Summary
WhileBaldur’s Gate 3hasDungeons & Dragonsfans return once again to Faerun for a world-saving adventure, it’s certainly not the only game to take place in this setting. Introduced as early as theAD&D 2Edays of the hit TTRPG, Ed Greenwood’sForgotten Realmsgrew to become one of the most popular settings of the RPG to date. Such was the appeal of the setting that it expanded far beyond sourcebooks and entered even gaming territory, coming to around 50+ games by the timeBG3 wasreleased.
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With this many games under theForgotten Realmsbelt, bothDungeons & Dragonsnewcomers and experts who want to familiarize themselves with the Realms may have difficulty choosing which games to play to encapsulate the feeling of the setting best. Thankfully, certain standouts become must-tries to get fully immersed in this setting.
10Dungeon Hack (1993)
Fans of roguelikes who want aretro take onDungeons & Dragonsmechanicsshould consider givingDungeon Hacka try. Although unimpressive by modern standards in terms of its UI and overall gameplay, its adaptation ofAD&D 2Erules makes it quite a change of pace from standard RPGs of the time. As expected of a roguelike,Dungeon Hackstarts with a simple premise: a sorceress hires the player to retrieve an orb within an ancient dungeon.
From there, the players create a character based on theAD&D 2Eruleset while also customizing their dungeon’s main settings. It’s the latter where the game shines, as players can tweak their playthrough with various settings such as permadeath, monster density, and other factors.
9Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone (2004)
Being a game scripted byacclaimedForgotten Realmsnovelist R.A. Salvatore,Forgotten Realms: Demon Stonetasks three adventurers to infiltrate the Gemspark Mines and stop two powerful villains from taking over the Realms. In traditional action RPG fashion, players tear through hordes of enemies while micromanaging three combatants: the melee specialist Rannek, the rogue Zhai, and the sorcerer Illius.
Unlike other action games,Demon Stonewill have all three characters on screen simultaneously, with players having free reign to switch between any of them. Despite not having the storytelling depth of typicalD&Dgames,Demon Stone’s short-lived plot makes for an entertaining experience.
8Eye Of The Beholder (1991)
Although theEye Of The Beholderhas lackluster graphics compared to more modern RPGs, its approach to what’s known as a “3D” RPG at the time popularized the notion of FPS dungeon crawlers. Set in the sewers of Waterdeep, players need to defeat Dwarf and Drow Clans alongside the Beholder Xanathar to repair the city’s sewage system.
The game’sadaptation of theAD&D 2Esystem was more freeform compared to the priorDungeon Master, being a much friendlier experience to newcomers by providing a decent balance of combat and puzzle-solving. However, players need to pay close attention to their builds, as while the game doesn’t give a comprehensive tutorial, it does represent an accurate take on stats-heavyAD&D 2Erules.
7Neverwinter (2013)
Considering the lukewarm reception to most other action RPGs based onD&D, it’s quite a surprise forNeverwinterto approach the MMO scene as an action-adventure game. Unlike the more traditional tab-targetMMO that isDungeons & Dragons Online,Neverwintertakes the more action-oriented gameplay of games likeBlack Desert Online. Upon creating a character,Neverwintertransforms theD&D 4Eruleset into an action format, giving players access to Class Powers that facilitate fast-paced gameplay.
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WhereNeverwinterdeserves praise is an in-depth plot, wherein the city is plunged into an impending civil war and undead invasion just years after the horrific Spellplague. On top of this main story are DLC stories that take players to other locations in the Realms, such as Icewind Dale, Chult, Sharandar, Barovia, and even Avernus.
6Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition (2014)
Players ofIcewind Daleare tasked by the archdruid of Kuldahar to investigate why the warming powers of the Great Oak has been weakening over time, slowly injecting cold in the harsh region of Icewind Dale. Unlike other RPGs emphasizing story,Icewind Daleemphasizes party hyper-optimizationto eliminate threat after threat.
