Baldur's Gate is an incredibly beloved PC RPG franchise, but Baldur's Gate II released in September of 2000, so there is a good chance that you missed the original buzz. Thankfully, Baldur's Gate III might be the perfect entry point. Larian Studios is handling development, and the studio received a ton of praise for its work on the Divinity: Original Sin series. We recently had an extended look at the game, and based on what we saw Baldur's Gate III could be a must-play RPG for the generation. To prime your excitement, here is everything you need to know about this promising project.
Do I need to be a fan to play this?
No. Whether you’re a fan that has been waiting 20 years for Baldur's Gate III or a complete newcomer, developer Larian Studios is working to ensure that the game is approachable for everyone. If you are a fan of Baldur's Gate or even the Dungeons & Dragons universe, there will be plenty of Easter eggs to find, but an understanding of the franchise isn’t a prerequisite for fun.
What is the story about?
The game opens with a giant floating ship traveling across the country and kidnapping people. Those prisoners are infected with a vicious-looking tadpole creature that is slowly turning them into Mind Flayers – psionically powered monsters with a face full of tentacles. However, the ship crashes before the process is complete and everyone onboard is scattered to the wind. You control a group of survivors who must deal with the tadpoles in your brains before you mutate into Mind Flayers.
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Okay, so who are these poor saps?
In Baldur's Gate III, you can create your own character or choose from one of several pre-made heroes. These pre-made characters come with their own backstories, skills, and motivations. Even if you create your own hero, you will encounter Larian’s pre-made characters throughout the game and they may join your party. We were given a brief glimpse of a few of Larian’s characters, and they are all unique. For example, Astarian is a vampire spawn who suddenly finds that he can walk in the sunlight without burning. However, he still possesses a hunger for human blood. Another interesting hero is Shadowheart, a cleric who was on a mission but voluntarily had her memories wiped, and now all she knows is where she needs to go to complete her mission. Whoever you choose as the main protagonist will dramatically color the rest of the story, change your side quests, and influence the interactions you have with everyone else in the world.