Games Like Baldur's Gate 3 — 8 Best CRPG Alternatives to Play Next
Quick Comparison — Games Like BG3 at a Glance
| Game | Closest BG3 Strength | Combat | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Divinity: Original Sin 2 | Studio DNA, environmental combat, banter | Turn-based, elemental | 80–100 hours |
| Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous | Class/build depth, mythic paths | Turn-based OR real-time-with-pause | 120–150 hours |
| Solasta: Crown of the Magister | D&D 5e rules fidelity | Pure turn-based 5e | 40–60 hours |
| Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire | Writing, faction reactivity | Real-time-with-pause OR turn-based | 60–80 hours |
| Wasteland 3 | Squad tactics, moral choice | Turn-based grid | 60–80 hours |
| Disco Elysium | Narrative reactivity, dialogue | No combat (skill-driven) | 30–40 hours |
| Encased | Isometric RPG with stat-driven dialogue | Turn-based | 40–60 hours |
| Tyranny | Moral grayness, world reactivity | Real-time-with-pause | 25–35 hours |
Divinity: Original Sin 2 — The Closest Match by Studio DNA
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the prior generation of the same engine and systems that became BG3. Larian made D:OS2 in 2017 and refined the formula into BG3 five years later, so the resemblance is structural: free-camera positioning, surfaces that interact (fire on oil, electrified water, blood pools), origin characters with their own arcs, four-person party co-op, and combat that rewards creative environment use over rotation memorization.
Where D:OS2 differs from BG3: armor splits into Physical and Magical pools that must be stripped before status effects land, which makes early fights more puzzle-like. There is no D&D 5e license — instead, Larian's own Source magic system drives spellcasting. The writing is funnier and weirder than BG3 (BG3 is more grounded in Forgotten Realms lore). Cutscenes are smaller; the camera stays isometric. Companion banter is less voiced but more frequent.
If BG3's environmental combat (surfaces, height, push/pull, jumping) was your favorite part, D:OS2 is the obvious next play. It is also the best co-op CRPG ever made — its four-player drop-in/drop-out works smoothly across an entire campaign, where BG3's co-op has more rough edges. Available on PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch, iPad.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous — For Deeper Builds and Longer Campaigns
If BG3's class system felt thin and you wanted more multiclass depth, more feats, more prestige classes, and longer character progression — Owlcat's Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is the answer. It runs on Pathfinder 1e rules (~3.5e D&D's spiritual successor), which means 20+ base classes, 30+ archetypes per class, dozens of prestige classes, hundreds of feats, and a build-crafting depth that BG3 cannot match.
WotR also introduces Mythic Paths — campaign-long alignment-style ascensions (Angel, Demon, Lich, Trickster, Azata, Aeon, Gold Dragon, Legend) that each radically rewrite the story, dialogue, available companions, and endings. This is the closest equivalent to BG3's origin character system, but applied to the protagonist's arc rather than companions.
Caveats: the system is genuinely complex (use the in-game build advisor on early playthroughs), combat can be either turn-based (added in patches) or real-time-with-pause, and the writing is more pulpy than BG3's grounded dialogue. The mid-campaign Crusade mode (army management) is divisive — many players turn it to Story difficulty. Available on PC, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch. A free DLC adds turn-based mode if you prefer BG3-style pacing.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister — The Most Faithful D&D 5e Adaptation
Solasta uses the actual D&D 5e SRD ruleset more faithfully than any other CRPG, including BG3 in some respects. BG3 took 5e and modified many rules (e.g., shove as a bonus action, advantage from height, custom item effects); Solasta implements 5e closer to tabletop with verticality (climbing, jumping, flying spells), proper concentration rules, dual-wielding penalties, and full reactions support.
What Solasta lacks compared to BG3: voice acting is partial (not every line), the budget shows in cutscenes and animation, the world feels smaller, and the original campaign is shorter (40 hours vs BG3's 80–120). It does not have the cinematic ambition or romance depth of BG3.
What Solasta does better than BG3: the custom-party-of-four feature lets you create your entire party from scratch with full class/race/background customization — there are no fixed origin companions. The campaign is built around dungeon crawling and tactical encounters, with verticality fully implemented (BG3 added later patches for jumping but Solasta launched with it). For a tactical-focused, 5e-pure experience, Solasta is the cleanest play. Available on PC, PS4/5, Xbox.
