20 Games You Should Play If You Like Baldur's Gate 3 (2024)

The Baldur's Gate series started in the 1990s and took the popularity of both CRPGs and Dungeons & Dragons to a whole new level. The first two installments remain two of the most popular games that use the tabletop game's rules, leading to a whole niche of games like Baldur's Gate 3.

The third installment in the series, Baldur's Gate 3, is resonating with gamers just as its predecessors did. Today, you can enjoy remastered versions of your vintage D&D favorites along with cutting-edge games like them that use all of the latest technology. In almost forty years of role-playing video games, there are more than a few other titles that BG3 fans will also love.

Updated on June 6, 2024: Looking for a game to scratch that Baldur's Gate 3 itch after completing a 17th adventure across the Sword Coast? Yeah, me too. Luckily, we've added our video that highlights some of the best picks for you to check out!

20 Divinity: Original Sin 2

Metacritic Score: 93

This is usually at the top of the list for recommendations for games like Baldur's Gate 3. Larian Studios, the software company responsible for Baldur's Gate 3, also produced the Divinity series. This has had varying effects for good or bad on the games, depending on who you ask.

This offering in the series improves on the interactive gameplay, tactical planning, and complex storytelling of the first game, and is the most popular of the series so far. If you like RPGs of any kind, you'll also like Divinity: Original Sin 2.

19 Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge

Metacritic Score: 85

Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge doesn't have a lot to offer in the realm of character-building or role-play, but there's a great story, some memorable NPCs, plenty of satirical jokes, and several fun puzzles and mysteries to unravel. The first title in this series was similar in spirit but didn't have the same world to explore, and the second game included some magic and even horror in the plot.

At first, it seems like the setting is simply a few real-world Caribbean islands, but as Guybrush Threepwood progresses through his adventure, things become surreal and even terrifying, more like a nightmare than a dream. It's reminiscent of something like Alice In Wonderland as opposed to Dungeons & Dragons, but those who appreciate the immersive story and compelling characters of BG3 would appreciate it.

18 Diablo 4

Metacritic Score: 86

The look and basic structure of Diablo 4 resembles the classic CRPGs from a generation ago. The customization options when it comes to skills and clothing are also stellar, with some great designs for weapons and armor, and there are plenty of standalone side quests along with a main story in which you are the protagonist.

Diablo 4 branches out from the D&D mold with level scaling, so there's no limit to what you can do and where you can go. Some of the venues and locations unlock after you have progressed beyond a certain point in the story, but other than that, when they say 'open world,' they aren't kidding.

17 UnderRail

Metacritic Score: 72

An under-rated CRPG game that will also appeal to gamers who like the older entries in the Baldur's Gate series, UnderRail has a lot in common with conventional role-playing games, but certain creative differences keep it fresh. It still has the fighting, leveling, and character-building of other games in the same class.

The setting, which is a dystopian future as opposed to medieval fantasy, is the most obvious and stark difference. The title of the game describes the subterranean society that is now humanity's only hope for survival on a ruined planet, and there's as much exploration and discovery as there is fighting and items.

16 Tower Of Time

Metacritic Score: 77

Tower of Time has stood the test of time and still retains its popularity on a variety of platforms. The setting of Tower of Time is a mix of classic and modern, including a lot of features that come from both fantasy and science fiction, so it's a game like Baldur's Gate 3.

Modern settings that rely on science fiction and steampunk are popular modules in the tabletop world as well. Tower of Time also boasts a rich and immersive story that includes revelations in the past along with a progressive story and character development in the present.

15 Elden Ring

Metacritic Score: 96

This is the game that you play if you love Game of Thrones, and it's not a coincidence that the game and books share the same aesthetic; author George R. R. Martin helped with the worldbuilding aspect. In the spirit of Baldur's Gate 3, it's played from the third-person perspective, is set in a vast open world, and includes a multiplayer system.

Elden Ring is designed to have a grittier look and feel than conventional D&D, which tends to be less hard fantasy. In that sense, the new installment of Baldur's Gate has a darker edge in the setting, characters, and storylines, which is inspired by this trend.

14 Valheim

Metacritic Score: TBD

Valheim is classified as a survival game, and it is, but it also shares some features with classic RPG games like Baldur's Gate 3. At first glance, this sleeper hit is Skyrim meets Minecraft, a Nordic aesthetic and setting complete with crafting and building options.

There's a backstory to go along with Valheim, as is the style with most RPG games. The main character has crossed over into the afterlife, which is the harsh land of Valheim. Solo gameplay is an option but you can also network with others and team up in groups of up to ten.

13 World Of Warcraft

Metacritic Score: 93

When World of Warcraft first launched in 2004, it represented the pinnacle of role-playing games incarnated into video form. Almost 20 years later, there are three versions of the game, which is just the beginning of a customization process that includes every single possible detail.

Every game in the WoW IP has the same attention to the storyline and character progression but to varying degrees. Retail WoW uses level-scaling to make the leveling process less important when it comes to exploration and questing. For those that like the unforgiving version of vintage D&D, Classic WoW is poised to introduce Hardcore Realms. The current Wrath of the Lich King servers offer a nice balance between the two, so there's something here for every kind of gamer.

12 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

Metacritic Score: 94

Not every RPG that uses the same basic rules and mechanics as games like Baldur's Gate has to have a similar fantasy setting. This game is for those who love the lore of Star Wars or just want a break from the default fantasy world, but don't want to stray too far from the typical RPG template.

Like other games in the genre, you start by choosing a character of a certain class, choosing a specification, and equipping the character with the appropriate gear. The system is based on character levels, but there are also a lot of cut scenes added to each character's story in keeping with the game's cinematic origins.

