Summary
Quite a few people have picked up on how similar Larian Studios’Baldur’s Gate 3is to a fan-favorite franchise of the past decade or more:Dragon Age. It’s not just because a few facetattoos look suspiciously like vallaslin. Companions and NPCs struggle with inner, and sometimes outer, demons inBaldur’s Gate 3in a way that may seem familiar toDragon Agefans. The worlds of Faerûn and Thedas are steeped with lore and feature everything from politics to gore. The similarities don’t stop there: owning a battlefield inBaldur’s Gate 3requires some of the same kind of strategic thinking thatDragon Agegames do, and which battles to fight in the first place depends on the type of hero or antihero players want to roleplay.
Beyond the mechanical similarities, Thedas and Faerûn are not just the place where the main plot happens to take place. These are worlds with complex histories, societies, and belief systems, and they hold as much mystery for their denizens as for players diving into these games for the first time. A lot of choices ask the player what kind of person their protagonist is, and that doesn’t just mean their morality. It’s also about the culture players choose to represent, the attitudes they adhere to, and the feelings and thoughts inspired by the events of the game. These games offer a high level of customization in appearance and game experience alike, which gives them an irresistible draw for players who enjoy exploring what-ifs, digging up secrets and things missed, and trying out different choices.
10A Game For Tacticians
Both Titles Feature A Tactical View & Encourage Strategic Gameplay
Thetactics systeminDragon Agedidn’t win over everyone, although experienced players will find the plethora of command options an exciting challenge that can enhance gameplay. Similarly,Baldur’s Gate 3’sbattles can be a bit overwhelming, especially for those who don’t have previous D&D experience. However, those who persevere and familiarize themselves withthese tactical mechanicswill have superior battlefield control to tackle the random chance of the dice.
The systems are unique to each title, but they all have the same essential approach: the companions, the number of enemies, and the battlefield are all variables that make each encounter more or less unique, even when replayed or reloaded. Whether players are up against Kethric Thorm or Corypheus, players have full control of their party members' abilities and actions in these games.
9Mixing Ability Trees
Both Titles Allow Players To Pick & Choose Abilities From Various Skill Trees
Wielding a sword or two is one thing: the methodology behind it depends on what skill trees appeal the most to the player. RPG veterans will find both these franchises offer a refreshing twist to theclassic class systemsthey may be used to: whereDragon Agereinterprets them to fit Thedas and expands on it,Baldur’s Gate 3sticks with classic names and lets players go wild combining arcane, melee, ranged, and other unique abilities in any given character.
Beyond the expected abilities, such as lockpicking dual-wielding rogues, both franchises offer quite a few specializations or subclasses, and true to its source material,players can even multiclassinBaldur’s Gate 3. Regardless of which abilities players start with, these games won’t restrict players to a single type of weapon or set of abilities. Ability points can also easily be redistributed, so players can change their minds mid-game.
8Mysteries Are The Spice Of The Game
Both Titles Use Both Ancient & Modern Secrets To Deepen The Plot
Baldur’s Gate 3and theDragon Agegames begin the story with life-altering events that usher the chosen protagonist on a journey they can’t refuse, taking care to make the journey a personal and highly mysterious one. Discovering the nature of the protagonist’s predicament will land players in the position where ancient history and modern society combined hold the solutions.
There are major differences in terms of what the main quests are, but both franchises play onthemes like body horrorand powerful secrets from ages past. The urgency is not lost on players in any of these games, and yet, a lot of exploration involves diving through ancient ruins or visiting alternate dimensions. These heroes may seem to have all the time in the world based on how lost they get, but the story of both worlds keeps players on point.
7Playing A Team Player
Both Titles Feature Customizable Party Members To Explore Their Roleplaying Value
Dragon AgeandBaldur’s Gatearen’t the only franchises that let players directly determine what actions their party members will take, but they stand out in just how involved and customizable those choices can be. There’s always the mechanical consideration of which skillsets and special abilities complement each other and the quest at hand. If players want to take a companion who otherwisewouldn’t fit the party, it’s possible to respec them to suit the player’s needs.
In addition to party composition, these franchises go all out when it comes to companions having a big part to play in quests outside their personal ones. Whether it’s just voicing an opinion in party banter or contributing useful information at key points, it’s clear these games are designed withmany playthroughs in mind, where taking a different team to the same quest will sometimes yieldsignificantly different story results, or reveal fascinating clues the player might not have otherwise noticed the first time.
6Gorgeous And Haunting Settings
Both Titles Showcase A Fascinating & Fleshed-Out World
It’s hardly surprising that ashigh fantasy franchises, the ambiance of these games got a lot of attention during development.Dragon Ageis famous for spurring players to want to spend more time in Thedas to explore what’s in it, including regions that don’t even feature in the first three games. Larian Studios’Baldur’s Gate 3is no less fastidious in bringing Faerûn to life in such a way that many players hesitate to finish it for fear of their experience coming to an end.
