Summary
Thanks to the nature of video games, their development cycles are longer than most other forms of entertainment. While each year sees the launch of an exceptional game, there are times when many landmark games are released in a singular year. These years become hallmarks for gaming communities, such as 1998 and 2007. With the launch ofBaldur’s Gate 3, 2023 has already set itself up to join the list, even withBethesda’sStarfieldstill on the waylater this year.
Baldur’s Gate 3was one of the most anticipated games of the year, thanks in part to its 6-year development cycle, but also because of its status as a sequel to the belovedBaldur’s Gate 2.Baldur’s Gate 3followsDungeons and Dragons5e rules, with turn-based combat, a party of companions, and all the freedom expected of a tabletop game in video game form. This proved to be a winner with players, andBaldur’s Gate 3’s reviews have matched and, in some cases, even surpassedThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s incredible scores from earlier this year. Rather than a competition, it’s just indicative of the incredible quality of games 2023 has given the community.
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The Success of Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3was released in early access in 2020, and it has seen numerous improvements before it officially launched in August 2023. Thanks to its foundation inDungeons and Dragons, it has a complex character and class system, and its combat system can take some getting used to. However, the rich content and sheer amount of fun it offers more than make up for its steep learning curve, and this has earned it near-perfect reviews from critics and players alike.Baldur’s Gate 3truly offers an experience for everyone, and despite the fact that its scope is massive enough for one playthrough, there’s so much content to cover that it’s impossible to cover it all even across several.
While players are busy withBaldur’s Gate 3, Bethesda is getting ready to launch its new IPStarfield, which appears to emphasize exploration and adventure across the stars. Starfield hasn’t had the benefit of early access asBaldur’s Gate 3had, and so players don’t quite know what to expect beyond what Bethesda has showcased, but if the studio can live up to the expectations of its previous releases such asSkyrim,Starfieldwill be another hit for 2023and join the list of successful launches.
Review Scores For Games Released in 2023
With just over four months of the year to go, there’s still a ton of games to be released, including the promised early access toHades 2that Supergiant Games announced back in January but haven’t given an update yet. Baldur’s Gate 3’s success already puts this year above many others, but there need to be a few more wins to round the year out and end it on a high note.Starfieldwill hopefully do this, as well asAssassin’s Creed MirageandMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, which are set to launch in October, andPersona 5 Tacticaand theSuper Mario RPG, both set to launch in November.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available now for PC. The PlayStation 5 version will be available on September 6th, 2023. A version for Xbox Series X/S is still in development.
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