Summary
- Divinity: Original Sin 2, also made by Larian Studios, offers complex turn-based combat and gameplay that is incredibly similar to Baldur's Gate 3.
- Dragon Age: Inquisition is full of endearing characters to find and recruit, and choices that permanently affect the story.
- The Banner Saga presents gut-wrenching choices and turn-based combat in a Viking mythos-inspired world.
In 2023, Larian Studio blessed RPG lovers with the long-anticipated Baldur's Gate 3. To say Baldur's Gate 3 took the gaming community by storm is an understatement. It enthralled players from across the community, whether it was their first or fiftieth time playing a party-based RPG. Boasting compelling companions, intricate turn-based combat, and player choices that meaningfully impact the story, it’s not hard to see why the game was so successful.
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Even the best of games are sure to lose their luster after hundreds of hours of game time, and Baldur’s Gate 3 is no different. Players who have grown tired of exploring Faerun need not fear, though! Whether they're looking for party-building RPGs that are similar to Baldur's Gate 3 or ones with a fresh take on the genre, the games in this article are sure to satisfy.
1 Divinity: Original Sin 2
Similar Gameplay, Different Story
Divinity: Original Sin 2
- Released
- September 14, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Developed by Larian Studios, the creators of Baldur's Gate 3.
- Set in a high fantasy world.
- Gameplay is incredibly similar, from combat all the way to role-playing.
Most party-based RPG fans will be thoroughly familiar with Divinity: Original Sin 2, if not because they've played it, then because it was developed by Larian Studios, the creators of Baldur's Gate 3. In Divinity: Original Sin 2, players set out on an epic adventure in a high fantasy world filled with complex characters, intense battles, and world-altering choices. It's similar to Baldur's Gate 3 in almost every way, except for its plot and setting.
Like Baldur's Gate 3, Divinity: Original Sin 2 offers players an array of companions to encounter, befriend, and recruit. Player choices also matter, whether it's their character traits giving them access to unique dialogue or their actions permanently altering the course of the story. Divinity: Original Sin 2 also offers a similarly expansive world to Baldur's Gate 3, along with turn-based tactical combat.
2 Dragon Age: Inquisition
Endearing Companions, Impactful Choices, And Real-Time Combat
Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Released
- November 18, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Has many companions for players to befriend and use in combat.
- An expansive open world filled with quests and enemies.
- Real time rather than turn-based combat.
In Dragon Age: Inquisition, players take on the role of the Inquisitor in their quest to unite Thedas and thwart the evil forces of the Breach. Like Baldur's Gate 3, Dragon Age: Inquisition offers players an array of companions to befriend, use in combat, and even romance. Every companion is compelling, with distinct personalities, complex motivations, and captivating personal quests. Inquisition also offers many expansive open-world regions for players to explore.
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One of Inquisition's most significant differences when compared to Baldur's Gate 3 is its combat. For one, Inquisition's combat plays out in real time, with a pausing feature that allows players to evaluate the battle and queue commands constantly. There's also a lot less emphasis on individual actions within combat. Instead, the party fights together as a single, cohesive unit.
3 Pillars Of Eternity
A Return To Baldur's Gate 3's Roots
Pillars of Eternity
- Released
- March 26, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Paradox Interactive, Versus Evil
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- A top-down party-based sandbox RPG set in a high fantasy world.
- Heavily inspired by D&D mechanically and visually.
- Perfect for players looking to get a taste of classic Baldur's Gate.
Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, Pillars of Eternity is a more classical take on the party-building RPG genre. This game may be visually and mechanically more akin to Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2, but it still shares similarities with Baldur's Gate 3. For one, these games are both built around top-down sandbox exploration, where players stumble upon quests organically. There's no one right way or order to complete either games or their quests. Mechanically, both games are also heavily inspired by D&D.
Like many party-building RPGs, Pillars of Eternity features real-time combat rather than the turn-based combat of Baldur's Gate 3. Pillars of Eternity is also visually very different. It may be top-down, but its graphics are reminiscent of old-school RPGs. They're also a bit dated when compared to the graphical marvel that is Baldur's Gate 3, though that's to be expected with a 10-year-old game.
4 The Banner Saga
Gut-Wrenching Choices, Rich Characters, And Turn-Based Combat
The Banner Saga
- Released
- January 14, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Stoic Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Stoic Studio
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Strategy
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Regularly forces players to make tough decisions with irreversible consequences.
- Players can permanently lose companions through their choices.
- Beyond its combat and RPG elements, gameplay is very different.
The Banner Saga is a side-scrolling RPG set in a rich Viking mythos-inspired medieval world. In this game, players must try their best to keep themselves, their friends, and their fellow refugees alive. Much like in Baldur's Gate 3, players are forced to make many painful choices throughout The Banner Saga. These choices will permanently affect the story and its difficulty, even going so far as to rob players of powerful companions.
Like Baldur's Gate 3, turn-based tactical combat is a massive part of The Banner Saga's gameplay. Losing a battle may not immediately result in death, but it will push the caravan into ever more dire straits. It's worth noting that beyond its combat, The Banner Saga plays very differently from Baldur's Gate 3. Players seeking an experience closely akin to that game may want to look elsewhere.
5 Battle Brothers
Deadly Consequences And Punishing Combat
Battle Brothers
- Released
- April 27, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Overhype Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Overhype Studios
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- Genre(s)
- Indie Games, Tactical, RPG, Strategy, Adventure
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Perfect for higher difficulty loving Baldur's Gate 3 players.
- High-intensity turn-based combat.
- Isn't for every Baldur's Gate 3 fan.
Fans of Baldur's Gate 3's Tactician and Honor modes are sure to love Battle Brothers. In this brutal, low fantasy open world, players lead a band of mercenaries in a grueling battle of survival against starvation, outlaws, and savage beasts. Prosperity is short-lived here, and death is guaranteed. Like in Baldur's Gate 3's higher difficulties, a single mistake can have devastating consequences, especially in Ironman mode, Battle Brother's equivalent to Honor mode.
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Battle Brothers also boasts some truly unforgiving, high-intensity turn-based combat. Similarly to Baldur's Gate 3, party members can be downed unexpectedly in a matter of seconds, no matter how well the player plans out their turns. On the strategic map, but especially in combat, every decision can change the course of the playthrough. That being said, players looking for a more RPG-focused party builder may want to look elsewhere.
6 Darkest Dungeon 2
Brutal Turn-Based Combat And Character Progression
Darkest Dungeon II
- Released
- May 8, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Red Hook Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Red Hook Studios
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, Strategy, Roguelite, Dungeon Crawler
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Has a roster of characters for players to fight with and upgrade.
- Features complex, high-stakes turn-based combat.
- Gameplay is very different to Baldur's Gate 3.
In this dark fantasy roguelike, players control a rag-tag party on their quest across a decaying, eldritch horror-infested landscape. Survival is everything here, and it's anything but guaranteed. Like Baldur's Gate 3, Darkest Dungeon 2 offers players an array of characters to choose from, each with their own classes, backstories, and synergies. Darkest Dungeon 2 also focuses on brutal and highly complex turn-based combat that frequently catches players off guard.
Outside of combat, party composition, customization, and skill progression, Darkest Dungeon 2 plays very differently from Baldur's Gate 3. That's not surprising given Darkest Dungeon 2 is a roguelike. Its gameplay is all about death, learning, and retrying, and it focuses far more on combat, survival, and world-building than it does on crafting compelling stories and complex characters.
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