11 Planescape: Torment (Enhanced Edition)

Metacritic Score: 85

Vintage games are coming back, sometimes in preparation for a newly remastered version or a sequel. An obvious example would be the relaunch of the classic Baldur's Gate games in preparation for the third installment.

The original Planescape dates back to 1999 and puts a twist on the fantasy setting with a variety of different planes of reality to explore, with a design reminiscent of Tim Burton movies. The new version has an improved interface and a remastered soundtrack to improve the experience.

10 Exanima

Metacritic Score: TBD

Those looking for a dark dungeon crawler with an equal balance of fighting and problem-solving in a realistic setting should add Exanima to their Steam wish list. Although this game is new, it returns to the genesis of online RPG gaming with an unforgiving virtual Dungeon Master.

There's a lot of detail in this game, keeping with the spirit of realism and immersion, and there's also an arena mode focused on improving combat skills. It's a vintage dungeon crawler more like older games in the Baldur's Gate series.

9 Cyberpunk 2077

Metacritic Score: 86

Provided you have the hardware and can wrap your head around the cyberpunk design, this has a lot of the role-playing, quest dialogue, and graphics that you also enjoy in BG3. Cyberpunk 2077 takes place in the world of Night City, which you are free to explore like in other open-world games.

Even though everyone plays the same character, a mercenary known only as V, they can customize him with different combat abilities and crafting skills like hacking. You even have a 'companion' of sorts even if you don't have a party with Johnny Silverhand at your side, so to speak.

8 Quest For Glory 5: Dragon Fire

Metacritic Score: TBD

Not only was this one of the earliest RPG series, but Hero's Quest was also one of the first to bring some real satire to the genre. On the gameplay side, this was also one of the first games to offer a character import system for the sequels along with other games like Ultima.

The fifth and last installment in the series, Quest For Glory 5: Dragon Fire, leans more heavily on RPG elements than its predecessors and is a game like Baldur's Gate 3. All of them are available on Steam if you want to step back into the gaming world of the 1980s and 1990s.

7 Jade Empire

Metacritic Score: 89

The folks at BioWare were hardly idle after ruling the 1990s gaming scene with the Baldur's Gate series. In 2005, it went on to make Jade Empire, an RPG that was based on Asian instead of European mythology.

The setting is ancient China and the protagonist is the last living Spirit Monk, tasked with saving the world from a corrupt and tyrannical Emperor. Those who have played Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic will recognize a similar morality system that tweaks the storyline.

6 Dave The Diver

Metacritic Score: 90

Dave The Diver is one of those fun sleeper hits that you don't even expect to be an RPG. It looks like a management sim at first, with the main character running a sushi restaurant at night and diving during the day, but it's also got character progression and a main storyline.

The world of Blue Hole changes daily, like any living world in a proper D&D-inspired adventure game, and it's up to Dave to harvest the fish that keeps his income stream flowing. An interesting callback to old-school D&D is what happens when a character "dies." Dave doesn't die conventionally but is rescued instead, and as a consequence loses all of the items in his inventory.

5 Pillars Of Eternity 2: Deadfire

Metacritic Score: 88

The crowdfunding effort for this sequel to the original game from 2015 met its goal in a single day, just to give an idea of how popular these games are. Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire was launched in 2018 and directly continues the storyline of the first game.

The fantasy setting and storyline are reminiscent of classic D&D RPG games like Baldur's Gate 3, but you don't choose your own character. The backstory involves a protagonist, a special character called a Watcher, who gets caught up in the story of a resurrected god.

4 Wasteland 3

Metacritic Score: 85

Wasteland 3 has a lot going for it, starting with its place as a highly-rated sequel in an equally popular series. It's also a CRPG, for those who would rather control their whole environment in the spirit of classic standalone games.

Despite the post-apocalyptic setting it uses in the snowy, mountainous wilds of Colorado, which is different from the medieval or fantasy design of other games, Wasteland 3 shares other features in common with the BG series. These common threads include an isometric layout, multiplayer options, and choices throughout the gameplay that affect the direction of the storyline and the outcome.

3 Ultima 4: Quest Of The Avatar

Metacritic Score: TBD

Before building a whole universe was cool, Origin Systems was building an impressive one with the Ultima series. It was one of the first games to go dark before Diablo made demons and hellfire a sub-genre of horror fantasy, bringing the dungeon crawlers of early online games into a standalone RPG video game.

The fourth installment is when the game design shifted to put the storyline in the forefront as opposed to the dungeon-crawl feel of the previous installments. The world got considerably wider at this point as well, including a whole continent as opposed to a city or region. Today you can play versions of Ultima 4 that use the Neverwinter Nights graphics engine.

2 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

Metacritic Score: 72

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a departure from the isometric style that defines most of the Baldur's Gate series, but BG3 only uses the classic angle sparingly anyway. This game is for those who like the finer details of character creation and open-world exploration as opposed to dungeon crawling or fighting.

The game launched in 2012 and has stood the test of time. Years later, it's available on virtually every console and platform. Unfortunately, this was the only game developed by 38 Studios before they filed for bankruptcy, putting an end to any talk of spinoffs or sequels.

1 Pathfinder: Kingmaker

Metacritic Score: 73

Although it seems that this game heavily relies on D&D-based gameplay, the name reveals its true origins. Kingmaker actually uses the rules of one of the TTRPG juggernaut's biggest competitors, Pathfinder.

This game retains the same basic features of the BG games, such as the turn-based fighting style and isometric viewpoint. Character customization is more heavily emphasized than in D&D-based games, and a character can change their alignment or affect the outcome of certain adventures.

Baldur's Gate 3

Developer(s)

Larian Studios

Franchise

Baldur's Gate

Genre(s)

RPG

Released

August 3, 2023