With as many branching narrative decisions as it has, Baldur's Gate 3 has no shortage of imaginative potential plotlines to choose from. A stunning rendition of lore from the Dungeons & Dragons franchise, the turn-based CRPG complements player agency and implements consequences to a degree worthy of its origins. The delicate nuance that interconnects the complex character relationships, player decision-making through action and dialogue, the regular setting changes, etc. Makes a strong case for spin-off content using the game's core strengths. One lesser-known route in particular strikes a dubious accord on the potential for a future Baldur's Gate 3 spin-off with a greater degree of focus on evil playthroughs.
A minor antagonist found in Act One, the drow paladin Minthara is stationed at the goblin camp as one of three dungeon bosses leading an Absolutist sect. Cold and calculating, most players steamroll her as an early game fight and don't think twice about it, but her true potential lies in the path less traveled. Players of a more wicked inclination who decide to lay siege to the druid grove and forsake the beloved Wyll and Karlach party members are granted the unique opportunity to journey with Minthara as part of the main playable cast as early as Act Two. The addition of Minthara opens up avenues of gameplay that reinforce a play style that is morally reprehensible but too wondrously written for it to be obscure in popularity.
Minthara Inspires Some Much-Needed Evil in Baldur's Gate 3's Story
- Opens route to Absolutist character role-playing being reinforced
- Complements otherwise underused/underrepresented created character backstories
- Love (romance options) for evil-focused characters just as dynamic as more popular ones
- Minthara's very existence exemplifies the potential for an evil D&D campaign in BG3 style
Minthara's role begs the question of just how far some such inspired developer might be willing to go with respect to more morally ambiguous player decisions. Though evil play styles are less popular than good or neutral, that doesn't make them any less deserving of fleshed-out representation as part of the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Suppose such cases are accommodated within the tabletop game source material, and a gaming developer has displayed the acumen to make it possible. In that case, there's very feasible potential for a project rivaling Baldur's Gate 3 in scale.
The companion characters in the protagonist's party functioned as the core emotional investment in the story of Baldur's Gate 3. Their fates -- as well as their emotions, beliefs, motivations, etc. -- were tied up in the active decisions made during the progression of the story; therefore, a lot of those interpersonal matters directly affect how branching narratives play out. With Larian going as far as it did to even include content for Minthara's conditional presence as a party member, it is shown that an evil BG3-esque game is not only possible, but could be done very well.
Certain player character builds and shifty backstories also portent the necessity of a Baldur's Gate-style game with an 'evil' campaign option. If companions could be designed around such a playthrough in equal and opposite measures, as has been shown, it would not only increase replayability but enrich the overall role-playing experience. While a generous amount of morally ambiguous options exist within Baldur's Gate 3's gameplay, it cannot make up for something rivaling itself in size and scope and catering more directly to that audience.
Larian Studios is constantly updating and patching Baldur's Gate 3 for bugs and hotfixes in addition to tweaking minor content. However, given that the studio has said it decided to cancel the DLC it was considering, the present state of the game is likely its final one. As promising as an evil-flavored Baldur's Gate 3 game may be, it'll be up to a successor to see that potential realized.
Baldur's Gate 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.
THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.
A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.
- Cross Save
- Full cross-platform progression.
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
