9 best games like Baldur's Gate 3 to play in 2023: Diablo 4, Pillars of Eternity, Elden Ring & more
While Baldur’s Gate 3 is upon us, not everyone will be looking to pick up the brand new game the second that it launches, and will instead be looking for a list of the best games just like it to play in 2023.
The latest from Larian Studios, this Dungeons & Dragons-based CRPG is set to light the gaming world on fire. Complete with a ridiculously in-depth character creator, a vast amount of companions, dialogue, and a gorgeous world to go questing in, the full release of Baldur’s Gate 3 has been anticipated for a long while.
However, it’s understandable that Baldur’s Gate 3 won’t be for everyone. Whether you’re just not up for spending money on a brand new game right now, or the D&D style gameplay just isn’t your bag, we’ve got a list of the best games like Baldur’s Gate 3 that you can play right now in 2023.
- Find out if Baldur's Gate 3 is open world
How we chose the best games like Baldur’s Gate 3
Click to enlargeOur methodology for finding the best Baldur’s Gate 3-like games is to look for titles that have either very similar gameplay features or overarching themes. For example, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an RPG with plenty of dialogue where your choices can change the course of the story. As such, you’ll find plenty of dialogue-heavy games here.
In addition, there is a massive and exciting fantasy world to explore here, so we’ve chosen a few other titles that share that aspect, too. Not every game on this list will look exactly like Baldur’s Gate 3, either. A few top-down RPGs have certainly made their way onto this list, but there are a few that may surprise you.
Lastly, we have made sure to only include games that are already released. There are plenty of games on the horizon that look like they will mimic a lot of key themes from Baldur’s Gate 3, but every game on this list is available to purchase and play right now.
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Best games like Baldur’s Gate 3
9 - Fable
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S
- Release date: 2004
- Key features:
- Whimsical fantasy world
- Fun characters
- Engaging story
Developed by the now-defunct Lionhead Studios and headed up by Peter Molyneux, this fantasy RPG was ahead of its time in 2004. It’s set in the world of Albion, and is filled with a whimsical take on all things British. Keep an ear out for many iconic British actors while traversing these fantastical lands.
The RPG mechanics are much more simple than in Baldur’s Gate 3, and the combat isn’t turn-based. However, if you’re looking for a more casual experience, Fable is the perfect alternative and a great start to our list of best games like Baldur's Gate 3 to play in 2023.
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8 - Divinity Original Sin 2
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, MacOS, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: 2017
- Key features:
- Top-down CRPG gameplay
- Loosely based on D&D ruleset
- Incredible conversation system
This game might look familiar to fans of Baldur’s Gate 3 because it’s developed by the exact same studio. In fact, Divinity Original Sin 2 was the last game Larian Studios made before moving to Baldur’s Gate 3. As such, it shares a lot of DNA.
Firstly, the game engine is a slightly older version of what’s used for Baldur’s Gate 3, so a lot of the gameplay functionality is the same. It’s based much more loosely on the D&D ruleset, but it’s certainly familiar.
The story is much more fantastical and less sci-fi than Baldur’s Gate 3, too. So, if that’s something that piques you’re interested, you can’t go wrong with Divinity Original Sin 2. Oh, and it’s available on just about every platform out there as well - including MacOS and iPad.
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7 - Diablo 4
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: 2023
- Key features:
- Action-based gameplay
- Gory, yet beautiful world
- Worthwhile endgame
A much more recent entry on this list, Diablo 4 released earlier this year to much critical acclaim. The latest ARPG iteration from Blizzard takes the series to new heights - and all new levels of gore.
While Baldur’s Gate 3 can be much slower in its story and combat, Diablo 4 rips along at an unapologetic pace - constantly giving players new abilities to use and enemies to conquer.
Even better, Diablo 4 is best experienced in co-op with a few friends. There’s a massive endgame to explore too, so the fun doesn’t stop once you get to the end of the main campaign. You can't say that about many of the titles on this list of best games like Baldur's Gate 3, can you?
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6 - Pillars of Eternity
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: 2015
- Key features:
- An all-time classic
- Robust RPG mechanics
- Stunning art style
Pillars of Eternity comes from another studio that’s renowned in the world of RPGs. If you’ve played Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds, or Pathfinder: Adventures, then you will have touched some of Obsidian Entertainment’s work.
