2023 is proving to be a good year for Dungeons & Dragons fans. Earlier this year, we reviewed the first DnD movie to ever hit the big screen. Larian Studios now presents this year’s second D&D offering, Baldur’s Gate 3 (watch trailer, runtime: 1:46). If you’ve never heard of the franchise and are surprised to hear that it’s been around enough for a third installment, don’t worry — you’re not out of the loop. The preceding Baldur’s Gate 2 came out 23 years ago, to little success. But Larian Studios marks DnD’s triumphant return to the world of video games, captivating players with a compelling story of fellowship, betrayal, and the allure of absolute power.

Set in the in-game year of 1492 DR , the game follows the protagonist, who finds themselves deliberately infected by an insidious mind-flayer parasite. As the parasite awakens mysterious abilities inside of you, you must choose whether to resist and vanquish the darkness, or to embrace its corruption and become the ultimate evil.

The integration of the tabletop gameplay into the video game seemed like an impossible feat , which is why the franchise remained untouched for so long, but Larian Studios have cracked the code. The tabletop gameplay is masterfully woven into the mechanics of the video game, immersing early fans in a virtual world that closely resembles the thrill and complexity of real D&D sessions with friends.

The reported visual glitches are minor, and don’t impact the game’s otherwise stunning style , its beautiful hyperrealism likened to Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. However, it is worth noting that the level progression might feel stingy to seasoned D&D players, and you might still find yourself as a Level Four player 20 hours into the game.

⌛ Hours of gameplay: Estimated at 100 hours

? Platforms: Steam for Windows and MacOS; Playstation 5 starting 6 September; Xbox version upcoming

? Price: USD 59.99 on Steam, with an additional USD 9.99 for the Digital Deluxe Edition DLC; USD 69.99 on PlayStation for the base game, USD 79.99 for the Digital Deluxe Edition

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