Games Similar To Baldur‘s Gate
We were rather lucky when we went searching for games that are similar to Baldur’s Gate because there are quite a few of them and many of them are a lot of fun. You are in a very beneficial position because f you like or love Baldur’s Gate, then you can pick any of the games listed below and fall in love all over again with a new adventure.
1. Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is one of the many older games that GOG.com has resurrected and made playable again. The Steam version does not have the updates and polish that the GOG.com developers have added.
Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is probably the best alterative to Baldur’s Gate that there ever was. If you have played through the Baldur’s Gate games and you are itching for something very similar, then this is the game for you.
The amount of freedom it gives you is similar to the freedom you get with Fallout 1 & 2 which is probably why many of the early Fallout lovers also purchased this game. The world you are given is big and your character options are quite varied. Arcanum is dripping with interesting characters, and the dialog stands out just as much here as it does with Baldur’s Gate. It goes a step further than Baldur by offering a number of different solutions to quests and dialog trees.
The GOG.com patches have added more quests and locations and it has changed the game so that you do not rely so much on the kindness of strangers. The fact this game is so similar to Baldur’s Gate is no coincidence because we cannot get enough of these types of games.
2. Neverwinter Nights 2
Neverwinter Nights 2 almost feels like somebody took Baldur’s Gate and said, “Hey, let’s make a three dimensional version with the best technology that 2006 has to offer!”
The creators took one idea and made an updated version of it. Does this mean it is a bad game or not worth playing? Not at all, the game is worth playing and it is a good game for Baldur fans to try.
Neverwinter Nights 2 allows you to lead a group of mercenaries as you run around getting into fights and completing quests. It looks better than Baldur’s Gate and the fights are far superior but it does have its flaws. The biggest flaw is just how much running around you have to do. The world and the maps are so big it feels like there should be something you’re supposed to do between one objective and the next. You tramp around city streets for minutes on end and come across groups of people–but they are just for decoration. You cannot talk to them in any meaningful way and they add nothing to the user experience. The game doesn’t even allow you to spear them through the heart out of frustration (it would have been a nice touch is all I’m sayin’).
Fans of Baldur’s Gate may like this game very much, I just found the endless running around a bit much but if this didn’t bother you them Neverwinter could be a blast.
3. Sacred
Sacred allows you to pick a character and run out into the marshy plains to start spearing goblins and wrestling dragons. Sacred has a decent story, but it is not as story-focused as Baldur’s Gate. The game is set out in a similar way to Baldur’s Gate. You control your character by clicking the area in front of you, hold the mouse button to run, and hold it after clicking an enemy to repeatedly attack it.
Use magic and summons to unleash more devastating attacks, collect gold and equipment, and modify your weapons to make them more dangerous. If you have completed the Baldur’s Gate games then moving on to Sacred is a great step. It has better graphics and the game map is massive. There is plenty to do and even though it does become a little repetitive, you can grind your way up to become a god-like killing machine.
4. Gauntlet Legends
Hack and slash your way through with your character while playing Gauntlet Legends. The colors are bright, the graphics are basic, but at least most of the monsters are slow moving. Baldur’s Gate isn’t beautiful in terms of graphics, but the environments and the characters have more detail than they do with Gauntlet Legends.
In truth, the Gauntlet Legends game is far inferior to Baldur’s Gate, but if you want a game that focuses more on action than anything else then Guantlet Legends may offer a few giddy thrills.
5. Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Origins still has a loyal following of fans. The graphics are lovely because they are very detailed and exquisitely textured. Dragon Age: Origins is a third person game rather than purely overhead perspective. Much of the game involves battling and even though the story doesn’t take a back seat, it is still far less prominent than it is in Baldur’s Gate.
You may play in real time and conduct fast-paced battles, or you can pause the game and set up your shots before unpausing. You cannot stack attacks, but you may issue commands and mirco-manage your efforts before unpausing the game. Tactically pausing will usually ensure you do not die but the downside is that it means fights last far longer than they otherwise would.
In addition, the tactical pause function makes the game a little too easy. It just isn’t as difficult to complete as Baldur’s Gate, which adds to a player’s fight-weary attitude later in the game. If you play without this feature though the game could be a lot more fun.
6. Dragonshard
The character designs, the sound effects, the environment details and the combat are all in advance of their years when you remember that this game was released in 2005. It is yet another RPG where you run around getting into fights and completing quests. The biggest flaw with this game is the text because it is very small and difficult to read. If you have finished the Baldur games and you are looking for something similar, then watch a few YouTube videos of it being played first to see if the flaws are deal breakers for you so you’re not taken by surprise when you start to play.
7. Baldur’s Gate Enhanced
Fewer bugs, more conversation options, and a few new characters to play with.
8. Baldur’s Gate 2 Enhanced
Better graphics, the ability to play it on modern computers, and fewer bugs.
9. Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition
Multiple outlets for an unconventional story,characters with incredibly rich dialog, and a relatively unique setting.
10. Pillars of Eternity
Referred to by IGN as the best RPG since Baldur’s Gate, it is certainly one of the best isometric RPGs to come out in a long time.
11. IceWind 2
An RPG where leveling up is fun and where the environment design is detailed and attractive without being distracting.
If we left out a game like Baldur’s Gate that you know about, leave comment and let us know!