The far-superior Neverwinter Nights 2 (which, happily, is light on narrative connections to the earlier game, making it a perfectly fine starting point) took that idea and ran with it in the 2006. Neverwinter Nights 2 (2006)įor when: You want to flex your Dungeon Master musclesĪlthough never quite as narratively ambitious as the earlier Baldur’s Gate games, BioWare’s follow-up series, Neverwinter Nights, put its focus on trying to recreate the one element really missing from those earlier titles: The ability to craft your own adventures as a DM. With adaptations on both mobile and PC, you don’t even need a table to get in on the fun the blend of Eurogaming-style resource management and the tone and trappings of Dungeons & Dragons makes for a surprisingly great fit for nights when you want to game, but don’t feel like busting out the dice. Lords Of Waterdeep (2012)įor when: You want to do some table-top gaming with your friends-but not like thatĪn ideal pick for a group that wants more traditional board game fare to mix in with their tabletop campaign, strategy game Lords Of Waterdeep runs with an intriguing premise: Instead of controlling a cadre of adventurers, you play as their boss, competing with other shadowy lords to deploy your resources-i.e., the wizards, warriors, priests, and thieves who normally make up the ranks of D&D parties-on various quests to secure rewards, and real estate, for yourself. (Meanwhile, the attempt to update the series with a sequel in 2021 was poorly received probably best to stick with the old-school options here). In the modern era, both games have been ported to Steam, happily we give the edge to the sequel simply for being a bigger experience, with more characters to choose from for your carnage. The two PlayStation 2-era Dark Alliance games (the original by Snowblind Studios, and the sequel by Black Isle) both translated the hacking and slashing of Blizzard’s Diablo games (along with a bit of Gauntlet) rather well to the Dungeons & Dragons universe, allowing players to shut off their brains and chop, slash, and cast their way through hordes of orcs, skeletons, and more. Of course, if you want to scratch your action itch, instead of indulging your “meticulously planning out where to use that Tasha’s Hideous Laughter scroll” side, Baldur’s Gate still has you covered. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II (2004)įor when: You want to stop talking, start swinging If the third game clicked for you, chances are good that a trip back in time is in order once it’s done. And the sequel (and its story-concluding expansion, Throne Of Bhaal) are even better, pushing past some of the original’s more generic fantasy edges to tell a more engrossing story that travels to the heights and depths of the Forgotten Realms setting. And while the original game doesn’t play nearly as smoothly as its latest sequel-even if you’re playing the Enhanced Edition released in 2012-it’s still one of the most expansive D&D RPGs ever created, allowing for a huge amount of freedom in character creation and combat. Given how well it’s selling, there’s a good chance that Baldur’s Gate III will be many a player’s first video game introduction to the Baldur’s Gate franchise, which dates back to BioWare’s original 1998 title-an attempt to create, as faithfully as possible, the Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition ruleset in a PC gaming environment. Rays Wheels Are Expensive, But It Turns Out There's A Good Reason Whyįor when: You just can’t get enough of the Forgotten Realms (Unless you’re playing on Tactical those mind flayers don’t mess around when you’ve got the difficulty cranked.) Which demands the question: What do you do if you still have a hankering for more D&D based gaming fun, but don’t have a DM or a crew to roll with?įeast Your Eyes on a Selection of the Year’s Most Breathtaking Wildlife PhotosĬonsumer Reports Says These Are The Best New SUVs You Can Buy Right Nowįighting the Forces of Evil at the Dungeons & Dragons-Themed Picket Line in Hollywood Center: Baldur’s Gate III (Image: Larian Studios) Outer images, clockwise from upper left: Dungeons & Dragons: Shadows Over Mystara (Image: Capcom), Eye Of The Beholder (Image: SNEG), Planescape: Torment (Image: Beamdog), Idle Champions Of The Forgotten Realms (Image: Codename Entertainment)īaldur’s Gate III is dominating the gaming world at the moment, with Larian’s long-in-the-works sequel to the classic Dungeons & Dragons adventure eliciting high praise, tales of adventures, and also a whole lot of, well… What we can only refer to as “bear horniness.”īut while BG3 is a massive game, you are probably going to finish it eventually.
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