There’s something about an expansive CRPG that captures the imagination. It can be a focused, impeccably written story about an amnesiac cop navigating a tense political climate, or it can place you in the city at the peak of all planes of existence as you try to reclaim your memories.
This is a rich and varied genre, though it can often feel overlooked or underappreciated. Yet, some studios forge on - including Larian Studios, whose blockbuster Baldur’s Gate 3 has already brought a whole new generation to the genre.
Some Baldur’s Gate Background
Both original games were developed by Bioware, with Baldur’s Gate released in 1998 and Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn a few years later in 2000. Using slightly modified Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition rules and set in the Forgotten Realms - specifically, Faerun - both games were massive hits. With sprawling stories, tons of characters to recruit to your party, and a deep respect for player choice, it’s no wonder these games are often considered some of the best ever made.
Yet, since the last expansion for Baldur’s Gate 2 was released in 2001, the series has been dormant. Sure, there were a few spin-offs through the years, some remasters and remakes, but there was nothing new to chew on for nearly two decades. That is, until Larian Studios, developers of the Divinity series, revealed they were working on a sequel, Baldur’s Gate 3, launched first in early access in 2020, with a full release in 2023.
Short Answer: No
Yeah, the "3" at the end of Baldur’s Gate 3 is a little intimidating to newcomers, but rest assured: it won’t dampen your experience if you come into the series completely fresh. Just make sure you're ready to dive in - there's no telling how long you'll be in The Forgotten Realms, dealing with Mind Flayers.
As Baldur's Gate 3 takes place more than a hundred years after Baldur's Gate 2, you don’t have to worry about whether you know the lore. You don't even need to read the plot of the first two games to understand what's going on. Considering the twenty-odd years between the release of Baldur’s Gate 2 and 3, it’s not as if Larian Studios expects you to have played the first two games. They built Baldur’s Gate 3 with newcomers as much in mind as old fans.
So rest assured: you won’t get lost. Okay, you might get lost, but not because you didn’t play the first two. More because it’s a behemoth of a game with areas so vast. no one would blame you for getting a little confused. Don’t worry. It’s fine. You’ll be fine.
It Could Help, Though
That said, there’s no harm in playing the previous games if you’re up to it. Of course, that’s quite a commitment for you to make - the original games aren’t exactly brief. If you want to spend anywhere from 60 to 100+ hours on each instalment, hey, more power to you. If not, don’t sweat it. Besides, there is something fun about finishing the latest entry in a beloved series, then returning to the originals and finding all the little ways they connect.
Still, if you want to jump in, the worst-case scenario is you play two of the most beloved CRPGs of all time in preparation for Larian’s take on the series. That’s not exactly a negative outcome, and you’ll probably have fun finding all the little threads that bind the games together. So, really it comes down to how familiar you want Baldur’s Gate 3 to feel. Nothing is stopping you from enjoying all three games if you want to - just be prepared to spend more than a few weekends meticulously building your characters.