Baldur's Gate 3 has received a lot of attention and acclaim from fans, even in its early access phase, for being a dynamic roleplaying game that manages to translate Dungeons & Dragons mechanics into the video game space. But unfortunately, not everyone has a PC that can run the game they so desperately want to play, not to mention gamers who exclusively play on consoles. This leaves out a lot of would-be fans who want to delve into an exciting RPG experience.
Thankfully, the RPG genre is alive and well, with many hit titles and hidden gems for fans to enjoy as they mold each story depending on dialogue and play style. So until Baldur's Gate 3 crosses platforms or you save up for a more powerful computer, here are five RPGs to enjoy in the meantime.
Wasteland 3
Released just a few months ago, Wasteland 3 is part of the Wasteland franchise, a precursor to the Fallout games. Played from the top-down perspective, the game focuses on squad-based, turn-based combat similar to that of XCOM. The game also features a co-op mode that allows two players to participate at the same time, each with their own set of turns.
Taking place decades after a nuclear war has devastated the globe, you play as a member of the Rangers, a rag-tag militia dedicated to protecting the weak and bringing order to the wasteland. While previous titles take place in post-apocalyptic Arizona, Wasteland 3 players find themselves in the snowy ruins of Colorado, where they are tasked with either assisting or overthrowing the local ruler to support the Rangers back home. Wasteland 3 is a cross-platform title, so gamers can play it in PlayStation, Xbox One and Windows, with Linux and macOS ports in the works.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Cyberpunk 2077 may not be out just yet, but fans can always try out the game series that made CD Projekt Red the big-name developer it is today. The Witcher 3 is an open-world action-RPG where you play as Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter for hire, or Witcher.
In the game, players are free to explore a massive fantasy world, finding loot, crafting potions and weapons, taking part in side quests and contracts, or just sitting down to play a round of the in-game card game Gwent. The game was made on the company's own REDengine 3 and is optimized for nearly every major platform, including upcoming next-gen consoles.
Pillars of Eternity
While it has been overshadowed by some of Obsidian Entertainment's other titles like The Outer Worlds, Pillars of Eternity is arguably the game that kept the company afloat during a period of difficulty. With the help of $4.1 million from over 77,000 Patreon donations, the company created a classic looking, real-time strategy RPG. While taking place in a fantasy setting, the game is in a time period akin to the early Renaissance, where magic is becoming less common, gunpowder weapons are being created and democracies and republics are beginning to replace Kings and Emperors. Obsidian's upcoming title Avowed is to be set in the same world of Eora.
Pillars of Eternity takes place in the Dyrwood, a nation where the Hollowborn Crisis, a phenomenon where newborn children are born without souls, grips the land. The hero must explore the land, gather allies and uncover the mystery behind this crisis. Pillars was created using the Unity Engine and is available on Microsoft Windows, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. As it is part of the Xbox Game Pass, fans will likely be able to play it on the Series X when the next-gen console is released.
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
A strategy-action RPG, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is set in a medieval land known as Caladria. Players have to gather soldiers and allies to aid them in the main campaign and side quests, especially large-scale battles and castle sieges, which are meant to be historically accurate. Notably, the game allows you to marry and have children with certain characters. If your player character dies, your child becomes the new playable character, inheriting all the soldiers, lands and wealth already acquired.
However, it should be noted that (similar to Baldur's Gate 3) this game is currently in early access on Steam, so what is available now is not a polished final product. Still, though Mount & Blade II is a PC exclusive right now, it is less technically demanding than BG3 and developer TaleWorlds Entertainment has already announced plans to eventually port it to consoles.
Divinity Original Sin II
Baldur's Gate isn't the only franchise created by Larian Studios; the developer is also known for creating the Divinity: Original Sin series. Divinity II is an RPG that can be played in single or multiplayer, making for some truly tactical battles.
It is set in the fantasy world of Rivellon, and there is a heavy emphasis on magic and spellcasting. Magic is powered by an energy known as Source, and its users are referred to as Sourcerors. The player character is known as the Godwoken, who must journey across the land to help the Gods and possibly become a new member of the pantheon. At this time, Divinity Original Sin II can be played on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, making it far more accessible the Baldur's Gate 3.