Deal | This RPG is drowning in awards – and it's now cheaper than ever on Steam

In Baldur's Gate 3, Larian Studios transports players to the Forgotten Realms, the iconic fantasy setting of the Dungeons & Dragons universe. At the very beginning of the game, the protagonist becomes infected with a mind flayer parasite, and the search for a cure soon turns into an adventure where far more than personal survival is at stake. Whether you create your own character or choose one of the pre-made Origin heroes, the allies you recruit, the people you trust and the way the story unfolds are largely shaped by your own decisions.

At its core, Baldur's Gate 3 is a story-driven CRPG featuring turn-based combat based on the rules of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. Its greatest strength, however, is the extraordinary level of player freedom. Nearly every situation can be approached in multiple ways, whether through dialogue, magic, stealth or direct combat. Your choices influence not only individual conversations and quests, but also relationships, entire regions and the overall course of the story. Even failed dice rolls rarely result in dead ends, instead opening up alternative paths that make each playthrough feel genuinely different.

The game also features 12 classes, 58 subclasses, a large cast of companions with their own questlines and an exceptionally interactive world. If you've ever wanted to launch a gnome through the air using a windmill, Baldur's Gate 3 gives you that opportunity. More generally, the number of mischievous – or outright cruel – things you can do throughout the adventure is almost impossible to quantify, assuming that's the kind of hero you want to be. According to HowLongToBeat, completionists can easily spend more than 180 hours exploring the Forgotten Realms.

The game's outstanding reception speaks for itself. On Metacritic, Baldur's Gate 3 holds a Metascore of 96 and a User Score of 9.1. On Steam, 96% of nearly 850,000 user reviews are positive. German gaming magazine GamePro awarded it 97 out of 100, calling it "the best RPG we've ever played." The review praised the game's exceptional player freedom, superbly written characters, vibrant world and the creative possibilities found in both quests and combat. Criticism was mainly directed at the steep learning curve for newcomers to the genre, the occasionally cumbersome inventory management and minor technical issues such as camera and performance problems.

With review scores like these, it's no surprise that the game has received countless awards. Among its many accolades, Baldur's Gate 3 won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2023, DICE Awards 2024 and BAFTA Games Awards 2024.

First-ever 30% discount on Steam

If you haven't played this RPG masterpiece yet, this is the cheapest opportunity to jump in so far. Until August 6, Baldur's Gate 3 is available on Steam for $41.99 instead of $59.99, thanks to its first-ever 30% discount. According to SteamDB, the game had never previously been discounted by more than 25%, making this a new all-time low price. On Steam Deck, the RPG is Steam Deck Verified.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.