The Pros and Cons of Baldur’s Gate 3’s Co-Op Features

Summary

Baldur's Gate 3's co-op mode allows players to explore the fantastic world of the game with up to three friends, creating an immersive Dungeons and Dragons experience.
However, co-op mode has limitations, including difficulty following the main narrative and lack of control over dialogue choices. It also removes the party feature, impacting the overall experience players get with scripted NPCs.
Despite these limitations, co-op mode still offers unique and wild moments with friends, making it a fun addition to the RPG.

Baldur's Gate 3 may primarily be a single-player RPG, but Larian Studios also included a co-op mode that can be a lot of fun. Players can explore this fantastic world and experience its wild cast of characters with up to three of their friends. This makes it feel like an actual Dungeons and Dragons campaign and can be a fantastic ride. However, there are also a few downsides to Baldur's Gate 3's co-op that prevent it from being as good as it could be.

Baldur's Gate 3 is a fantastic RPG, but its co-op mode can also limit its potential a bit. While the core gameplay is still thrilling, some players may find it hard to actually follow the story when they are playing with others. Co-op can also limit the player's freedom, cuts out the party feature, and can cause problems with things like vendors. The entire concept is still a terrific addition to the RPG, but it also needs a bit of work.

Baldur's Gate 3's Co-op is a Great Ride

Baldur's Gate 3 is a wonderful time when playing solo, but it can be even better with friends. The game is supposed to feel like a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, and the only way to truly get that feeling is by playing co-op. Up to four players can adventure through the world together and engage in everything that it has to offer. They must fight alongside each other, make game-changing choices together, and explore every corner of this fantastic world. It can be a riveting adventure with the right people, and some players may even prefer it over the single-player mode.

Larian Studios did not alter Baldur's Gate 3 much to make room for the co-op mode, and that makes for an exciting time. The entire game can be played online or through split-screen multiplayer, and it will often result in some wild shenanigans. A simple conversation can quickly become a bloodbath as players constantly make the most unexpected decisions. This can lead to some unique and wild times that are only possible when playing with friends.

Baldur's Gate 3's Co-op Is Not Perfect

Baldur's Gate 3's co-op can be a lot of fun, but it also has a few limitations. The biggest thing holding this mode back is that it can be hard to actually follow the main narrative. Unless players opt into every single dialogue, they may miss crucial plot beats. This is because Larian chose to not pull every player into a cutscene when players start conversations. While this helps the flow of co-op since there are hundreds of conversations, it can also hurt the flow of the plot.

Players also do not have much control over the dialogue choices that their friends select. While they can give their input, the final choice is up to whatever player starts that dialogue sequence. This gives the game a Dungeons and Dragons feel, but some players may want more control over the narrative. They do not get that control here, and that can often lead to Baldur's Gate 3's story going in very unexpected directions.

Co-op also removes the party feature from Baldur's Gate 3 as players take the place of the NPCs. The party feature is a major part of the game as players will recruit various NPCs that will follow them on their journey. They can take control of these NPCs, use their skills in combat, and slowly grow closer to them over the course of the story.

While the NPCs are still present in co-op, they are stuck at the camp for the duration of the campaign. There is a lot to enjoy about Baldur's Gate 3's co-op, but those looking for the complete experience may want to play single-player instead. It is ultimately up to what players prefer, and both modes are still worthwhile.