides urgency without railroading your journey. But the real story is in the relationships you build and the faction politics you navigate.
Your companions are the heart of this experience. Yes, they can be abrasive initially—several players noted feeling put off by their attitudes during first meetings. Here's the thing: they're supposed to be. These are desperate people in impossible circumstances, and watching them evolve based on your influence feels genuinely rewarding. Karlach, Shadowheart, Astarion, Gale—each has depth that reveals itself over dozens of hours.
[!warning] Some companion storylines can be permanently locked out based on early decisions. Pay attention to approval ratings and don't ignore companion quests if you want to see their full arcs.
The writing quality remains consistently high across three acts, though Act 3 stands out as the narrative peak. The way seemingly disconnected threads weave together in the final act demonstrates masterful storytelling. Choices matter deeply here—not in the binary "good ending vs bad ending" sense, but in shaping the specific story you experience.
Romance options are plentiful and well-written, treating relationships with surprising maturity. The game respects different playstyles, whether you want deep emotional connections or prefer to focus purely on the adventure.
Technical Considerations & Replayability
The elephant in the room: bugs. While the core experience is remarkably polished for a game this ambitious, Act 3 contains several documented issues. The Stormshore Tabernacle bug mentioned in user reviews can genuinely corrupt saves if you trigger a specific sequence. Quest triggers occasionally fail, and multiplayer co-op—while functional—has synchronization quirks.
Larian continues patching aggressively, but you'll want to maintain multiple save files as insurance. This is standard CRPG practice, but it's particularly crucial here.
Replayability is where Baldur's Gate 3 truly shines. With six origin characters offering unique perspectives, 12 classes with multiclassing options, and branching narratives that genuinely diverge, multiple playthroughs feel fresh. Players regularly report discovering new content on their third or fourth run. The modding community has also embraced the game, extending longevity even further.
Who Should Play This?
If you love deep RPGs, tactical combat, or rich storytelling, this is essential. The turn-based combat might initially deter action RPG fans, but the strategic depth rewards patience. CRPG veterans will find everything they crave, while newcomers have accessibility options to ease the learning curve.
The time investment is real—expect 75-100 hours for a thorough playthrough, with 150+ hours easily achievable if you're completionist-minded. But every hour feels purposeful, not padded.
Verdict
Baldur's Gate 3 represents the pinnacle of what CRPGs can achieve. It's a game that respects your intelligence, rewards your curiosity, and trusts you to forge your own path through a world that feels genuinely reactive. The tactical combat is endlessly satisfying, the characters are memorable, and the sheer density of quality content is staggering.
Yes, there are technical rough spots. Yes, the complexity can overwhelm. But these are minor caveats on an otherwise extraordinary achievement. Larian Studios hasn't just created an excellent game—they've redefined what's possible in the genre. This is the rare title that doesn't just meet impossibly high expectations; it exceeds them.
Whether you're a tabletop D&D veteran or someone who's never touched a CRPG, Baldur's Gate 3 offers something special. It's not just one of the best games of its year—it's one of the best RPGs ever made.
