As an avid fan of Baldur’s Gate 3, the recently delayed release of the early access version has left you craving a similar role-playing game experience. While waiting for the full launch, there are several games that can satisfy that itch for tactical combat, character development, and fantasy world exploration. Whether you prefer real-time battles or turn-based combat, these five games offer immersive stories and strategic challenges to help pass the time until you can continue your journey in the Forgotten Realms. With options spanning multiple gaming platforms, you’ll be able to adventure from anywhere. Though Baldur’s Gate 3’s full release is still months away, these recommendations will transport you to fantastical realms and provide hours of gameplay. The wait for early access may feel long, but with these titles, you’ll have plenty to keep you occupied in the meantime.
Pillars of Eternity: A Fantasy CRPG Like Baldur’s Gate
If you’re eagerly awaiting the release of Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll want something to help pass the time. Pillars of Eternity is a fantasy CRPG in a similar style that can scratch the itch. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, Pillars of Eternity has a rich story, tactical combat, and meaningful character progression like Baldur’s Gate.
In Pillars of Eternity, you explore the world of Eora, interacting with a variety of characters and factions. The story involves reincarnation and the nature of the soul, with your character seeking to solve the mystery of their own rebirth. During your adventure, you’ll encounter companions to join your party, each with their own backstories and quests. The combat employs a tactical real-time with pause system where you control a party of six characters, utilizing spells, abilities, and environmental features to defeat dangerous foes.
Character progression allows you to customize your hero and companions with a variety of classes, attributes, abilities, and equipment. There are 11 classes to choose from, like the cipher who manipulates souls or the chanter who invokes ancient magic through chants and stories. You earn experience to level up your characters and make them more powerful over the course of the game.
With an epic story, strategic combat, and deep character development, Pillars of Eternity should satisfy Baldur’s Gate fans waiting for the next installment in the series. If you’re looking for a fantasy RPG to lose yourself in, Pillars of Eternity is a perfect choice. Dive in and enjoy this modern take on the classic isometric CRPG experience.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 – A Tactical RPG With Great Characters and Quests
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a tactical RPG that provides an immersive fantasy world and story. As an alternative while waiting for Baldur’s Gate 3, this game offers compelling characters and quests.
In Divinity: Original Sin 2, you create your own character and choose from six origin characters with backstories that tie into the main quest. The origin characters can join your party as companions. The quests are intricately woven into the story and world, requiring you to explore and interact with many NPCs. There are numerous side quests that provide extra challenges and rewards.
Combat in Divinity: Original Sin 2 is turn-based tactical combat. You control a party of up to 4 characters, each with their own skills and abilities. Positioning and environmental interaction are key. You can manipulate elements like fire, water, and poison to gain advantages in battle. There are many skills and spells for each character class.
The world of Divinity: Original Sin 2 is filled with mystery and secrets. You have the freedom to go where you want, even accessing areas that you may not be properly leveled for yet. There are dangerous enemies, puzzles, and loot hidden everywhere.
With an engaging story and characters, challenging turn-based combat, and an expansive world to explore, Divinity: Original Sin 2 provides hundreds of hours of gameplay for RPG fans waiting for Baldur’s Gate 3. If you’re looking for a fantasy tactical RPG to dive into, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a must-play.
Pathfinder: Kingmaker – Lead a Kingdom in This Challenging CRPG
Pathfinder: Kingmaker is a challenging CRPG in the same vein as Baldur’s Gate 3. As a ruler, you must govern your kingdom while also going on epic quests and fighting strategic turn-based battles.
In Pathfinder: Kingmaker, you take on the role of a ruler who must make important decisions that shape your kingdom. You’ll need to assign advisors to handle taxation, exploration, military, and more. Make choices about building types, public services, and kingdom policies. Your decisions will impact your kingdom’s stability and your people’s loyalty and happiness. Maintain a balance of expansion and management to ensure prosperity.
While ruling your kingdom, you’ll also experience a story-rich RPG. Travel through dangerous areas like bandit camps, goblin villages, and foggy forests. Embark on quests to unlock new regions, gain allies, and acquire powerful artifacts. Encounter traps, puzzles, and fantastical creatures from Pathfinder lore like fey, beasts, and the undead. Your choices in the story can lead to different endings.
When danger arises, the game shifts to tactical turn-based combat. Position your characters, use abilities and spells, and employ the environment to defeat foes. The combat includes options like flanking opponents, dealing precision damage, and exploiting enemy weaknesses. You can also set combat automation for characters so you can focus on certain party members. Defeat enemies to gain experience, gold, and loot.
With kingdom management, an epic story, and challenging turn-based combat, Pathfinder: Kingmaker provides a similar experience to Baldur’s Gate 3. Rule your kingdom and go on an adventure in this fantasy CRPG.
Tyranny: RPG With World-altering Choices
Tyranny is an isometric role-playing game set in a fantasy world where you play as a Fatebinder in the Overlord Kyros’ empire. As a Fatebinder, your choices have consequences that can alter the course of the game’s story.
In Tyranny, you shape the world through your decisions and actions. Will you be a cruel overlord, a benevolent peacekeeper or something in between? The game’s reactive narrative responds to each choice you make.
For example, you may have to decide the fate of a town that rebelled against Kyros. Do you raze it to the ground, enslave the citizens or show mercy? Each option leads to different quests and reactions from characters. The game has multiple endings depending on the types of choices you made.
Like Baldur’s Gate 3, Tyranny features tactical combat, character customization, and impactful choices. However, Tyranny has a darker tone set in a world where evil has already won. Instead of saving the world, you are helping the conqueror maintain control.
If you enjoy the role-playing and world-altering choices of Baldur’s Gate 3 but want a grimmer setting, Tyranny may be worth exploring during your wait for the next Baldur’s Gate installment. The game provides many opportunities to shape the world through your moral decisions as a Fatebinder in a fantasy empire. With multiple endings and quests that change based on your choices, Tyranny offers substantial replay value for players seeking control over their character’s destiny.
Dragon Age: Origins – The Spiritual Successor to Baldur’s Gate
Released in 2009, Dragon Age: Origins is set in the kingdom of Ferelden during a demonic Blight. You play as a Gray Warden, an order dedicated to stopping the Blight. The game offers you a variety of backgrounds and races to choose from for your character, each with a unique starting area and quests. The origin stories do an excellent job of pulling you into the world and setting up your character’s motivations.
Dragon Age: Origins features a morality system where your choices shape the story. Many of the choices are difficult, with complex consequences that aren’t always clear. The game reacts to your choices, with different characters and storylines opening up based on your actions. Similar to Baldur’s Gate 3, the choices you make can change the way characters view and interact with you.
Combat in Dragon Age: Origins is tactical and challenging, requiring you to carefully position and coordinate your party. You can pause combat at any time to issue new orders, use skills, and reposition your characters. Proper party composition and skill use are key to overcoming the dangerous enemies. With mages, rogues, and warriors to choose from, there are many viable character builds and party combinations.
If you enjoy the world, characters, and strategic combat of Baldur’s Gate 3, Dragon Age: Origins will feel familiar. As an older title, the graphics are dated, but the gameplay and story hold up well. Dragon Age: Origins provides a deep, choice-driven RPG experience that any fan of Baldur’s Gate would enjoy.
Conclusion
As you await the release of Baldur’s Gate 3, these titles should help scratch that classic RPG itch. With tactical combat, immersive storytelling, and player choice around every corner, any of these games would make a fine companion on your journey through new worlds. May your adventures be filled with glory and your quests lead you to lands unknown. The open road awaits, my friend; go forth and conquer!