Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition

Lore & Background

The game follows the rules of 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and includes both single-player and multiplayer modes. New features include cross-platform multiplayer, a standalone arena adventure called The Black Pits, four new characters with their own dialogue and associated adventures, five class kits (Dwarven Defender, Shadowdancer, Dragon Disciple, Dark Moon Monk, Sun Soul Monk), added locations, an achievement system for Steam versions, and two new difficulty modes: Story Mode and Legacy of Bhaal. Story Mode makes party characters invincible with a strength stat of 25 and immunity to most negative effects, while Legacy of Bhaal increases enemy hit points, saving throws, THAC0, and attacks per round, with difficulty locked once chosen.

Improvements from the original game include a revamped user interface, higher resolution and widescreen support, increased modding flexibility, a new renderer, multiplayer matchmaking (initially in beta), updated map and journal systems, a raised level cap, and importation of classes, subraces, and class kits from Baldur's Gate II. A later patch added romance elements from Baldur's Gate II for the new characters only. The iPad and Android versions feature a redesigned interface with multi-touch zoom and swipe navigation.

Reader's Guide

Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition revitalized a landmark RPG for modern platforms, introducing the classic Infinity Engine experience to a new generation. Its release on Windows, iPad, OS X, Android, Linux, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch broadened accessibility, while cross-platform multiplayer allowed players on different systems to play together. The addition of The Black Pits provided a self-contained combat challenge, and the four new NPCs expanded the game's narrative depth. The 2016 expansion Siege of Dragonspear bridged the story gap to Baldur's Gate II, further enriching the saga. The remaster's inclusion of quality-of-life improvements—such as higher resolutions, a better journal system, and mod support—addressed long-standing player requests while preserving the original's core gameplay. Its success demonstrated the viability of remastering classic RPGs and influenced subsequent re-releases of other Infinity Engine titles. The game remains a reference point for how to update a beloved title without losing its identity.

Did You Know?

• The remaster includes a standalone arena adventure called The Black Pits, set before the events of Baldur's Gate.
• Story Mode makes all party characters invulnerable and gives them a strength stat of 25.
• The iPad version was designed to be compatible with all three generations of the device available at the time.
• The expansion Siege of Dragonspear was released in March 2016 and covers events leading up to Baldur's Gate II.