This time of the year is one of my favorites regarding video games and the gaming community. It is the time of year when we can all come together to root for our favorite games and watch Geoff Keighley try to make it through the night without anyone from the audience getting up on stage. This year’s Game of the Year awards should belong to Baldur’s Gate III.
2023 has been a decent year for video games and with many popular franchises like The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Alan Wake, Resident Evil, and Spider-Man in the running at The Game Awards, it can seem like the decision for Game of the Year is stacked! However, despite these games being wonderful and worth the playthrough, there is only one game this year that truly stood out above the rest and DESERVES the title of 2023’s Game of the Year. That game is Larian Studios’ masterpiece that is Baldur’s Gate III.
Baldur’s Gate III (BG3) was released for PC on August 3rd and for macOS & PS5 on September 6th (the Xbox release date is said to be expected later this month). I heard about this game from my fiance and I was excited at the prospect of playing a complete Dungeons and Dragons style game with him. I was not ready for just how much this game would come to mean to me and so many others. In BG3, your customizable character (Tav) is thrust into an unexpected adventure with their gathered companions. This adventure takes you through the land of Faerûn and sets you on a quest that will ultimately determine your fate.
Baldur’s Gate III is a Dungeons and Dragons experience like no other. Larian Studios and Wizards of the Coast came together to create an in depth and lore expansive game that ties into the world of D&D. BG3 picks up right after the events of the D&D module, Descent into Avernus. The game is based on the 5th edition ruleset of D&D and with so much to do in this game, you can have your own D&D adventure with your friends. One of the complaints I have had with D&D in the past are some of the game mechanics and rules. It can be overwhelming and honestly a little bit intimidating when it comes to new players. However, BG3 tackles this masterfully and makes the overall experience enjoyable.
I currently have several different save files in BG3 and each game has been enjoyable. I can play on my own, play on stream, play with my fiancé, and play with friends. Each time presenting me with new choices and options, new play styles and different approaches to situations. It truly is one of the best D&D experiences I have ever had and makes me want to take the characters I have created in these files and adapt them into a Table Top Role Playing Game (TTRPG) campaign in the near future. My experience with this game has been honestly breathtaking and so enjoyable that I want to keep exploring the world of Faerûn.
One of the biggest pulls to this game, for me at least, has been the character creation and customization. With this pulling from D&D 5E, there are multiple race and class (not to mention sub-class and multi-class) combinations to choose from. Some of my favorites being Wood Elf and Tiefling Druids and Drow Warlocks; even the occasional Bard and Ranger have been in my lineup! The race and class are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to character creation. There are so many different looks to create; choosing from a wide array of hairstyles, face shapes, eye colors, tattoos, you name it. This only expands when you add in the possibility of mod customization on PC (I’m looking at you Tav’s Hair Salon). Overall, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating your Tav for this adventure.
The game mechanics have been another draw to this game for myself and others who I have talked to who are not gamers at all. The turn-based fighting system (just like in a real TTRPG setting) can be less overwhelming than quick beat-’em-ups and quick time events (QTEs). It allowed me to really analyze the situation and take my time when planning out a plan of action. I know that turn-based games are not for everyone but with BG3 it works and I don’t think another gameplay style would work. Just like D&D, in BG3 there are multiple rolls you will make in order to take actions. If you want to put some of your Persuasion or Intimidation skills to the test, you’ll have to make a roll and beat a certain number to see if you pass; you can always use some inspiration you have earned in your travels, but there is always the chance that it wont work and you have to navigate through that. You also have the ability to save whenever. This is a big plus if you have a lot going on. It is great to know we can save, even mid-combat, and come back to it later with no fear of having to start that battle or section over. Or if you’re like me and you save before a big decision and if it doesn’t go your way, RELOAD. We are all about save scumming here so there is no shame in that! The game mechanics are truly fun and fairly easy to get used to, especially with the in game tutorials, it makes it easy for fans of D&D and newcomers alike to get pulled into this game.
