Home / Gaming & Esports

Photo of video game, network, office team
Image: Wikipedia
Gaming & Esports

Baldur's Gate 3's Gameplay Praised, Story Criticized by Old-School Gamer

WireByte Staff · July 4, 2026

A long-time gamer, familiar with classic RPGs, has expressed disappointment with the storytelling and writing in Baldur's Gate 3, despite enjoying its gameplay. The game's 17,000 endings have been cited, but the player's agency is seen as diluted by the sheer number of variations. This criticism comes as the game won Game of the Year in 2023.

Key points

  • Baldur's Gate 3's gameplay has been praised by an old-school gamer, who enjoys the freedom it offers.
  • However, the same player is critical of the game's storytelling and writing, feeling it does not live up to the standards of classic RPGs.
  • The game's 17,000 endings have been cited, but the player argues that this number is misleading, as it accounts for small variations.
  • The criticism comes as the game won Game of the Year in 2023, suggesting differing opinions on its quality.
  • Larian Studios, the developer of Baldur's Gate 3, has been praised for its take on the Dungeons & Dragons world, but this criticism may raise questions about the game's narrative focus.

Baldur's Gate 3, the 2023 Game of the Year winner, has been praised for its gameplay and criticized for its storytelling and writing. A long-time gamer, familiar with classic RPGs, has expressed disappointment with the game's narrative, feeling it does not live up to the standards of games like Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Planescape: Torment, and Mass Effect 3.

The game's 17,000 endings have been cited as a unique feature, but the player argues that this number is misleading. According to the player, the endings account for small variations, rather than significant changes to the story.

Larian Studios, the developer of Baldur's Gate 3, has been praised for its take on the Dungeons & Dragons world. The game's freedom and player agency have been highlighted as strengths, but this criticism may raise questions about the game's narrative focus.

The differing opinions on Baldur's Gate 3's quality may suggest that the game's success is not universally accepted. As the gaming community continues to discuss the game's merits, it remains to be seen how this criticism will impact the game's reputation.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.