BG3 vs Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous — Detailed
| Dimension | Baldur's Gate 3 | Pathfinder: WotR |
|---|---|---|
| Ruleset | D&D 5e (modified) | Pathfinder 1e (faithful) |
| Character classes | 12 base classes, multiclass to 12 | 20+ base classes, prestige classes, multiclass at every level |
| Companions | ~10 origin companions, deep arcs | ~10+ companions, party of 6 in combat |
| Campaign length | 80–120 hours main story | 120–150 hours, more with Mythic Path content |
| Cinematic ambition | AAA cutscenes, full voice acting | Mid-tier production, partial voice acting |
| Build complexity | Medium — 12 levels max, simpler feats | High — 20 levels, hundreds of feats, build planners recommended |
| Combat pacing | Turn-based only | Turn-based OR real-time-with-pause toggle |
| Replay variety | ~3–4 distinct origin runs | 8+ Mythic Paths each rewrites the campaign |
Verdict: BG3 wins on production polish and cinematic storytelling. Pathfinder: WotR wins on build depth, campaign length, and replay variety. If you want a 'second BG3', pick D:OS2. If you want 'more game than BG3', pick WotR.
Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire — For Reactive Writing and Faction Play
Obsidian's Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is set in an open-world archipelago with the player captaining a ship between island factions — Vailian trading company, Huana royalists, Royal Deadfire Company, and the Príncipi pirates. Each faction has its own questline, ending slide, and reactive narrative. Choices made in the original Pillars of Eternity carry over (an imported save adjusts dialogue and world state significantly).
Combat defaults to real-time-with-pause but a turn-based mode was added in a major patch. Companion writing rivals BG3 in depth (less voice acting but more layered dialogue), and the world has the strongest reactivity-to-player-choice in any modern CRPG. If you liked how BG3's story branches around your decisions, Deadfire is the next obvious play — many players consider its faction-end-state matrix more thoughtful than BG3's endings.
Weaknesses: the engine is dated, real-time combat encounters can feel mushy compared to BG3's positional turns, and some companions have lighter content than others. The expansion DLCs (Beast of Winter, Seeker Slayer Survivor, Forgotten Sanctum) add 30+ hours of high-quality content; buy them if you commit to a playthrough. Available on PC, PS4, Xbox.
Other CRPG Alternatives Worth Considering
- Wasteland 3: Squad-based post-apocalyptic CRPG with grid turn-based combat, party of 6, moral choice (mostly grim). The writing is darker and more cynical than BG3 but shares the 'every conversation has consequences' design. Co-op campaign supported.
- Disco Elysium: Skill-driven detective RPG with no combat — every interaction resolves through dialogue skill checks. If BG3's persuasion and lore was your favorite part, Disco Elysium is the most narratively dense CRPG ever made. 30–40 hours, intensely literary.
- Encased: Soviet-flavor 1970s alternate-history fallout-likeRPG with deep stat-driven dialogue and turn-based combat. Less polished than BG3 but has the SPECIAL-style stat-shaping-everything design BG3 fans appreciate.
- Tyranny: Obsidian's 'play as the bad guy' RPG. You serve the evil empire and the campaign branches around which factions you favor. 25–35 hours, real-time-with-pause, dialogue-heavy.
- Owlcat Pathfinder: Kingmaker (precursor to WotR): Lighter on Mythic Paths, includes Kingdom Management. Worth playing only if you want a longer Owlcat experience after WotR.
- Shadowrun: Dragonfall / Hong Kong: Cyberpunk-fantasy CRPGs with turn-based combat and excellent writing. Smaller scope than BG3 but tight, story-focused.
- Tactics Ogre: Reborn: Japanese tactical RPG, isometric grid combat, deeply political branching narrative. The class system is its own thing but the moral choice and reactivity depth rivals CRPG writing.
- Expeditions: Rome: Mediterranean turn-based RPG with squad combat and political maneuvering. Less ambitious than BG3 but a solid 40-hour playthrough.
Which 'Like BG3' Game Should YOU Play Next? Decision Guide
| Slot | Recommended pick | Why / notes |
|---|---|---|
| If you loved environmental combat + co-op | Divinity: Original Sin 2 | Same studio, same engine DNA, surfaces, fire/oil/electricity interactions, 4-player co-op campaign. |
| If you wanted deeper character building | Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous | Hundreds of feats, prestige classes, Mythic Paths. Best for theorycrafters who hit BG3's level 12 cap and wanted more. |
| If you wanted pure D&D 5e rules | Solasta: Crown of the Magister | Most faithful 5e adaptation. Custom 4-character party from scratch. Sharp tactical focus. |
| If you wanted deeper writing + faction reactivity | Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire | Faction-branching open-world archipelago. Story consequences rival BG3 endings. |
| If you wanted darker tone + moral weight | Tyranny or Wasteland 3 | Both lean into 'serve the evil' or 'rebuild after apocalypse' premises with reactive narrative. |
| If you wanted pure narrative/dialogue depth | Disco Elysium | No combat. Every system is a conversation skill check. Most literary RPG of the modern era. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most similar game to Baldur's Gate 3?
