There was a time when Baldur’s Gate was considered to be the gold standard of video game role-playing, and there are people who will stand by this statement even to this day. The deep and intricate nature of the various elements that have been integrated into this classic is truly immense, and anyone who decides to take an in-depth into the nature of the systems present in Baldur’s Gate will be rewarded with utter confusion and a reeling head.
The popularity of Baldur’s Gate gave rise to a number of CRPGs in its heyday, with a bunch of modern titles also — knowingly or otherwise — taking inspiration from this series to make their world feel more reactive and important for the player. So, any gamer who wishes to relive the golden age of role-playing would definitely be interested in the following titles, all of which have replicated the formula of Baldur’s Gate (or, at least, some aspects of it) to great success.
Updated February 10th, 2021 by Zach Gass: The isometric glory that is Baldur’s Gate has often been regarded as one of the greatest RPG titles ever created. Is being a story-rich and lore-heavy experience packed to the brim with character and adventure, it’s also been considered the closest thing one can get to a virtual, one on one D&D game. Of course, Baldur’s Gate is not the only campaign on the market, as there have been other titles that have learned from the master. Action and depth are the tools used to create such a wonderful quest, and true gamers will find no shortage of adventures ready to scratch that itch.
15 Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-reckoning
Considered by many to be one of the greatest games nobody played, Kingdoms of Amalur offers just about everything an RPG fan could want. Although it lacks the isometric visuals, it has more than enough quests, creatures, weapons, and lore to satisfy even the hungriest RPG fans.
This third-person action RPG is probably one of the most versatile on the list, giving the player the ability to swap classes and weapons on the fly certainly makes for a fluid experience. Definitely a game that deserves more recognition.
14 Diablo III
For a more traditional RPG experience, the Diablo series is always a great go-to. With the fourth entry in the dark fantasy saga well on the horizon, it might be time to revisit number three.
Diablo III and its expansions offer some grade-A hack-and-slash action. With all the trimmings and trappings of the traditional isometric RPG, one simply can’t go wrong in their quest to save Sanctuary from the clutches of the Prime Evil.
13 A Bard’s Tale
And now for something completely out there with A Bard’s Tale. This game is a top-down traditional RPG, but with some serious attention to self-aware satire in its tone and delivery.
Instead of a noble quest for honor and glory, the Bard (voiced by Cary Elwes) is simply in it for the girls and the gold. It’s a tongue-in-cheek take on traditional fantasy games and a breath of fresh air for those weary travelers.
12 Path of Exile
Taking more than a few cues from the Diablo series, Path of Exile offers a similar approach but with a far more traditional fantasy flair, but with a twist. It blends the MMORPG mold with isometric combat and action.
Don’t let the free-to-play nature of the title mislead, Path of Exile is currently one of the most played online dungeon-crawlers out there, and there’s plenty to uncover and discover if one doesn’t mind a bit of grinding.
11 Neverwinter Nights
If players are sick to death of Baldur’s Gate, a trip to Neverwinter should satisfy their thirst for more D&D-inspired gaming. Developed by Bioware and remarkably similar to the aforementioned title, Neverwinter Nights is like a weekly tabletop campaign brought to the console.
It’s as traditional as a top-down fantasy game can get, but with far heavier inspiration from the famous tabletop franchise. An acquired taste for some, but a perfect follow up to Baldur’s Gate if there ever was one.
10 Planescape Torment
One simply can’t talk about legendary CRPGs in the gaming community without mentioning the absolute masterpiece that is Planescape Torment.
Any player who fell head over heels in love with the Baldur’s Gate series will definitely find themselves right at home in the shoes of The Nameless One as they try and figure out the mystery of his identity…and the world itself.
9 Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
BioWare was the studio at the helm of Baldur’s Gate, so it goes without saying that their later offerings would also carry forward the ethos of this series — well, aside from their latest ventures, that is.
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic is one such title that deserves all the praise it gets. One of the best games in the Star Wars series, KOTOR featured a brilliant storyline and some truly engaging set-pieces for its time. It also has one of the best plot twists in video game history, which is quite some hefty praise indeed.
8 Pillars Of Eternity
The CRPG genre was considered to be fairly obsolete as gaming became more modern and nuanced. Thankfully, that didn’t stop some notable creators from continuing to develop games for this genre, with all the modern conveniences that one might expect.
Pillars Of Eternity is one such title that any CRPG fan should definitely give a whirl. It’s got everything that a classic CRPG consists of: A beautiful world, brilliant tactical combat, and a story that will keep players engaged for quite a while.
7 Divinity: Original Sin II
However, if one really wants to see how CRPGs have evolved over time, one need only play Divinity: Original Sin II. This title is undoubtedly one of the greatest games ever made and deserves way more sales and praise than it has already enjoyed.
Offering a complete role-playing experience that actually makes players feel as immersed as they can be, Divinity: Original Sin II is a must-play for anyone even remotely interested in Baldur’s Gate.
6 Disco Elysium
However, not all CRPGs need to feature some form of a combat system. In fact, there are titles that have carried forward the legacy of Baldur’s Gate without really featuring any combat at all.
Disco Elysium is an absolute gem released by ZA/UM, putting the studio on the map with the sheer quality of the game they had developed. It easily features some of the greatest writing that one can ever witness in a video game, which — for a title that is completely devoid of any combat — truly transforms the game into a piece of art.
5 Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines
One of the most criminally underrated role-playing games of all time, Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines shows how undervalued certain titles can be in the gaming industry. It’s a shame that such a deep, intricate, and entertaining role-playing experience was completely overlooked by the majority of people at that time — in no small part due to the fact that it released on the same day as Half-Life 2.
However, the game slowly became a cult classic over time, and understandably so. Any player seeking out a brilliant role-playing experience simply won’t go wrong if they choose to play this masterpiece.
4 Fallout: New Vegas
Moving on to more modern experiences, one must definitely mention Fallout: New Vegas in their conversation for the best role-playing game around. While it might’ve launched with a ton of bugs, leading to a skewed critical reception upon release, New Vegas more than made up for it over time with the sheer depth of its role-playing mechanics.
Obsidian really made each and every stat in New Vegas feel like it mattered, which is more than what most games can say in the modern age. It’s a brilliant experience and an absolute must-play for anyone even remotely interested in this genre.
3 Mass Effect 2
BioWare makes an appearance on this list again, with another sci-fi title that was easily one of their most popular IPs. At least, before the franchise lost its way with Mass Effect: Andromeda.
That being said, one can’t deny that the original trilogy was an absolute masterpiece, with Mass Effect 2 being a standout in this regard. The story of Shephard and Co. is a riveting tale indeed and shows the real power of immersive video game storytelling.
2 Dragon Age: Origins
Of course, it’s not like BioWare would limit themselves to just the sci-fi genre when it comes to their modern titles — the high fantasy genre was also explored with the Dragon Age series.
Out of all the three games in the main series, Dragon Age: Origins feels the most similar to Baldur’s Gate, in no small part due to the tactical combat. It’s a must-play for anyone who loves role-playing in a brilliant fantastical setting.
1 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
One simply can’t mention amazing modern role-playing experiences without discussing the masterpiece that is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Serving as the third game of a revered trilogy, CD Projekt Red put all their heart and soul into what most consider to be the greatest role-playing game of all time.
Watching Geralt’s story develop in the first two games before crescendoing in a brilliant third act can be seen as an allegory for CD Projekt Red itself, which started out as a fledgling gaming studio and ultimately transformed into one of the biggest gaming developers of the modern generation.
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