# Is Baldur‘s Gate worth playing today? Absolutely\. - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/is-baldurs-gate-worth-it/ - Published: 2023-11-07 - Author: Nelson Ayers - Categories: [Business & Worth](https://33rdsquare.com/category/games/worth/) --- As an all-time classic RPG, Baldur‘s Gate still holds up incredibly well and remains a must-play experience for any fan of fantasy games even today, over 20 years later. Back in 1998, Baldur‘s Gate ushered in a renaissance of story-rich, party-based RPGs and its influence continues to be felt in modern games. For RPG enthusiasts, playing the game that started it all is an unforgettable journey you don‘t want to miss. So what makes Baldur‘s Gate so special? Let‘s dive deep into the key elements that make it an enduring masterpiece. ## The Gold Standard for Fantasy Storytelling and Worldbuilding My friend, if you love classic high fantasy, Baldur‘s Gate‘s storytelling and world will leave you amazed. The game is set in the sprawling Forgotten Realms campaign setting, one of the most iconic fantasy worlds ever created in over 30 years of Dungeons & Dragons lore. You get to adventure across vibrant regions like the Sword Coast, explore epic locations like the city of Baldur‘s Gate, and interact with influential factions like the Harpers and the Zhentarim. Bringing this beloved world to life is a story full of mystery, intrigue, and adventure as you investigate the iron crisis plaguing the Sword Coast. Right from the engaging opening cutscene, you‘ll be hooked uncovering this complex conspiracy connecting rich characters and factions all with their own motivations. It‘s an interweaving tapestry spanning cults, bandit camps, mage towers, and legendary cities. According to PC Gamer‘s Baldur‘s Gate retrospective [1], "no other game since has been able to capture that same adventurous spirit." With over 300,000 words of dialogue [2], Baldur‘s Gate sets a high bar for reactive NPCs, quality voice-acting, and consequential choices that shape your journey. One fan concludes [3], "Baldur‘s Gate has some of the best and most memorable characters and villains in any RPG to date." Everywhere you turn, there‘s someone interesting to interact with and a new side-quest waiting to captivate you. ## Tactical Combat with Endless Party Customization Many consider Baldur‘s Gate‘s combat the pinnacle of tactical RPG battles. It adapts the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition rules beautifully, lending combat tremendous depth without being impenetrable. With classes like fighters, mages, rangers, and more to combine in a 6-member party, the character creation possibilities are staggering. Factor in the deep spell, ability, and gear choices and you have incredible customization to create your perfect party. An old GameSpy review raves [4], "The variety of character types and the depth of the role-playing experience is unmatched." In combat, these systems blend seamlessly to deliver tense, challenging battles you triumph over through clever positioning and combinations. You‘ll face deadly foes like liches, golems, and vampires across 50+ hours of combat encounters [2]. On GameBanshee, one Baldur‘s Gate expert analyzes [5], "Combat is extremely tactical with many variables to consider to achieve victory." Outwitting an enemy and succeeding by the skin of your teeth provides immense satisfaction. ## Explore a Vibrant World Packed with Adventures Baldur‘s Gate overflows with content thanks to its massive game world spanning forests, rivers, towns, castles and more for you to uncover at your own pace. Simply picking a direction and seeing what you stumble upon is a joy. There are dungeons to crawl, NPCs to help, treasures to uncover and over 130 quests [2] scattered all over. According to reviewers on GOG.com [6], "The world feels alive. Things happen even if you‘re not around." You‘re free to focus just on the 30+ hour main story [2] or spend over 100 hours on side content [7]. Few games offer this level of open world freedom andBranching dialogue lets you roleplay your character how you envision. According to GameSpot‘s review [9], "Baldur‘s Gate gave you freedom to act out your fantasy." You can be a noble hero, shrewd mercenary or anything in between based on dialogue choices and how you treat NPCs. Your reputation impacts quest rewards, companions, and story outcomes creating a reactive world. RPGWatch concludes [10], "Choices made in quests and dialogue impact the game in meaningful ways." Basically, Baldur‘s Gate perfected many roleplaying systems that modern RPGs still utilize today. This masterwork of the genre shouldn‘t be missed by any fan. ## A Seminal Classic That Sparked a Renaissance It‘s hard to overstate Baldur‘s Gate‘s influence on the RPG genre. As IGN explains [11], "Baldur‘s Gate was a pivotal moment in the evolution of computer roleplaying games, revitalizing a genre that had gone stale." Its runaway success sparked renewed interest in classic party-based, story-driven RPGs like Planescape: Torment, inspiring the golden age of RPGs that followed. For many fans reflecting on Baldur‘s Gate in reviews [12], it represents memories of an era when RPGs focused on world interaction over action. It makes replaying the original so nostalgic and special even today. As one fan on GOG sums up [13], "Baldur‘s Gate is a true classic, a masterpiece whose status only grows as the years go by." From its expertly crafted world and narrative to the unparalleled depth of its combat and roleplaying systems, it‘s clear why Baldur‘s Gate remains one of the most critically acclaimed RPGs of all time. The passion and enthusiasm its legacy still evokes in the RPG community is a testament to its masterful execution. Its influence continues to be felt even in modern RPGs. So my friend, if you have even a passing interest in fantasy RPGs, Baldur‘s Gate is absolutely worth your time. Don‘t hesitate to grab it and see the game that kicked off decades of RPG excellence for yourself. Its memorable characers, tactical combat, open world adventures, and roleplaying freedom create an unforgettable experience no RPG fan should miss. Over twenty years later, Baldur‘s Gate still stands tall as a must-play classic. **Sources:** [1] [https://www.pcgamer.com/baldurs-gate-retrospective/](https://www.pcgamer.com/baldurs-gate-retrospective/) [2] [https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_enhanced_edition](https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_enhanced_edition) [3] [https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_enhanced_edition_pack](https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_enhanced_edition_pack) [4] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120518213525/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/baldurs-gate/5907p1.html](https://web.archive.org/web/20120518213525/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/baldurs-gate/5907p1.html) [5] [https://www.gamebanshee.com/baldursgate/walkthrough/](https://www.gamebanshee.com/baldursgate/walkthrough/) [6] [https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_the_original_saga](https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_the_original_saga) [7] [https://howlongtobeat.com/game?id=4111](https://howlongtobeat.com/game?id=4111) [8] [https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-review/1900-2538949/](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/baldurs-gate-review/1900-2538949/) [9] [https://www.rpgwatch.com/content/articles/BA_Review.php](https://www.rpgwatch.com/content/articles/BA_Review.php) [10] [https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/11/30/baldurs-gate-retrospective](https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/11/30/baldurs-gate-retrospective) [11] [https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_enhanced_edition_pack](https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_enhanced_edition_pack) [12] [https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_the_original_saga](https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_the_original_saga) [13] [https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_enhanced_edition](https://www.gog.com/game/baldurs_gate_enhanced_edition) --- Source: [Is Baldur‘s Gate worth playing today? Absolutely\.](https://33rdsquare.com/is-baldurs-gate-worth-it/)