D&D: Five Games to Play Once You’ve Finished ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’
By now, you’ve probably finished Baldur’s Gate 3. And while you could start yet another run, here are five other games you could play instead.
So you’ve finished with Baldur’s Gate 3, and you’re staring down the end credits, and the epilogue scenes. Maybe you finally got those golden dice from Honour Mode. Maybe you even played through and you the good ending. Or the evil one (though you’d have to be real heartless to go full evil).
It’s a rare game that lives up to the hype and invites more out of you. One of the best things about the game is its replayability. You could make a dozen different choices and still barely scratch the surface of the things you can get up to. And sure, play through the story enough, and you’ll see the beats repeat, but there’s so much to explore. So much nuance to play with.
Especially if you take some time away from it. Instead, try one of these other cRPGs. Fill of promise and choices and stories to explore. It may not be the same exact thing, but these games might help cleanse the BG3 palette.
Divinity: Original Sin 1 & 2
Of course, if you want more of the same, there are always Larian’s first entries into the cRPG scene, the Divinity series. This is where Larian played with many of the concepts you see crystallized in Baldur’s Gate 3 but in their own playground. From compelling storylines for many different character types, to combat that’s as much a puzzle as it is strategic decisions. These games paved the way, so it’s a cool way to check out the road to get to BG3.
Disco Elysium
For something altogether different, though, you should play Disco Elysium. Even if you’ve never played Baldur’s Gate, you should play Disco Elysium.
There is precious little like it out there. It’s such a weird and wonderful story. If you felt big feelings playing Baldur’s Gate, let me tell you, you aren’t prepared for Disco Elysium. It sets up a breathing, living world and then turns you loose in it. A trainwreck of a detective who might be the only thing that can save a dying world. Or at least, solve the case. This game is so delicious and so evocative, cannot recommend it enough.
The Outer Wilds
If you really, really want to get away from it all, The Outer Wilds is hands down one of the best games you could possibly play. I will say nothing more about it, as it is forbidden. Don’t look up anything about this game, just play it.
Shadowrun: Dragonfall
This one’s a little unusual in that it’s not strictly a swords and sorcery fantasy RPG, but it is full of elves and dragons and you’ll crawl your way through a dungeon or two. You’ll just also have cybernetic weapons, powerful automatic weapons, and cyberware while you do so. If you want an RPG with a story you can sink your teeth into, Harebrained Scheme’s Shadowrun series is well worth it. Dragonfall is quite good, as is Hong Kong.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is another “hair of the dog” as it were. Only this time it’s with Pathfinder’s ruleset. So expect even more crunchy combat. If you weren’t satisfied building a character with only 12 levels, then buddy, are you in for a treat with this one.
Wrath of the Righteous takes you through epic level play, as you lead a Crusade against an army of rampaging demons. It’s everything you’d hope for in a sweeping, epic game. Manage your armies, ascend to some kind of immortality maybe, and really just bust out the high-level play. If you can make it there, that is.
Now just for yourself a few (hundred) spare hours.
