Is There Anything Else Like This, Other Than… Dungeons & Dragons?
This is a broader question than just how Baldur’s Gate 3 relates to Dungeons & Dragons as a game. But if you’re really enjoying the experience and want to try something similar, whether it’s a video game or a TTRPG, there’s plenty of options out there. If you like the mechanical strategy of BG3, something like Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity—a more modern take on the style of Isometric CRPG that the first two Baldur’s Gate games revolutionized—or Larian’s own original fantasy series Divinity: Original Sin and its sequel have plenty of elements in common with BG3 (especially Original Sin and its sequel). If you like the narrative tone and conversational style, BioWare’s own Dragon Age games, especially the original, and the focus on choices and consequences, offer something more streamlined but still in similar spirit.
On the tabletop, there is of course a veritable bounty of RPG choices beyond playing D&D itself, although naturally Baldur’s Gate 3 will familiarize you most with the mechanical jargon of Dungeons & Dragons itself. Why not take a look at some of our favourite games of 2022 for recommendations, or check out our regular Gaming Shelf column for news and info on some of the most interesting TTRPGs around and beyond the Forgotten Realms.
