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It’s finally here.Baldur’s Gate 3, possibly the most anticipated CRPG of the last decade, if not longer, is finally within your grasp. You’ve probably seen people hyping this game up since it landed in Early Access in 2020 - a hype that’s only grown since the game was fully released.
Still, even when you see everyone and their dog talking about Baldur’s Gate 3, you may wonder if it’s everything it’s cracked up to be. Maybe you’reunfamiliar with the first two games, or perhaps you’reworried about how massive the game is- can you jump into Baldur’s Gate 3 without first considering its cost, length, and quality? No worries - we’re here to help you with that.
Updated on June 29, 2025 by Dennis Moiseyev:Baldur’s Gate 3 is now the winner of Game of the Year in both the Game Awards and on Steam, as well asTheGamer’s choice for Game of the Year, and is also finally available on all platforms aside from Nintendo Switch. We’ve updated this article with some new player responses and an updated review to best help you decide whether you should join the party for yourself in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Review
One of the first points Ryan Thomas Bamsey acknowledgesin his five-star Baldur’s Gate 3 Review - A Glorious Featis the accessibility of its CRPG structure, which he understands can be “niche by nature.” Basing the gameplay around a simpler D&D Fifth Edition ruleset andhaving a hassle-free character creatorare some of the ways Larian tips the scales to welcoming new players.
Combat and story design are some of the highlights praised by Bamsey in the review. The game hooks you immediately with this sense of urgency that a tadpole forcibly implanted in your brain will transform you into a mind flayer, only to discover that time really isn’t against you, and you can explore everything at your preferred pace, noting that “Every corner of the map seems to have some secret to uncover or an encounter to deal with.”
Baldur’s Gate 3effortlessly takes turn-based combat from the tabletopinto the areas of its virtual world. The combat encounters, in particular, all feel genuine and “meticulously designed” to not feel like you’re engaging random enemies, which also factors greatly into replayability.
From narrative to level design, combat to quests, character creation to romance, everything is fine-tuned to provide a gripping experience that provokes wonder and joy.
In general,the performances of all characters, no matter how minor of an NPC, are all “effortful and committed, enriching the world.” Ryan especially points out how Shadowheart, Astarion, and Karlach steal the show, and appreciates how their pasts are explored throughoout the main story. They also play into the games horniness, as Bamsey admits he “shagged anything and everything.”
With the only criticism being the rushed third act, Bamsey doesn’t shy away from hailing Baldur’s Gate 3 as a masterpiece. Having already spent 84 hours, it’s a game he’d always come back to and continue “mopping up quests, resolving entire sub-plots and taking on some of the most hair-raising fights of my life.”
Cost
The 2023 Game of the Year, Baldur’s Gate 3, is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.The standard edition of the game will cost you$60 on PC and $70 on consoles. If you wish to spend a little extra on some cosmetic items, a digital deluxe edition of the game costs $80. you’re able to also get those same cosmetics through aDLC pack which is $10. (These cosmetics are free for anyone who bought the game during Early Access.)
On Larian’s official website,you can also pre-order a physical deluxe edition for Baldur’s Gate 3 (also $80), which comes with some physical goodies in addition to the DLC cosmetics. You’ll receive 32 stickers, a mind flayer poster, a deluxe edition box, a 3-disc game soundtrack, a map of the world of BG3, and two patches.
There’s also aCollector’s Editionof the game, which comes with the digital cosmetics, along with a special box, a Mindflayer statue, stickers, origin character sheets, an oversized die, a Magic: The Gathering Baldur’s Gate booster pack, a tadpole keyring, an artbook, and a cloth map.It is a whopping $270- but that statuedoeslook cool.
Time Expenditure
Anyone who has played the Early Access version can tell you that Baldur’s Gate 3 is chock-full of content. Even its first act, the only thing available to us during its extended stay in Early Access, could run upward of 30 hours. The full version is almost triple that, running around80 to 100 hours for a standard playthrough.
