Summary
- Adding a new game plus mode to Baldur's Gate 3 could benefit the game by allowing players to keep their custom characters, endgame builds, and gear.
- New game plus would improve replayability by shortening subsequent playthroughs and allowing players to experience key story moments without spending as much time scavenging for gear.
- The absence of a new game plus feature in Baldur's Gate 3 makes it a nightmare for completionists, as starting fresh multiple times is a commitment that some players can't afford to make.
Adding a new game plus mode to Baldur’s Gate 3 in a future update could benefit the game, so much so that Larian Studios should seriously consider adding it. While it’s currently uncertain if this will ever happen, Larian has been known to add many highly-requested features from the game’s community so far, so it remains a possibility for Baldur's Gate 3.
Although there are bound to be mods for Baldur’s Gate 3 that will or have already taken on the task of implementing a new game plus feature, making this an official option would allow players on any platform to engage with it. New game plus could bring a lot of added value to Baldur’s Gate 3 beyond just improving replayability, as there are several other benefits that make its omission seem like a missed opportunity.
Baldur's Gate 3: The Unwritten Rules of Playing Tactician Mode Explained
Tactician Mode is one of the hardest difficulties in Baldur's Gate 3, and there are a few unwritten rules that can make it somewhat easier.
Why Baldur’s Gate 3 Needs a New Game Plus Feature
Baldur's Gate 3 Fans May Grow Attached to Their Custom Characters
According to the metrics that Larian Studios shared of the most popular player choices in Baldur’s Gate 3, at the time, 94% of players created a custom character instead of playing as one of the Origin characters. While the Origin characters have their own unique questlines for players to explore, the appeal of playing as a custom character is that their appearance and name can be fully customized. Not to mention, playing as a custom character gives players the best of both worlds, as players can still recruit the Origin characters and complete their exclusive quests while playing as a custom character.
However, because of the added layer of personal touch, many players are bound to grow attached to their custom characters throughout their time playing Baldur’s Gate 3, wishing to spend more time with them once a playthrough is finished. Although players can recreate their character’s appearance on subsequent playthroughs, there’s currently no way to import an existing character to another playthrough.
Baldur's Gate 3 Fans Currently Don't Get Enough Time With Endgame Gear and Builds
Another reason why players might want to bring their existing custom and/or Origin characters over into a new playthrough in Baldur’s Gate 3 is to keep their levels and gear from past playthroughs. Some of the strongest builds in Baldur’s Gate 3, unfortunately, aren’t available until players reach Act Three because they require equipment or skills that can only be earned from late-game areas. Also, some of the most stylish outfits can only be earned in Act Three as well. Considering that some of this gear can only be used for a handful of encounters after being earned, this can be quite frustrating.
Because of this, once players get used to the flow of gameplay throughout Act Three, Acts One and Two of Baldur's Gate 3 seem much slower and more tedious. As it currently stands, players will have to collect every piece of gear again, and this alone can be a daunting task in Baldur’s Gate 3. While it might not be balanced to use endgame builds and max-level characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 in the early game encounters, the benefits arguably outweigh the downsides here. Additionally, Larian could rebalance the early encounters to work for stronger characters on new game plus.
Given how long it takes to complete Baldur’s Gate 3, especially for completionists, starting fresh is a commitment that some players can’t afford to make multiple times. If players could keep their gear throughout consecutive playthroughs in Baldur’s Gate 3, this would help to shave playthrough time down to a much more approachable length. Ultimately, with a new game plus feature, players would spend less time scavenging for gear and more time in combat or experiencing key story moments. The current absence of a new game plus feature arguably makes Baldur’s Gate 3 a nightmare for completionists, as the payoff for all their hard work is far briefer than it could be.
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- Metascore
- 96
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