A gripping story and fleshed-out characters are essential to a CRPG’s success, and these games clear those bars easily. But what makes players so invested in such a world often has more to do with how well all thebackground details captivate the imagination. Both Thedas and Faerûn have plenty to offer when it comes to this: good mechanics, stellar soundtracks, fascinating belief systems, complex politics, secretive organizations, and an array of cultures.
5More Than One Way To Evolve
Both Titles Allow Players To Fully Roleplay Their Character’s Personality
Roleplaying has always involved some measure of a morality spectrum, and in theory, there are multiple ways to achieve one of many endings. In the case of CRPGs, it’s sometimes difficult to achieve this in practice: some endings conflict too much, or make itimpossible to avoid retconswhen sequels are made. Thus, playing both sides is usually not an option if players want to see all the available content.Dragon AgeandBaldur’s Gate 3aren’t immune to this issue, but their developers put a lot of effort into challenging the medium’s limitations.
These games offer both good and evil means to achieve the same goal. The famous BioWaremoral dilemmasare all about choosing sides, but neither choice prevents characters from getting results.Baldur’s Gate 3similarly presents players with a range of approaches, and players can switch sides if they’reroleplaying the moral declineor redemption of their character. There are plenty of party members, ways to get through quests, and endings that suit all kinds of protagonists in both worlds.
4Nearly Everything Is Optional
Both Titles Offer A Variety Of Approaches To Quests
It’s not easy to be a completionist when it comes to these titles. This is by design; there are many different ways to experience these respective worlds. Choices leading to different results have their inherent draw, but these games excel at drawing players back to roleplay characters with different or opposing personalities, including factoring in whether such a character wouldtake up a specific questor prioritize a region or companion quest in the first place.
These games aren’t open-world, but they both play around with the concept. Quests can be ignored, areas can be explored in a different order, and choices carried over from one area to the next can change the way the story shapes itself. It might not be completely up to the player whether they complete their main tasks, but these games take care to offer more than one way to get the rewards and outcomes, and there’s more than one way to end the game.
3A Dark Fantasy For All Tastes
Good & Evil Are Relative In Both Titles
Offering moral alternatives is one thing, but how well it’s executed is another matter.Dragon AgeandBaldur’s Gate 3depart from the idea of universally acclaimed or reprehensible acts: it’s a matter ofperspective. These worlds belong in thedark fantasy genrefor a good reason. It’s not just about the player’s character, it’s also about the world, and the things players have to sacrifice along the way. The powers that be of Thedas and Faerûn include sinister ones, and nothing is ever as simple as saving the good guys.
Dragon Agegames do quite well when it comes to giving playersa satisfying dark playthrough experience, aligning them with institutions, ideals, beliefs, and predilections that other characters within the same world find either reprehensible or laudable, depending on whom the player asks. Alongside virtuous options,Baldur’s Gate 3also offers an assortment of disturbing choices, going so far as to create an entire protagonist alternative, the Dark Urge, to facilitate the exploration of evil incarnate.
2The Story Is Shaped By Player Choices
The World Responds With More Than Just Alternate Dialogues In Both Titles
The CRPG genre wouldn’t be what it is without choices, and these titles stand out for the sheer quantity players get. It’s not just about numbers, of course. Thebestchoices areones that matter, or at least successfully give the illusion of mattering.Dragon AgeandBaldur’s Gate3do more than influence world-shaking events, they also take the time to showcase the outcomes and consequences of player choices well before the game finishes.
These games go the extra mile by subtly or overtly changing the society or beliefs of these worlds based on those decisions. It’s not merely about getting different dialogues. Players may encounter characters in different situations, whole organizations can be shut down or started up, and players may wind up having significant political and social influence.
1Companions Worth Knowing
Both Titles Feature Plot-Relevant Companions & Relationships Worth Playing
Dragon Agehas a long-standing reputation for excellence because of itscomplicated companions. Each feels real and involved, showcasing the many sides of Thedas. The developers ofBaldur’s Gate 3paid attention: their companion lineup is just as compelling, and just as disparate, giving players insight into many layers of Faerûnian life. In all theDragon Agegames put together, all but a handful of companions can be left behind unrecruited, driven away, or even killed.Baldur’s Gate 3takes this further, makingeveryNPC and companion optional.
Dragon Agehas the edge when it comes to friendships; in contrast, it may feel like everyone inBaldur’s Gate 3is obsessively interested in the player’s character. Despite this, theBaldur’s Gate 3lineup has real emotional depth, as each companion also explores the many faces of trauma and consent.Dragon Ageinspires players to examine the complexities of love in relation to societies and beliefs.Baldur’s Gate 3focuses on the complexities ofgiving and receiving lovein the first place. Half the adventure is getting to know these excellent companions.
