Baldur's Gate 3

BALDUR'S GATE 3 is a GENERATIONAL FANTASY CRPG (COMPUTER ROLE-PLAYING GAME) developed by LARIAN STUDIOS (headquartered Ghent, Belgium; founded by SVEN VINCKE 1996; also Divinity: Original Sin 2014 + Divinity: Original Sin 2 2017). Released AUGUST 3, 2023 on PC (after 3 years EARLY ACCESS starting October 2020); SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 on PS5; DECEMBER 7, 2023 on Xbox Series X|S (delayed due to Xbox Series S split-screen technical challenges). Third mainline BALDUR'S GATE game — succeeds BG1 (1998) + BG2 (2000) both by BioWare on the ancient INFINITY ENGINE. FAITHFUL ADAPTATION of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 5TH EDITION rules — the current tabletop D&D ruleset since 2014. Uses REAL-TIME-WITH-PAUSE for exploration + TURN-BASED COMBAT (dice rolls visible on screen; d20 checks + advantage/disadvantage + spell slot economy). SETUP: Player character has been infected with a MIND FLAYER TADPOLE (parasite) that will turn them into an Illithid mind flayer within days. Journey across FORGOTTEN REALMS (D&D's default setting) alongside 7 COMPANIONS (Origin characters, each playable): SHADOWHEART (Cleric of Shar), ASTARION (Rogue vampire spawn, fan-favorite), GALE (Wizard with unstable magic), LAE'ZEL (Githyanki Fighter), WYLL (Warlock with devil pact), KARLACH (Tiefling Barbarian, fan-favorite), MINSC (returning BG1/BG2 Ranger + hamster Boo, unlockable Act 3). Choose 4 party members per adventure; each Origin has 100+ hours of unique storyline if played as protagonist. STORY spans 3 ACTS across FORGOTTEN REALMS locations: Nautiloid ship (opening) + Ravaged Beach + Emerald Grove + Underdark + Grymforge (Act 1); Shadow-Cursed Lands + Moonrise Towers + Last Light Inn (Act 2); BALDUR'S GATE city + Iron Throne + High Halls (Act 3). GAMEPLAY: create character (12 classes, 11 subclasses each; 11 races, dozens of subraces; from D&D 5e), explore, make dialogue choices (d20 checks visible for persuasion/deception/intimidation), engage in turn-based tactical combat using D&D actions (attacks, spells, cantrips, bonus actions, reactions like Attack of Opportunity + Counterspell). Rest at camp to recover spell slots + advance companion romances (11 romanceable including CATFISHING GITHYANKI + ILLITHID TENTACLE encounters, notoriously explicit). MULTIPLAYER: 1-4 player online co-op + local split-screen (PS5). Won 2023 GAME OF THE YEAR at Game Awards + 6 additional GA wins (Best RPG, Best Community Support, Best Multiplayer, Best Narrative, Best Performance for Neil Newbon as Astarion, Players' Voice) + BAFTA BEST GAME + DICE GAME OF THE YEAR — HISTORIC AWARDS SWEEP for a CRPG. 15M+ copies sold in first year. UPDATE 8 (May 2025) added CROSS-SAVES, PHOTO MODE, MOD SUPPORT + additional content. UPCOMING: Larian confirmed 2024 they are NOT making DLC or BG4 to focus on new IP (later confirmed as new fantasy CRPG codenamed 'Project Excalibur'). Considered ONE OF THE GREATEST RPGs EVER MADE + a renaissance moment for the CRPG genre.

CRPG progression; no VP. Track XP, gold, character level (max 12 in BG3), companion approval, act progression, act endings.

Win condition · Complete Act 3 final Netherbrain confrontation; multiple ending variations based on choices.

PC (Steam, GOG, humble); PS5; Xbox Series X|S. Best on PC (mouse+keyboard) but excellent on console with hotkeys.

• Baldur's Gate 3 ($60 USD, PC/PS5/Xbox)

  One-time purchase, all updates free

• Baldur's Gate 3 Digital Deluxe ($80)

  Includes D:OS 2 divine ascension DLC-equivalent items

• Modern PC or PS5 or Xbox Series

  PS4 not supported (too resource-intensive)

• Xbox Game Pass — free on service

  GamePass Ultimate includes BG3

• D&D 5e Player's Handbook (optional reference $35)

  Understand rules deeper via tabletop reference

• Party composition: cover Tank/DPS/Healer/Controller roles

  Balanced party clears content faster.

• Cast Bless + Bardic Inspiration for advantage in tough fights

  Buffs stack and turn hard rolls into easy ones.

• Use environmental interactions (oil, cliff shove, ice)

  Larian's emergent chaos.

• Long rest before hard fights to refresh spell slots

  Resource management critical.

• Honour Mode: single save file, one death = permanent

  Ultimate challenge; requires perfect play.

Tadpole / Illithid parasite

Central plot device; ceremorphosis threatens all PCs.

Origin character

Pre-made PC with unique backstory + questline; also companion.

Astarion / Shadowheart / Gale / Lae'zel / Wyll / Karlach

7 companion Origins.

Forgotten Realms

D&D's default fantasy setting; BG3 setting.

Baldur's Gate

Sword Coast city; namesake + Act 3 location.

Absolute / Netherbrain

Main antagonist cult + entity.

Long rest

Camp rest; recovers spell slots + advances romance.

Honour Mode

Hardest difficulty; one save; permadeath.

Larian Direct

Larian's community update livestream events.

D:OS

Divinity: Original Sin, Larian's previous CRPG series.

• The Game Awards 2023 Game of the Year + 6 wins

  annual · worldwide · since 2023

• BAFTA Game Awards 2024 Best Game + 5 wins

  annual · UK · since 2024

• DICE Awards 2024 Game of the Year + 8 wins

  annual · USA · since 2024

• Golden Joystick Ultimate Game of the Year 2023

  annual · worldwide · since 2023

• Speedrun scene emerging (Any%, Any% Solo, Honour Mode)

  ongoing · worldwide online · since 2023

• 🇧🇪Belgium
• 🇺🇸United States
• 🇬🇧United Kingdom
• 🇩🇪Germany
• 🇫🇷France
• 🇮🇹Italy
• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇵🇱Poland
• 🇸🇪Sweden
• 🇧🇷Brazil
• 🇲🇽Mexico
• 🇯🇵Japan
• 🇰🇷South Korea
• 🇨🇦Canada
• 🇦🇺Australia
• 🇳🇱Netherlands

• Larian Studios (developer + publisher)

  Founded 1996 · Ghent, Belgium; Dublin; Kuala Lumpur; Quebec; Guildford

• Wizards of the Coast (D&D IP + Forgotten Realms setting; Hasbro subsidiary)

  Founded 1990 · Renton, Washington, USA

• Larian Studios — Baldur's Gate 3— Larian Studios
• Wikipedia — Baldur's Gate 3— Wikipedia