Pillars of Eternity shares a lot of DNA with Baldur’s Gate, mirroring a top-down perspective and a fantasy world filled with magic and a touch of science fiction.
There are plenty of dungeons to plunder and adventures to be had in this CRPG, and it’s an excellent game to play like Baldur’s Gate 3.
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5 - Elden Ring
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: 2021
- Key features:
- Accessible Soulslike
- Unbeatable exploration
- Exhilarating combat
If third-person action RPGs are more your bag, and you’re looking for something that’s equally as challenging as Baldur’s Gate 3 can be, then Elden Ring is an excellent shout as an alternative.
Topping most GOTY lists in 2021, Elden Ring is FromSoftware at its finest, interweaving its impeccable world design with the best RPG gameplay has ever been.
What’s more, there’s even a DLC set to release later this year, meaning that now is the perfect time to jump into the game to get prepped for the upcoming chapter.
- Speaking of Soulslike games, here are some of the best games like Dark Souls you can play right now
4 - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: 2003
- Key features:
- Set in the Star Wars universe
- Bioware at its best
- Timeless classic
Fancy a little more science fiction with your RPG story? Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic delivers on that in spades, taking RPG mechanics into the depths of space.
Moreover, this is from the same developer as the original Baldur’s Gate games - Bioware. The gameplay is a little dated in 2023, but if you’re willing to look past a little bit of jank, then you can’t go wrong with this timeless classic as an alternative game to play like Baldur’s Gate 3.
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3 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: 2015
- Key features:
- Unrivalled storytelling
- Engaging combat mechanics
- Gorgeous and diverse world
What’s left to be said about The Witcher 3 that hasn’t been said already? With incredible characters and vistas to explore, this RPG from CDProjekt Red is easily one of the best from the last decade.
Mixing together a concoction of melee combat and basic spells, Geralt of Rivia shares a few different attributes with some of the classes that you can pick in Baldur’s Gate 3. If you enjoy romance in your RPGs, The Witcher 3 has an intriguing love triangle for you to dabble with, too.
If we haven’t convinced you just yet, there’s even a new-generation update that just dropped earlier this year, bringing Ray Tracing and other quality-of-life features to the now eight-year-old title. It’s even available on Nintendo Switch, so you can take Geralt on the go with you.
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2 - Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: 2021
- Key features:
- Three connected games to play
- Choices have real consequences
- Loveable characters
Approaching the end of our list, we have the entire Mass Effect trilogy in the form of the Legendary Edition. Also from Bioware, this gargantuan game ties all three of the Mass Effect games together in one long, continuous title.
These space soap opera games transition almost seamlessly from one to the next, with your character choices carrying over in the process. If you play all the way through from the start, your game in Mass Effect 3 could end up looking totally different to someone else’s.
While Bioware cut its teeth creating the original Baldur’s Gate games, it’s in the Mass Effect titles that the studio was truly given a chance to shine. That makes it the perfect alternative game to play like Baldur’s Gate 3 if you’re looking for something different yet similar.
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What is the best game like Baldur’s Gate 3?
1 - Dragon Age: Inquisition
Click to enlarge- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: 2014
- Key features:
- More Bioware
- The best Dragon Age has ever looked
- Compelling, impactful decisions
Perhaps the best game like Baldur’s Gate 3 to play in 2023 is Dragon Age: Inquisition. Although almost a decade old now, it’s still the most modern Dragon Age title you can play at the moment. Just like Baldur’s Gate 3, it features a customisable character with plenty of progression choices and a plethora of characters to natter with.
Gameplay will feel somewhat familiar to Baldur’s Gate 3, too, as it controls a little differently - especially on the mouse and keyboard. It’s still action-based, but the camera isn’t controlled directly by mouse movement, meaning you’ll be doing a lot of clicking on objects in the game world to interact with them.
If you’re new to CRPGs and want to give something similar a try first, then Dragon Age: Inquisition is the perfect title to bridge that gap.
So, that completes our list of best games like Baldur’s Gate 3 to play in 2023.
For more Baldur’s Gate 3 guides, keep reading GGRecon.