Baldur's Gate

 PC
Baldur's Gate Image
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 909 Ratings

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  • Summary: Baldur's Gate takes you back to the Forgotten Realms on a visually dazzling role-playing adventure, one that brings to life the grand tradition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons through cutting edge art and technology. Immerse yourself in this quintessential medieval fantasy world, where entireBaldur's Gate takes you back to the Forgotten Realms on a visually dazzling role-playing adventure, one that brings to life the grand tradition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons through cutting edge art and technology. Immerse yourself in this quintessential medieval fantasy world, where entire nations hang in the balance of your actions, dark prophecies test your resolve, and heroic dreams can be fulfilled at last. [Interplay]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. Adrenaline Vault
    100
    Baldur's Gate is not a computer role-playing game...it is THE computer role-playing game.
  2. Game Revolution
    100
    This is, without a doubt, the closest thing out there to actually getting together with a bunch of your friends on a Sunday afternoon, taking your characters into a dungeon, and using you own BOO to find out if that bottomless pit was actually bottomless.
  3. PC Gamer
    94
    This is the best roleplaying game you can buy. Period. [Apr. 1999, p.94]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. TotalGames.net
    92
    That's the great thing about Baldur's Gate, not only does it look "the dog's," it provides the player (and multiplayers) with a living, breathing world complete with specific rules which must be adhered to. Now that's magic!
  5. Yahoo!
    90
    Offers an amazing amount of control over how the game is played in a game session. It is very easy to set up a multiplayer game, and just as easy to join one in progress over the Internet or LAN.
  6. Electric Playground
    90
    Everything that fans of AD&D have always wanted in a computer game. The only thing that will prevent it from being perfect for everyone is the very fact that it follows the AD&D rules so faithfully.
  7. FiringSquad
    80
    Despite our nitpicky issues with "graphical cleanliness" and clunky multiplayer, Baldur's Gate simply shines.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 86
  3. Negative: 8 out of 86
  1. DantheMan
    Mar 18, 2011
    10
    'Legendary' is a term much bandied about these days but this game is one than genuinely deserves the adjective. Many people consider this'Legendary' is a term much bandied about these days but this game is one than genuinely deserves the adjective. Many people consider this game to have single handily have saved the single-player RPG genre on the PC just when it looked dead. It represents a definite turning point in the history of gaming. This can be hard to appreciate today because even I'll concede that the graphics are dated. But the truth of the matter is that RPGs have never been about graphics anyway. What made Balder's Gate innovative it was the first RPG to actually use NPCs to advance the story in a mission critical way. It put their stories, their personalities, their goals on a footing that was equal to your own. What made it show-stopping was the nature of those personalities. They were all different, all unique, and they all didn't necessarily care about you. You had to not just manage combat but manage people if your little band was going to finish the game.

    Yes, the combat can be unbalanced at times. There are a few bugs. But if you cannot laugh when Minsc shouts, "Go for the eyes, Boo" there is something wrong not with the game but with your life. If you want, you can break this game down and find all it's flaws; they exist. But if you don't cheer sitting in your chair when Minsc shouts, "Butt kicking for Goodness!" you have no heart. This isn't just so much a game as it is an experience. That, it seems to me, is what an RPG is all about. It's about creating experiences; it's about making memories. It's playing your role to the hilt and loving it. Baldur's Gate might not have been the best, some people argue the sequel is better, but it was the first to offer that immersion in a way no other game had up until that point in time. If you haven't played this game you should. Because this is where it all began.    … Expand
  2. Byrne2020
    Apr 5, 2016
    10
    The first of probably the best two rpg's of all time in my opinion. Baldurs Gate is a game that I have played since I was 12 and it definatelyThe first of probably the best two rpg's of all time in my opinion. Baldurs Gate is a game that I have played since I was 12 and it definately left an impression. Todays rpg,s don't even compare. If you like good games and you like rpg's then you would be missing out big time if you didn't give Baldurs Gate a try because it is amazing in every respect.… Expand
  4. zampaconi
    Jul 10, 2016
    10
    Giocato: 2000 (circa)
    Finito 2 volte
    Gameplay: Ottimo, permettendo di sviluppare strategia dettagliata e micromanagement per gli scontri    Giocato: 2000 (circa)
    Finito 2 volte

    Gameplay: Ottimo, permettendo di sviluppare strategia dettagliata e micromanagement per gli scontri più difficili, e rapidità per quelli più semplici. Migliero uso del sistema RTwP, superato solo da BG2. Fantastico il sistema di creazione e costruzione di CHARNAME.

    Storia: Ottima, per certi versi anche superiore a quella di BG2, grazie a

    Grafica: Buona per l'epoca, con alcuni dettagli ottimi - i fondali disegnati, alcuni effetti degli incantesimi

    Sonoro: Fantastica colonna sonora, buoni gli effetti audio    … Expand
  5. Remedios
    Aug 5, 2011
    10
    Simply love this game. My first walkthrough was so great and so freaking difficult! You actually have to use tactics when you fight not likeSimply love this game. My first walkthrough was so great and so freaking difficult! You actually have to use tactics when you fight not like in Dragon Age where, when you have three mages and only one warrior you can kill pretty much everything even on hard mode. One think you can complain about in Baldur's Gate is relation with your team members. Well, they're not talkative ones but if you like you can use mods. NPC Project is really cool. You have romances, friendships and all this stuff. Imoen rocks! :P… Expand
  6. graablikk
    Nov 23, 2016
    9
    I introduced my little 12yo sister to this game. Once I went into her room to see her play, asked "whatcha doin'?" - "plundering houses" sheI introduced my little 12yo sister to this game. Once I went into her room to see her play, asked "whatcha doin'?" - "plundering houses" she replied with clear satissfaction :D… Expand
  7. AndyC.
    Aug 9, 2006
    9
    A quality game which kept me engrossed for hours.
  8. VoinGold
    Aug 28, 2023
    0
    terrible graphics even for 1998 it's unplayable now better play the third part

See all 86 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PC Game of 1998
5
#5 Most Discussed PC Game of 1998
4
#4 Most Shared PC Game of 1998

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