Baldur's Gate 3

You wake up aboard a mind flayer ship with a parasite in your skull. The tadpole should transform you into one of the tentacled monsters within days — but it doesn't. Why it hasn't, and who else is infected, is the mystery that drives Baldur's Gate 3.

Dungeons & Dragons, faithfully

Built on the 5th edition rules, the game uses dice rolls for nearly everything, from persuading a guard to landing a fireball. Combat is turn-based and wonderfully physical: you can shove enemies off cliffs, set grease on fire, drop a chandelier or stack crates to reach a hidden ledge.

Every plan works (sort of)

Larian's philosophy is that if something would work at a tabletop, it should work here. You can talk your way past a boss, sneak around it, poison it, or turn its allies against it. Failure is rarely a game over; it just sends the story somewhere new.

Companions with opinions

Shadowheart, Astarion, Karlach, Lae'zel, Gale and Wyll are more than party members. Each has a personal quest, strong views about your choices and fully voiced, often hilarious reactions. Many players replay the game just to see how different relationships unfold.

A modern classic

After almost three years in early access, Baldur's Gate 3 launched in August 2023 and swept Game of the Year at The Game Awards. Three huge acts, up to four-player co-op and an ending that changes dramatically depending on your choices make it one of the richest RPGs ever made.