Heading into The Game Awards 2023, it was very clearly shaping up to be a special night forBaldur’s Gate 3. Larian had already confirmed it would reveal the Xbox Series X/S release date there, the game had a whopping total of 8 nominations (tied for most with Alan Wake 2), and the possibility of some big surprise was always on the table.Baldur’s Gate 3’s representation at The Game Awards 2023delivered on all this in spades.
For those who didn’t tune into the show or were just curious, it’s worth recapping how much of the showcaseBaldur’s Gate 3managed to sweep. Out of its 8 direct nominations and inclusion of the Player’s Voice Award, it won a total of 6 awards at The Game Awards 2023. Furthermore, it proved to be an exciting night for Xbox players asBaldur’s Gate 3did not reveal its Xbox Series X/S release, but it shadow-dropped instead.
Every The Game Awards Nomination for BG3
Baldur’s Gate 3walked out of The Game Awards 2023 with the covetedGame of the Year award, the player-votedPlayer’s Voice Award,Best Performance, Best Community Support, Best RPG, andBest Multiplayer. Each of these is well deserved by the game and studio. The first two go without saying, given the waves it made throughout the industry, while Neil Newbon took Best Performance forhis role as Astarion inBG3. Newbon had previously talked about how he considered quitting acting ahead of this game, and it’s lucky for everyone involved that he did not. Astarion is one of many great performances within the game, ensuring that someone was going to cinch this award regardless.
With the sheer amount ofBaldur’s Gate 3updatesthat have come out over the year too, Best Community Support is no surprise, and of course,Baldur’s Gate 3is a CRPG at its core. Utilizing the DnD 5e ruleset, albeit slightly altered, with interesting choices, builds, and more all but ensured it would take Best RPG. For some, Best Multiplayer may be surprising given how fans reacted to it. In essence, players create a character in another’s game and cannot use that character outside it. So, for example, if the host were to play without them, that character could still be used. It feels quite like a real-world tabletop game, though, helping it snatch up the award.
The only nominations thatBaldur’s Gate 3did not win were the Best Narrative and Game Direction, both of which it lost toAlan Wake 2, as well as the Best Music and Score.Final Fantasy 16took the latter award.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
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 EXPERIENCEChoose 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 EPICForged 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.
