Baldur's Gate III

Our analysis

A massive, once-in-a-generation CRPG from Larian that channels tabletop D&D with deep character creation, meaningful choices, and side quests that consistently tie back into the larger story. Combat, exploration, audio, and voice acting are all outstanding, rewarding experimentation at every turn. Minor frustrations include occasional frame drops, jump/stealth quirks that split the party, and a journal that sometimes leaves you unsure where to go, but it's an absolute blast and a clear buy.

Our analysis

A spectacular, choice-rich RPG and a personal Game of the Year, hailed as the spiritual successor to Dragon Age: Origins. Its enormous, replayable world rewards exploration with countless meaningful permutations, deep D&D-based class and dialogue systems, and merciless but rewarding turn-based combat carried over from Divinity: Original Sin. The pacing is uneven, with villains arriving very late and act three being overwhelming, and the production values and co-op make it a must-play triumph.

Our analysis

An absolute triumph that captures the spirit of tabletop Dungeons & Dragons better than any video game before it, with staggering freedom, ludicrously deep character creation, and choices that ripple throughout the entire adventure. The writing, performances, and richly drawn companions are exceptional, and the turn-based combat is deeply satisfying for those who enjoy careful planning. Fiddly inventory management and minor bugs are small prices to pay for something this special.

Our analysis

A sprawling, hardcore Dungeons & Dragons CRPG whose standout achievement is the staggering depth and width of role-playing opportunities tied to character class and background, paired with challenging, quick turn-based combat and a dense, reactive world. The resting resource system adds welcome depth, though the open-endedness can feel directionless and selective auto-saving punishes the careless. Minor performance hiccups aside, it looks gorgeous and is one of the year's strongest releases.

Our analysis

A standout story-driven RPG where dialogue feels tailor-made to your class, race, and background, with compelling characters, strong voice acting, and a shifting world that reflects your choices across acts. Exploration is consistently rewarding, controller support is intuitive, and the romance options are unusually open. The only real drawback is a number of bizarre but minor bugs that briefly break immersion, with otherwise flawless performance.

Our analysis

An exceptional RPG that pushes player freedom and reactivity to unprecedented heights, letting players become the authors of their own destinies. The diverse, sharply written cast carries a fairly plain save-the-world plot, and the cinematic presentation makes every conversation feel handcrafted. Combat is rich, flexible, and rewards creativity, building to a climactic third act, though that same freedom can leave co-op campaigns with a hollow ending if you alienate the characters.

Our analysis

Angry Joe gives Baldur's Gate 3 a perfect 10/10 score, upgrading it to legendary when playing with 2-4 player co-op. He praises the incredible character creation, voice acting (including the cat), engaging story, creative combat with environmental interactions, excellent level design, and the magical experience of playing D&D with friends. Minor issues like performance dips and dialogue skill check limitations don't diminish the experience.