Game mechanics are a big factor when looking at top Game of the Year contenders, but one cannot forget the story. How did the game make you feel while playing it and was the plot worth it. For BG3, absolutely it is. In BG3, chaos has broken out across Faerûn with the after effects of Descent into Avernus and a new cult marching across the Sword Coast and pledging their loyalty to someone or something called the Absolute. Out of nowhere, a grotesque nautiloid ship appears and snatches you and many others up. The mind flayers or Illithiad’s have arrived, imprisoning you on their ship and infecting you with their parasite. You somehow survive and are thrust into this adventure to cure yourself and your companions of these parasites before you turn into a mind flayer. The base plot of the game already has you hooked within the first segment. While there is an ever expansive and connecting main plot, there are several sub-plots in the form of companion side quests (further unraveling the backgrounds of your chosen traveling companions) and multiple side quests to complete all across your travels. Everytime I travel to a new area or I am exploring, I have always found something or gotten an interaction I had not had in my past playthroughs; giving this game an immense amount of replayability.
Baldur’s Gate III is also a game that tracks the decisions you make with a ‘butterfly effect’ system. The decisions you make throughout the game will follow you. Your choices can be beneficial but they can also have some devastating consequences that will not only affect you and your party, but affect others and the outcome of the game itself. There are so many dialogue options to choose from when playing and interacting with others, some of which pull directly from your race and class. However, depending on the options you choose, there can be some lasting effects that will be felt through the rest of the game. The fact that there are so many options to choose from and so many ways in which it can take a turn, proves just how expansive this game is and how much work was put into it by the developers.
I cannot talk about Baldur’s Gate III and it’s running for Game of the Year without finally discussing the acting. Sometimes a game can have bad writing but it is the actors who really bring the game to life. Luckily for BG3 both the writing and the acting is phenomenal; but the acting is hands down one of the reasons this game has become so loved so quickly. Each and everyone of the cast members have poured their heart and soul into their performances and it is so clear when you are sitting there and watching these stories unfold. With a main cast of Amelia Tyler (Narrator), Neil Newbon (Astarion) [who is also nominated for Best Performance], Jennifer English (Shadowheart), Devora Wilde (Lae’zel), Theo Solomon (Wyll), Tim Downie (Gale), and Samantha Béart (Karlach), their performances and portrayal of their characters pull you in and truly immerse you in this world. You become completely invested in them and care about what happens to them. Acting is such a crucial part of storytelling and with this amazing cast, not to mention the outstanding performances of all the other cast members, it really is one of the most compelling overall performances I’ve seen in gaming in a longtime.
I have been playing video games for years now, I started when I was around seven or eight and ever since then gaming has been my escape. I don’t have too many games that I would consider my all time favorites, right now it has been Final Fantasy VII and the Kingdom Hearts series for years. But after my ongoing and overall experience with Baldur’s Gate III, it’s time to add another game to that list. This game, by far, has been one of the best experiences I have had playing a game. I have been pulled into it by the story, the gameplay, and the acting so much that I have not wanted to leave the world of Faerûn. I even stayed up until 7am one morning because I was so into the story and wanting to complete a quest. I have five separate playthroughs (4 on PS5 and 1 on PC) that I am currently progressing through and I still am not done with the game. I don’t want the adventure to end because this game has truly brought so much joy to my life. From building a character of my own design to helping my companions overcome their trauma or uncover their forgotten memories, it is a game that has helped me find a new escape when we just want to get away from the overwhelming world we live in. Larian Studios set the bar for what RPGs can be and showed us what we can get when a studio takes the time to give fans what they want and more importantly what they deserve. There is so much love and care that has been put into this game and so much content that the replayability and combinations of outcomes are endless. Baldur’s Gate III deserves the 2023 Game of the Year award because when it comes down to it and compared to the other nominees, it truly is the only game that deserves it.
Baldur’s Gate III is currently nominated for eight awards including Game of the Year, Best Performance, Best RPG, Best Score and Music, and more. You can watch The Game Awards LIVE on Thursday December 7th at 7:30 pm est/6:30 pm cst/4:30 pm pst. You can also vote for your favorite nominees at the link below: https://thegameawards.com/