Baldur's Gate III

Did You Know?

• Larian Studios revealed Baldur's Gate 3 with a trailer at a conference for Google's cloud gaming platform, Stadia, in July 2019.
• Larian started work on downloadable content due to fan demand but had no internal passion for the idea and ultimately did not develop a sequel or DLC.

Narrative

Baldur's Gate 3 is set in the Forgotten Realms on the continent of Faerûn, primarily near the city of Baldur's Gate. The story takes place over 100 years after Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and shortly after the adventure Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. The first act begins around a mind flayer ship wreckage and includes locations such as a druids' grove, a goblin camp, and a monastery. Eight of the ten companions are introduced in act one, with six recruitable near the start.

The Underdark is a large subterranean area accessible through multiple entrances. Act one ends when the player reaches act two's setting via a mountain pass or the Underdark. Act two takes place in the Shadow Cursed lands around Moonrise Towers, with locations like the Last Light Inn and the Gauntlet of Shar; only one companion is introduced here. The third act is set in the city of Baldur's Gate, with additional areas outside the city such as a circus and shoreline, and introduces the tenth companion.

The narrator, voiced by Amelia Tyler, recounts the world and the player's thoughts, acting as a dungeon master. Six of the ten companions can be chosen as player characters in the character creator; these origin characters have preset classes, races, and appearances, though classes can be changed. Astarion is a high elf vampire spawn rogue voiced by Neil Newbon and written by Stephen Rooney.

Development

The Baldur's Gate series began in 1995 when TSR, Inc. asked Interplay Entertainment to produce a Dungeons & Dragons video game. BioWare developed the first two games, Baldur's Gate (1998) and Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000), using the second edition of D&D. A third game subtitled The Black Hound, developed by Black Isle Studios, was cancelled in 2003 after a licensing dispute. Over the following decade, several companies sought the rights, including Obsidian Entertainment and Larian Studios.

Beamdog released enhanced editions of the first two games and an expansion, Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear (2016). Larian's initial pitch to Wizards of the Coast was declined after Divinity: Original Sin (2014), but prerelease material for Divinity: Original Sin II (2017) led to approval. Larian grew considerably during the six-year production. The first act was released in early access in August 2020, attracting over 2.5 million players and providing revenue that sustained the studio. After full release, Larian added free content until the final patch in April 2025.

Reception

Baldur's Gate 3 received universal acclaim on Metacritic, with 98% of critics recommending it on OpenCritic. Critics praised the game's detail, scope, and faithful emulation of the tabletop Dungeons & Dragons experience, with several comparing the studio to a gracious dungeon master. The production quality, including cinematics, performance capture, and fully voiced cast, was widely commended. The writing received praise for its side quests and quest outcome variety, though some reviewers noted false urgency in the main narrative and that certain choices could inadvertently block plot lines.

Characters were lauded for elevating the narrative beyond standard fantasy tropes, with companions' stories serving as a main motivation for many players. The romance system was praised for its maturity and natural development, though a bug shortly after launch made companions overly eager. The Dark Urge character origin received dedicated coverage. The game won Game of the Year at all five major award ceremonies—the Golden Joystick Awards, Game Developers Choice Awards, D.I.C.E. Awards, BAFTAs, and The Game Awards—as well as the 2024 Hugo Award for Best Game or Interactive Work.