Should you play the first Baldur’s Gate before playing Baldur’s Gate 3?
The answer to this question is an emphatic yes, and we’ll explain why.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the most highly anticipated games of the current generation, and that’s because the developer successfully managed to go through Early Access without letting fans down. The game is also a sequel to the classic Baldur’s Gate series, which many modern fans may not be familiar with. However, we recommend that you play Baldur’s Gate 3 first because it offers a fantastic modern RPG experience that doesn’t have the drawbacks of recent games in the genre.
If you’re reading this and you’re a fan of the recent games I just mentioned, don’t get me wrong – I love them, too. But we live in a time when developers churn out new games that have shallow stories, poor writing, and gameplay that offers little to no freedom. The older games in the genre are a breath of fresh air that I wish more developers would take inspiration from.
The original Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate 2
The original Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate 2 are some of the best RPGs ever made, and it’s no exaggeration to say they defined the genre and introduced staples that we see in games to this day, like companions, world design, dialogue, and romances. In fact, it’s so good that many people consider it the Skyrim of its time, and I don’t think that’s a stretch.
Play the original Baldur’s Gate games, and you’ll find that you’re truly free to be whoever you want to be. The choices you make in the game truly reflect good and evil, and there are a multitude of story beats that you can tackle in any order along with a large number of companions to recruit. The developers’ guidance is subtle, and you often feel a sense of accomplishment when you figure things out on your own.
If you’re a fan of Baldur’s Gate 3 and have never played the originals, don’t worry – the spotlight is big enough for fans of all Baldur’s Gate games. I’m not here to tell you that you’re doing it wrong if you haven’t played the older titles, but I do believe they deserve respect and recognition.
If you ever struggle, you can always turn on god mode, or you find enjoyment in playing the game your own way, but if you’re a fan of modern games and you’re curious about the original Baldur’s Gate, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Check out our list of the best Baldur’s Gate mods while you’re here, too.