That’s not considering all the things there are to explore, the NPCs to meet, and the side quests to indulge in. With all that in mind, a completionist run will likely run you around 200 hours.
And then, of course, there’s the fact that the game has six different origin characters to choose from, each offering a different perspective on the game’s events. The replayability of this behemoth is almost endless - there are so many choices to make, people to romance, and classes to try out.
What People Are Saying
Absolutely Worth Your Time - Ryan Bamsey
I’ve played a lot of CRPGs in my time, and Baldur’s Gate 3 feels like an instant classic. The writing is great, the combat system is engaging, and it simply doesn’t feel like a chore to play, despite promising a frankly ridiculous runtime. I don’t know whether I’d recommend it to just anyone, as the mechanics are complex (especially if you’re not coming from a D&D background), but those who will like it will really, really like it.
The Best D&D Video Game, Hands Down, And A Must-Try For Tabletop Fans - Branden Lizardi
Baldur’s Gate 3 managed to capture the freedom and diversity found in the traditional pen-and-paper format of Dungeons & Dragons. Trick ogres into working for you, argue with a Strange Ox, tease a vampire, it’s all there. This game is an absolute wonder and one of the most comprehensive, in-depth, and detailed RPGs of this millennium and an amazing digital take on the D&D 5e tabletop system.
It’s best enjoyed by those already familiar with the D&D 5e system since that’s what it’s heavily based on, so anyone unfamiliar with the rules may find some of the mechanics complex or overwhelming. Regardless, if you’re a fan of a classic high fantasy experience with a tremendously impressive level of freedom for problem-solving, then this is your game.
Worth Every Second - Keitha Sims-Korba
I’ve played Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3 more than a few times during its early access run, yet the full release feels like a whole new game. There are different story beats, more character interaction, and so much freedom to go and do what you want. The amount of player agency is almost ridiculous. It can feel a little overwhelming at first, but there’s a joy in the learning curve. In a year full of stellar games, Baldur’s Gate shines bright.
If You’re On The Fence, Don’t Hesitate! Absolutely GOTY Worthy - Dennis Moiseyev
I was hesitant about Baldur’s Gate 3 for a long time. I don’t have one D&D bone in my body and have never been a fan of top-down turn-based strategy video games, especially in CRPG design, but I’m thrilled I got it in the end. From the character creator to the unpredictable skill check mechanics, world design, and spending time with everyone I’ve recruited to my party, this game has left me pleasantly surprised at the level of enjoyment I’ve already experienced.
The depth of the consequences of committing to certain choices and how easy it is to miss out on entire storylines if you don’t explore every inch is just surreal, and all the characters grip you instantly. Coming from a game developer background, I can’t imagine the hard work, magic, and game design wizardry that everyone at Larian conjured to put this all together. Nothing to this scale of storytelling even comes close!
Unlike Any Other Game You’ll Ever Play – Jerel Levy
There’s truly something special about Baldur’s Gate 3. It takes what you know and love about Dungeons & Dragons and delves into your imagination to show you what all those spells and special moments from your home campaign truly look like in live play. Strategic turn-based combat has never felt so alive and so integral; your next move could very well be your last.
Aside from that, the storyline, the amazing performances of your party members, and the truly unbelievable number of options, from how one dialogue choice can completely change the trajectory of the game, you’ll never play anything else quite like Baldur’s Gate 3.
Baldur’s Gate 3 was Jerel Levy’s pick for 2023 Game of the Year.
Impressive And Captivating - Zoë J. Osik
Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the best games I’ve played in a long time. From the rich storytelling to the engaging cast of characters, every moment draws you in more. you may truly be whoever you want to be, whether that’s the classic hero or a scandalous villain. And yes, you can pet the dog.
Baldur’s Gate 3 was Zoë J. Osik’s pick for 2023 Game of the Year.
