Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3proved to be a near-perfect RPG, earning critical acclaim from gamers and critics alike, praising the intricate story, complex characters, and gameplay that faithfully facilitated apen-and-paperD&Dgame through the medium of a video game.
With such success, a sequel, or at the very least another Larian-themedD&Dgame is inevitable, as it will no doubt be acceptable.BG3built upon the foundations of the first two games, innovating and modernizing the gameplay for a newer audience. With that in mind, what might fans expect when the nextBaldur’s Gateor equivalent game finally reaches shelves?
1The Return Of Baldur’s Gate 3 Characters
Legacy Characters Serve To Make A Game Feel Like Home
Fans ofBaldur’s Gate 1and2already recognized some of the NPCs scattered throughout the world, as they werereturning from the previous installmentsin the series. Previous companions such as Jaheira and Minsc and Boo appeared, though they couldn’t be outright recruited as the origin characters could. Still, their inclusion would undoubtedly have made long-time fans of the series happy.
As such, popular origin characters fromBaldur’s Gate 3such as Shadowheart or Astarion could make similar cameos in future installments, fulfilling similar roles to Minsc or Jaheira, even if they can’t be recruited as traveling companions.
2More Cities To Explore
Baldur’s Gate Is Just One Of The Many Famed Cities In D&D Lore
D&Dlore is rife with many different locations that have become staples in many campaigns, such as the titularBaldur’s Gate, Waterdeep, Neverwinter, and Candlekeep. Of course, with the name being in the title, the city of Baldur’s Gate cannot be skipped, but why should game companies just limit themselves to one of these iconic cities?
Since the city is based on the Sword Coast, it is very doable to include these other cities players could visit, which could open the doors for a potential Waterdeep series, or bring in famed characters from theNeverwintergame franchise. Each of these locations is disparate from one another, meaning they would all be fun to explore, and are packed to the brim with unique NPCsD&Dplayers would recognize.
3One D&D Rules
With Wizards Pedalling One D&D Material, It Could Be The Next Edition
5th Edition seems like it is here to stay. The game is in good shape, there are plenty ofsupplementary booksoffering unique experiences, and the streamlined rules have helped ease new players into the seats of DMs or players. As such, WotC has been working on One D&D as opposed to D&D 6e, which changes some rules of the base games, and alters classes and subclasses.
EachBaldur’s Gategame follows the most recent version ofD&Dat the time it was being made, which forBG3was 5e. Now that there are plentiful One D&D creations reaching fans, players could potentially see the nextBaldur’s Gategame following One D&D, as by the time a follow-up game is released, it might replace 5e entirely.
4More Classes & Subclasses
With Fans Clamoring For Missing Classes And Subclasses, These Will Likely Return In A Sequel
BG3offeredplentiful choices when it came to character customization, though the omission of certain classes and subclasses didn’t escape the notice of most players, who were left disappointed by these exclusions. Whether they wanted to limit the number of classes and subclasses to avoid overwhelming non-D&Dplayers, or whether there were some licensing issues, no one knows, but players are adamant they will see classes and subclasses added as DLC.
With no announced DLC so far other than Larian stating they want to do more, it is more likely fans will see more class choices available in the follow-up game, with Artificer being very likely. Though Blood Hunter is another popular choice, it is a class that was homebrewed by Critical Role’s Matthew Mercer, which could lead to issues licensing that particular class.
5New Villains
The Mind Flayers Took Center Stage In Baldur’s Gate 3
Mind Flayers were perhaps the biggest aggressors ofBaldur’s Gate 3, as their machinations are what spurs the events of the game, and seeking a cure for the Mind Flayer parasite is the characters' main objective. They team up with others inflicted in the same way and travel across the Sword Coast in the hopes of finding one who can help.
As such, the tale of the Mind Flayers has been well and truly told, leaving the stage empty for anotherfamousD&Dmonsterto take the leading antagonist role. With a rich menagerie to choose from, it is impossible to predict with certainty, but beholders, dragons, undead, and demons are likely choices.
6Larian Returning As The Developer
The Studio Has Proven Itself Capable
Larian proved themselvesas a capable team of developers with bothDivinity: Original Sinand their take on theBaldur’s Gateseries.BG3was a smashing success, beloved by even the harshest of critics, and most struggled to find fault besides bugs and their personal taste towards some origin characters.
Earning perfect scores across the board, fans now undoubtedly trust Larian with the beloved franchise, and would likely have no complaints if they were put forward as the developers forBaldur’s Gate 4.
