Icewind Dale

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 273 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 217 out of 273
  2. Mixed: 51 out of 273
  3. Negative: 5 out of 273
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  1. okamimiyazaki
    Jun 26, 2011
    10
    An amazing game if you like the D&D style RPGs. Fantastic music, good plot, challenging and very memorable. It can be a little bit of a grind at times.
  2. KaiEkkrin
    Jun 24, 2011
    8
    Ostensibly the Infinity Engine (Baldur's Gate et al) repurposed as a pure dungeon crawler, Icewind Dale still manages to keep the story quality on a par with the other Infinity Engine games -- although there isn't as much of it. What there *is* is the best, moodiest art of any of those games, the best music, and combat -- lots and lots of combat. The old D&D 2E ruleset works well thisOstensibly the Infinity Engine (Baldur's Gate et al) repurposed as a pure dungeon crawler, Icewind Dale still manages to keep the story quality on a par with the other Infinity Engine games -- although there isn't as much of it. What there *is* is the best, moodiest art of any of those games, the best music, and combat -- lots and lots of combat. The old D&D 2E ruleset works well this time: enough spots to rest that you can use your best spells, enough positioning tricks to play that the fighters aren't just aim-and-ignore. Difficulty is perfectly pitched, with only a minor spike at the final battle. Create the crazily powerful party you couldn't make in Baldur's Gate because the NPCs were pre-set, and play it on Insane difficulty.… Expand
  3. EUPOLEMOS
    Sep 16, 2013
    10
    A fantastic game with simple controls that anyone can learn easily and play not only RPG funs.The game sticks to the basics and it does it well.It has action,fun,interesting spells,legendary magic items,majestic snow vistas,incredible epic music and more.A must for the collection of every gamer.
  4. DeusXCom
    Aug 5, 2014
    10
    Another masterpiece from the Infinity Engine games era. Icewind Dale being the most combat based of them all, but still amazing in all other aspects. Atmospheric winter setting, fantastic music by Jeremy Soule (music from Easthaven or Kuldahar is just pure love), really good story and some of the characters had incredible voice acting. There was a little less exploration compared toAnother masterpiece from the Infinity Engine games era. Icewind Dale being the most combat based of them all, but still amazing in all other aspects. Atmospheric winter setting, fantastic music by Jeremy Soule (music from Easthaven or Kuldahar is just pure love), really good story and some of the characters had incredible voice acting. There was a little less exploration compared to Baldur's Gate here, but those combat sessions were so intense. I don't know how they achieved this, but it seemed like every fight was just on the right tip of the difficulty. When you used all your chars to their maximum abilities, it was just enough of what you needed to win that battle, no more no less. Probably the best combat balance I have ever seen and fantastic adventure on the spine of the world. 10/10… Expand
  5. JohnR
    Dec 14, 2008
    9
    Another stunningly impressive RPG from Black Isle/BioWare, full to brimming with atmosphere. The Infinity Engine games are immortal in my opinion. The two Icewind Dales are probably inferior to the two Baldur's Gates and Planescape : Torment, but they still wipe the floor with just about every other game under the sun. The attention to detail which the writers lavished on these games Another stunningly impressive RPG from Black Isle/BioWare, full to brimming with atmosphere. The Infinity Engine games are immortal in my opinion. The two Icewind Dales are probably inferior to the two Baldur's Gates and Planescape : Torment, but they still wipe the floor with just about every other game under the sun. The attention to detail which the writers lavished on these games deserves a medal ; the quality of the writing simply has no peer. The Black Isle/BioWare collaboration was one of those rare unions, like The Beatles or Monty Python, which are sadly all too rare. I would recommend Icewind Dale (and ID2) to anyone. You can still play it in Vista too with a minor adjustment or two. And there is a thriving modding community still refining these games and adding new content - ten years after Baldur's Gate was released ! I think that says it all really. The Infinity Engine games are the best of all time. End of story.… Expand
  6. TheMitherer
    Oct 23, 2011
    8