Divinity: Original Sin 2 (D:OS2) by the same studio (Larian) is the most structurally similar — same isometric camera, surface-based combat, full-voice origin companions, and co-op campaign support. The engine and design DNA that became BG3 were prototyped in D:OS2.
Is Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous harder than BG3?
Yes, on default difficulty Pathfinder: WotR is significantly more punishing. The ruleset is denser (more buffs, debuffs, attack types, immunities to track) and many encounters expect a specific tactical setup. New players should use the in-game build advisor and consider Story or Normal difficulty for their first playthrough. Once you understand the systems, the build flexibility is unmatched.
Does Solasta have romance like BG3?
No — Solasta does not have romance or deep companion relationships. It's a tactical campaign with a custom party-of-four you create from scratch. If you primarily play BG3 for the romance and companion arcs, Solasta will feel cold. If you play BG3 for the tactical encounters and D&D 5e rules, Solasta is a sharp 40-hour alternative.
Should I play Pillars of Eternity 1 before Deadfire?
Recommended but not required. Pillars of Eternity 1 sets up the world, lore, and several recurring characters. Deadfire imports your save if you played PoE1, which adjusts dialogue and world state. If you skip PoE1, you can start Deadfire fresh and the game asks setup questions to establish what 'your' PoE1 ended up like. Many players start with Deadfire for its better pacing and combat refinement.
Can I play Divinity: Original Sin 2 in co-op like BG3?
Yes, and arguably the co-op is smoother than BG3's. D:OS2 supports up to 4 players (BG3 caps at 4), drop-in/drop-out works across an entire campaign, and the camera system handles multiple players cleanly. The Game Master mode also allows one player to DM custom scenarios for others — a feature BG3 doesn't have.
Is Disco Elysium really an RPG without combat?
Yes — Disco Elysium has zero traditional combat. All conflicts resolve through skill checks (Logic, Empathy, Physical Instrument, etc.) during dialogue. Some checks can 'fail forward' into death, but most failure states branch the narrative rather than ending the game. If you loved BG3's persuasion checks, lore investigation, and dialogue tree branching, Disco Elysium is the deepest pure-narrative RPG ever made.
Are any of these games multiplayer like BG3?
Divinity: Original Sin 2 has the strongest multiplayer (4-player drop-in co-op). Wasteland 3 has a 2-player co-op campaign. Pathfinder: WotR, Solasta, Pillars of Eternity 2, Disco Elysium, Encased, and Tyranny are all single-player only. If multiplayer is the priority, D:OS2 is the only direct match for BG3's co-op experience.
What's the best 'lighter' alternative if BG3 felt too long?
Solasta: Crown of the Magister (~40 hours) is the most disciplined campaign. Disco Elysium (~30 hours) is shorter still and tightly written. Tyranny (~25–35 hours) is the shortest mainline CRPG on this list. Avoid Pathfinder: WotR if you found BG3 too long — WotR is significantly longer at 120–150 hours.
Sources & verification
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- ›BG3 Subclass Tier List — Every Subclass Ranked (S/A/B/C)BG3 includes 46 subclasses across 12 classes — and they vary wildly in power. This tier list ranks every subclass from S (top picks) to C (skip unless theme-specific), with Honour Mode adjustments and reasoning for every placement. Useful for first-time players choosing a class and veterans optimizing builds.
- ›Honour Mode Best Party Composition — Top 4-Character Rosters in BG3Honour Mode punishes weak party comps in ways Tactician never could. This guide breaks down the four roles you absolutely need (front-line tank, melee DPS, control caster, healer/utility), names the best companions for each, and gives a complete early/mid/late-game roster shift table that has carried thousands of golden-die runs.
- ›Multiclassing Guide in BG3 — Rules, Best Combinations & When to StartMulticlassing in BG3 unlocks powerful class combinations by spending levels in multiple classes. This guide explains the rules, proficiency requirements, the best 1-2 level dips, and when multiclassing helps vs hurts your character.
- ›BG3 Origin Characters Explained — Should You Play Custom or Origin?BG3 lets you play as any of its six companion characters (Origin runs) or create a custom Tav. This guide explains what Origin characters offer, the unique Dark Urge origin, how each Origin's story perspective differs, and whether custom or Origin better suits your goals.
- ›Best Feats in BG3 — Ranked for Every BuildFeats are one of the most impactful character-building decisions in BG3 — you get them at levels 4, 8, and 12 instead of Ability Score Improvements. This guide ranks every meaningful feat, explains which builds benefit most, and identifies the universally powerful picks that almost any character can use.