Baldur’s Gate 3, the long-awaited sequel to the classic RPG series, has finally launched on PC and PS5 after years of development and early access. The game, developed by Larian Studios, is a faithful adaptation of the fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons ruleset, offering a rich and immersive role-playing experience with a vast and varied world to explore, a deep and branching story to follow, and a diverse and dynamic party of companions to interact with.
But as tempting as it may be to dive into the game and experience everything it has to offer, some players may want to take a moment and consider how they approach their playthrough. Baldur’s Gate 3 is not a game that can be easily rushed or replayed, as it is designed to be a unique and personal journey for each player, with choices and consequences that shape the outcome of the story and the fate of the characters. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to make the most of your Baldur’s Gate 3 adventure.
Don’t save scum
Save scumming is the practice of reloading a previous save file whenever something goes wrong or not according to plan, such as failing a dice roll, losing a fight, or making a bad decision. While this may seem like a harmless way to avoid frustration or regret, it can also ruin the immersion and challenge of the game, as well as the sense of discovery and surprise. Baldur’s Gate 3 is designed to be reactive and adaptive to your actions, both good and bad, and to reward you for living with the consequences. As Larian director of publishing Michael Douse advised players: “Trust yourself, and trust the dice. It reacts to your success and failures.”
Don’t look up spoilers
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game full of secrets, mysteries, twists, and turns. It’s also a game that can vary greatly depending on your choices, your party composition, your alignment, your race, your class, and many other factors. This means that no two playthroughs will be exactly alike, and that there will always be something new and unexpected to discover. If you look up spoilers online, you will not only spoil the fun for yourself, but also for others who may want to experience the game for themselves. Baldur’s Gate 3 is best enjoyed blind, without knowing what lies ahead or behind every corner.
Don’t rush through the content
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a massive game, with over 100 hours of content in its full release. It’s also a game that rewards exploration, experimentation, and interaction. There are countless locations to visit, quests to complete, secrets to uncover, characters to meet, dialogues to engage in, items to collect, spells to learn, skills to master, and more. If you rush through the content, you will miss out on many of these aspects, as well as the opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich lore and history of the Forgotten Realms setting. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that deserves your time and attention, so take your time and enjoy the journey.
Don’t limit yourself
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that offers a lot of freedom and flexibility in how you play it. You can create your own custom character from a wide range of races, classes, backgrounds, and appearances, or you can choose one of the five pre-made origin characters with their own personalities and stories. You can also recruit up to three companions from a pool of ten available characters (or more if you use mods), each with their own motivations and opinions. You can also mix and match different classes through multiclassing, allowing you to create unique combinations of abilities and playstyles.
You can also approach every situation in different ways: you can fight, sneak, persuade, deceive, charm, intimidate, bribe, or even romance your way through the game. You can also align yourself with different factions or groups: you can side with good or evil forces (or neither), join or oppose various cults or religions (or start your own), ally or betray different races or creatures (or ignore them altogether), etc. The possibilities are endless.
Don’t forget to have fun
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that aims to capture the spirit and essence of Dungeons & Dragons: a game of imagination, creativity, adventure, and fun. It’s a game that invites you to create your own stories and experiences within its framework. It’s a game that encourages you to experiment with different options and outcomes. It’s a game that allows you to express yourself through your character and your actions.
It’s a game that wants you to have fun. So don’t forget to have fun while playing Baldur’s Gate 3: laugh at the jokes (or make your own), marvel at the sights (or create your own), enjoy the music (or sing along), bond with your companions (or romance them), and most importantly, have fun.
