Baldur’s Gate 3 Review

A D&D Dream Realised

Infected with a mind flayer tadpole, you and a band of unlikely companions race to save yourselves while the fate of Faerûn hangs in the balance. You can build a custom hero or step into the boots of an Origin character like the vampiric Astarion or the war-torn Karlach.

Say Yes to Everything

Baldur’s Gate 3’s magic is how rarely it tells you no. Persuade a foe, shove them off a cliff, stack crates to reach a window, talk to animals, or simply set the room on fire — the world accounts for your class, race, and choices with astonishing consistency.

Turn-Based Tactics

Combat faithfully adapts 5th Edition D&D, with initiative, action and bonus actions, and rich environmental play — grease ignited by fire, high ground for advantage, shoved enemies plummeting to their deaths. Spell synergy and positioning reward genuine creativity.

Companions You’ll Remember

Its companions are among the best ever written, each with a meaty personal arc — Astarion’s search for freedom, Shadowheart’s crisis of faith, Gale’s dangerous secret. Full romances, betrayals, and constant reactions make them feel alive.

Three Acts of Choice

From the Druid Grove and goblin camp of Act 1, through the Shadow-Cursed Lands, to the sprawling city itself, choices ripple forward in ways that genuinely reshape later events and endings.

A Lavish Production

Full performance capture, a sweeping score, and cinematic dialogue give it a polish few RPGs match across such an enormous, reactive adventure.

A Few Caveats

Act 3 can be technically demanding, with the occasional bug or performance dip, and the sheer depth can intimidate newcomers. Neither meaningfully dents the experience.

Verdict

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a monumental achievement — deep, generous, reactive, and endlessly replayable. One of the greatest RPGs ever made.