Baldur’s Gate 3has been hugely successful because it lets players make meaningful choices that shape the story. This success raises a big question about whatBaldur’s Gate 4can do to start up again. The third game in the series has so many different endings and choices that a true canon ending is difficult. It’s something that many sequels have issues with, but it feels almost unique, thanks to all the player agencyBG3has. One possible solution can be found in how BioWare’sDragon Agegames handle this issue.
Instead of following a simple, linear narrative,Dragon Ageskillfully deals with player choices and their effects on the overall story. A great example isDragon Age: Inquisition, which offers a way tohonor players’ past decisions without forcing one single storyline.Inquisitionuses time jumps, explores new areas while connecting to familiar locations, and subtly manages returning characters.Baldur’s Gate 4could take a similar approach, especially since the setting is tightly linked toBaldur’s Gate, and the relationships with companions inBG3are very impactful.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Doesn’t Leave Room for a Sequel
Too Much Has Happened With Choices
Baldur’s Gate 3stands out because it gives players a high level of freedom in how they play, resulting in many different endings based on their choices. This makes creating a direct sequel really challenging. Ifa new game tried to pick one specific ending to follow, it would likely upset a lot of players who had different experiences and reached different conclusions. Additionally, the game’s characters have deep storylines that change depending on player decisions, adding even more complexity.
There’s One Big Reason To Swap Out Your Favorite Baldur’s Gate 3 Companions In Act 3
It’s tempting to keep your favorite companions by your side until the end of Baldur’s Gate 3, but here’s why you should consider switching them out.
A sequel would have to take into account all these unique experiences, which becomes harder with each different story path players took in the first game. The variety of choices, from major events to little dialogue options,creates a complicated situation that’s difficult to handle in a sequelthat everyone would enjoy. This isn’t just about creative challenges; it’s a fundamental issue based on the game’s design. To make a successfulBaldur’s Gate 4,the next studiowould need to approach the situation differently.
Eventiny decisions inBaldur’s Gate 3can have huge story implications, which makes it hard to make a sequel.
The real question isn’t whether a sequel can happen but how it can be done without losing what makesBaldur’s Gate 3special. There are plenty of franchises that deal with giving the player ways to finish them, but none does this as well asDragon Age. While there are canon endings,they tend not to be referenced very often, but each game still feels like it follows the previous.
Dragon Age Inquisition Kept Players in the Same Area Without Trouble
Nearby Is Similar, But Different
Dragon Age: Inquisitionis a sequel toDragon Age: OriginsandDragon Age 2, but it successfully avoids the problems of revisiting old game locations that the sequel toBaldur’s Gate 3would face. Rather than bringing players back to familiar places like Kirkwall,Inquisitionoffers a large, semi-open world with several unique and interconnected areas. These regionsall exist on the same continent of Thedasbut feature different environments and challenges, which would helpBaldur’s Gate 4.
10 Easy Ways To Get Past Tough Encounters In Baldur’s Gate 3
Not all Baldur’s Gate 3 encounters have to be ridiculously tough or frustrating, especially when there are easy ways to get past them.
As the Inquisitor, players can explore diverse locations like the snowy Frostback Basin, the sunny Hinterlands, the lush Emerald Graves, and the elegant court of Orlais. Each area has its own distinct look, culture, and story, butthey clearly took place in the same worldbecause the characters and environment sometimes referenced events in previous games. This design choice makes sure players don’t get the feeling of déjà vu that often comes from sequels that revisit old settings.
Inquisitionmanages to tell new stories within the established world of Thedas while still using familiar elements from previous games. This approach encourages players to explore and discover new things, an important part of the role-playing game experience. Bybalancing familiar settings with new ones,Inquisitionsets a great example of how to create a sequel while expanding a well-known universe.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Companions Can’t Make Big Returns
Players Heavily Influenced Companions
Baldur’s Gate 3companions were all influenced by the player. Their personal stories and relationships with the player character depend significantly on the choices made during the game. If a sequel tries to continue from whereBG3left off, it would have topick a way the player would have acted. This would upset many players who enjoyed shaping their own unique experiences.
There’s also the issue of you being ableto romance multiple companions, which adds to the complexity of the storyline.
For example, Astarion’s journey of redemption, Shadowheart’s changing beliefs, and Gale’s struggles are all influenced by player decisions. If a sequel wants to bring these companions back in a meaningful way, it would have tohandle countless different story paths, which would be incredibly complicated. Simply mentioning past events wouldn’t be enough; players' emotional connections with these characters require a deeper approach, but managing that would mean creating an overly complex game.
So, without a doubt, crafting a sequel focused on the same companions fromBG3wouldface major storytelling obstacles. Since the game prioritizes player choice, a straightforward continuation becomes nearly impossible. To make a successfulBaldur’s Gate 4, the focus will need to shift to telling a new story in the same world, maybe subtly referencing different endings or introducing a whole new set of characters.
Another Big Time Skip May Be the Solution
Baldur’s Gate 4 May Need A Time Skip
MakingBaldur’s Gate 4a fitting sequel toBaldur’s Gate 3would require creating a complex storyline that considers all the choices players made in the first game, which would take a long time or be nearly impossible. The Keep, Bioware’s solution forDragon Age:Inquisition, would be an idea, buta time skip would be an even better way.
Will Patch 8 Be Baldur’s Gate 3’s Final Update?
The upcoming update for Baldur’s Gate 3 is set to be huge, but it may be marking the final stretch for Larian continuing to work on the game.
To solve this issue, the sequel might need to jump far ahead in time, like the century-long gap betweenBaldur’s Gate 2andBaldur’s Gate 3. This way, the new story could hint at past events without directly tying back to every player’s choices.This concept has worked well in other games, likeDragon Age: Inquisition.
It’s easy to forget, butDragon Age: Originstakes place over a decade beforeDragon Age: Inquisition. Hence, the effects of what happened took place long enough ago that anything could have happened in between. A fresh start can still honor previous stories by introducing new characters or significantly changing the setting, creating a narrative that stands independently while remaining part of the same world. A time skip inBaldur’s Gate 4would appeal to a broad audience and keep the amazing player experience that madeBaldur’s Gate 3so popular.
