Baldur's Gate 3's Sense of Humor May Be Its Most Authentic D&D Feature (2024)

Baldur's Gate 3 is considered by many to be the most authentic representation of Dungeons and Dragons outside the table itself. This is for a number of reasons, and fan attention is mostly focused on the game's party of diverse companion characters. However, fans of Baldur's Gate 3 should certainly thank its sense of humor, as it's a bit of an unsung hero.

Dungeons and Dragons has only grown more and more mainstream in recent years, and Baldur's Gate 3 managed to hit home with longtime fans and newcomers alike. For veterans of D&D, Baldur's Gate 3 is a wonderful adaptation of everything they'd come to love about the tabletop. Likewise, the game serves as a stunning introduction for newcomers by simplifying some mechanics that are otherwise harder to learn. More importantly, it captures the best of what D&D has to offer, and that especially goes for the game's sense of humor.

Baldur's Gate 3's Authentic Sense of Humor Makes it a Perfect D&D Experience

Dungeons and Dragons Can Be Anything Players Want

There's an age-old saying among the D&D community: "come for Lord of the Rings, stay for Monty Python." As the scope of core rulebooks expands, this metaphor may appear outdated, but the heart of the phrase still rings just as true. In simpler terms, many players first found Dungeons and Dragons as an extension of their existing love for the fantasy genre and all its tropes. However, D&D offers an interactive element that can throw these conventions way out of wack.

After all, a person reading a novel typically doesn't have a meaningful way to alter the course of the story. Unlike any other medium, even video games, tabletop RPGs place every decision solely on the shoulders of the people playing them. Dungeon Masters can design a story exactly to their liking, and the players may run that story right off course in any way they please. One of the best features of Dungeons and Dragons has always been its limitless potential, and that's just the foundation.

The rules of any tabletop are more like a list of guidelines, and Baldur's Gate 3 understands that. Dungeon Masters may write a great campaign alone, but player agency is what leads to the memorable moments that no designer could ever plan for. While some kinds of derailing are certainly frowned upon, others contribute to these exact kinds of moments. More often than not, it can even be a great source of comedy around the table.

Baldur's Gate 3 Strikes Right at the Heart of Dungeons and Dragons

The developers at Larian Studios spared no expense when it came time to adapt D&D. In fact, Baldur's Gate 3 made a number of improvements that have found their way back into the source material. One underrated feature of the game is its ability to consistently depict the kind of comedy that is so integral to Dungeons and Dragons.

Although the limitless freedom of D&D can't be perfectly captured within a video game, Baldur's Gate 3 certainly comes close. Not only is there the ability to choose between right and wrong decisions, the player can often even make some outright stupid decisions. This isn't by accident either, as it's the perfect way to feed every player's desire to poke a sleeping bear.

There are a number of viral scenes created by this design philosophy, with one of the most memorable being awarded to Astarion. Astarion is among Baldur's Gate 3's most popular companion characters thanks to his silver-tongued snark. The player can willingly go against their better judgment, and essentially turn Astarion into a bomb. Of course, the poor elf isn't too happy about being killed, and it's hard not to laugh at his inevitable outrage. Although this is among the game's most viral scenes, it's far from an outlier as far as comedy is concerned.

Dungeons and Dragons can be anything its players want. While the natural limitations of video games may make this seem like an unattainable ideal, Baldur's Gate 3 perfectly captured the heart of this appeal. By perfectly implementing the incidental and absurd comedy unique to the source material, Baldur's Gate 3 is able to provide one of the most authentic D&D adaptations yet.

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Baldur's Gate 3

Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.

THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.

A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.

RPG

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Rating:96/100 Critics Recommend:98%

Franchise

Baldur's Gate

Platform(s)

PC , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X

Released

August 3, 2023

Developer(s)

Larian Studios

Publisher(s)

Larian Studios

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

Engine

Divinity 4.0

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence

How Long To Beat

100+ Hours

Steam Deck Compatibility

yes

X|S Enhanced

yes

PS Plus Availability

N/A

Split Screen Orientation

Vertical Only

Number of Players

1-4

Local Co-Op Support

1-2 Players

Cross Save

yes

Cross-Platform Play

Baldur's Gate 3 doesn't support crossplay