Adapting theAD&Dsystem,Icewind Dalehas a balanced but challenging gameplay loop to learn. Players create their party of six on the onset, with options ranging from presets, imports from other games such asBaldur’s Gate, and even their creations. Gamers who enjoy challenging tactical RPG combat can relish inIcewind Daleand itsEnhanced Edition, as its learning curve is akin to masteringDark Soulsbut for turn-based fights.
5Icewind Dale 2 (2002)
Set three decades after the events of the first game,Icewind Dale 2tasks players to control a group of mercenaries to facilitate a defense for the harbor town of Targos against a goblin army. Upon discovering the army’s ties to the Legion of the Chimera, the player’s party has to travel across Icewind Dale to get to the root of their sudden invasion.
WhileIcewind Dalefocuses heavily onD&D’s combat aspect, the more reserved pacing and a revamped interpretation ofD&D 3Erules madeIcewind Dale 2a more solid RPG experience. Unfortunately, the outdated graphics and engine used in the game made it seem lackluster compared to rivaling RPGs such asThe Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind.
4Baldur’s Gate 2: Enhanced Edition (2013)
Despite critical acclaim overBaldur’s Gate, it’sBaldur’s Gate 2and its eventualEnhanced Editionthat encapsulates a classicD&Dexperience. Resuming the Bhaalspawn Saga, players retain the status as Gorion’s Ward, whose status as the offspring of the God of Murder put them on the radar of the evil mage Jon Irenicus. WhatsetsBaldur’s Gate 2apart from its predecessoris a better grasp of its game engine and a more strategic take on character progression.
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Players begin the game as at least Level 8 adventurers, giving them immediate access to powerful abilities that tie into more challenging fights at the onset of the experience. Companions and NPCs also offer equally compelling side quests beyond the main story, encouraging hours’ worth of gameplay and tinkering around the game world.
3Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition (2018)
Back in the time whenD&D 3Ewas a much-needed departure from the number-crunching rules ofAD&D 2E,Neverwinter Nightsand its eventualEnhanced Editionoffered one of the bestD&Dadaptations for both RPG fans and newcomers. Set in the city-state of Neverwinter, players are tasked to create a cure for the Wailing Death plaguing the city.Neverwinter Nightsoffers a gripping narrative that extends its appeal through a multiplayer mode and a modular component.
With the Aurora engine,Neverwinter Nightsallows players to create their campaignsand take on the helm of Dungeon Master to supervise multiplayer gameplay. Unlike “classics” at the time, such asBaldur’s Gate, the more updated ruleset provides players access to more opportunities for character customization without confusing stats.
2Neverwinter Nights 2 (2008)
Unlike other sequels that merely follow up their predecessor’s story,Neverwinter Nights 2has provided a graphical enhancement and a more streamlined take on adapting theD&D 3.5Eruleset. Again, set in Neverwinter, players must gather mysterious “Silver Shards” to solve a crisis involving an evil spirit known as the King of Shadows.
Compared toBaldur’s Gate 3, the appeal ofNeverwinter Nights 2lies in its quality-of-life features and added mechanics. The game adapts the notion of Prestige Classes fromD&D 3.5E, giving players access to special classes upon meeting special requirements.NW2also has a base-building system unlike theoriginalNeverwinter Nightstitle, wherein players acquire a keep they slowly improve and protect from sieges and even populate with NPCs.
1Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)
It’s in the execution of a video gamifiedD&D 5eruleset on top of a compelling narrative that makesBaldur’s Gate 3a critically acclaimed title at launch. Set in the world of Faerun,Baldur’s Gate 3follows a Mindflayer invasion and how Illithid-infected protagonists are on a race against time to ensure they don’t become Mindflayers themselves.
Created by the minds that brought equally acclaimedDivinity: Original Sin 2, Larian Studios combines its signature interactive environments with the diverse toolkit ofD&D 5e. This combination results in the best interpretation ofD&Drules in a video game. On top of an accurate take on character progression from Levels 1 to 12 are game-compatible interpretations of Feats, Features, and Spells. The game also boasts seamless variations on concepts such as active and passive Skill Checks and Skills actively affecting dialogue and exploration.
Baldur’s Gate 3was released in the PC and the PS5, with an upcoming Xbox Series X/S port.
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