    A sort of perfunctory Baldur's Gate Lite. More specifically, a series of long battles occasionally interrupted by some storytelling. Of course, many people embrace that, but after a while I just want to give the fighting a rest. Nevertheless, there are many good points to this game most of which apply to all IE games. Many and varied items to find, good spells, atmospheric music, someA sort of perfunctory Baldur's Gate Lite. More specifically, a series of long battles occasionally interrupted by some storytelling. Of course, many people embrace that, but after a while I just want to give the fighting a rest. Nevertheless, there are many good points to this game most of which apply to all IE games. Many and varied items to find, good spells, atmospheric music, some great dungeons and some challenging fights with varied enemies. If you liked the BG series and somehow haven't tried this you should do so - you'll certainly get some mileage out of it. Just don't expect your party to talk to you or each other.… Expand
  7. koval321
    Dec 6, 2014
    0
    Its pretty good game actually look better from Baldurs Gate but my problem is with some nasty bugs in this game and i don't even remember if i install patch or not. LOL This is crazy that you buy game and must check twice to be sure that it is not broken version, and do efforts to fix it before play.Am actually found bugs in both ID1 and ID2 where Baldurs Gate 1 was fine am completed itIts pretty good game actually look better from Baldurs Gate but my problem is with some nasty bugs in this game and i don't even remember if i install patch or not. LOL This is crazy that you buy game and must check twice to be sure that it is not broken version, and do efforts to fix it before play.Am actually found bugs in both ID1 and ID2 where Baldurs Gate 1 was fine am completed it without problems and in BG2 am also dont see any problems. So am guess that entire ID series must probably have some lack of quality.… Expand
  8. Thazari
    May 7, 2016
    4
    This game is basically a poor version of Baldur's Gate (uses the same engine). This game lacks the open world and is much more on rails. The story is linear and feels uninspired and the environments don't really feel alive either.
  9. JeroenVanR.
    Apr 12, 2003
    8
    A GREAT game, but the graphics are outdated.
  10. greywolf00
    Aug 28, 2013
    7
    One of the weakest IE games. Very light on story while heavy on combat. Story is rather generic. Lacks the large world of the BG games opting instead for smaller areas with multiple levels (ie Towers, Dungeons). The story in the Heart of Winter expansion is much much better though.
  11. hwanin
    Sep 17, 2021
    8
    One of the few games I played through more than once.
    Good graphics, excellent controls, alright story.
    Someone mentioned here the word 'grinder'. Most of the RPGs are a bit grinders, but most of the games incorporate the "farming" method in order to get better position in the game. Racing games, action games, RPG, RTS, mostly grinding/farming games. It's just the way it is :(    One of the few games I played through more than once.
    Good graphics, excellent controls, alright story.
    Someone mentioned here the word 'grinder'.
    Most of the RPGs are a bit grinders, but most of the games incorporate the "farming" method in order to get better position in the game. Racing games, action games, RPG, RTS, mostly grinding/farming games.
    It's just the way it is :(

    Anyway, I really enjoyed this title, specially first time. Always keep fire/acid arrows or fire spells against the trolls, period!! :)    … Expand
  12. Kai82
    Nov 20, 2020
    6
    The experience depends on what you have expected and played before. I played Baldurs Gate 1 / 2 / ToB, Icewind Dale 2 and Planescape Torment before I had the chance to play this game. Because of these I could not appreciate this game as much as others. I freely admit that I would have enjoyed it more and rated it higher before the other games. It is set in Faerun in the northern regionsThe experience depends on what you have expected and played before. I played Baldurs Gate 1 / 2 / ToB, Icewind Dale 2 and Planescape Torment before I had the chance to play this game. Because of these I could not appreciate this game as much as others. I freely admit that I would have enjoyed it more and rated it higher before the other games. It is set in Faerun in the northern regions called Icewind Dale which is not my favorite region except in the novels from R. A. Salvatore (Was chosen because of the popularity of the books). It is an icy land full of dangers that does not forgive weaknesses or mistakes easily. You create a party up to six characters according to AD&D 2nd edition rule-sets. It is up to you what to chose. Be it a classic mixed party (Fighter, Thief, Cleric, Mage, Ranger and Bard) or something more to your liking. I assume you know the basic advantages / disadvantages of each class. But lets give a few tips or thoughts. Fighters are firstly stronger as mages but as both classes level up mages outperform them later on but fighters work very well here in this game. Some people prefer dual wielding and others two handed weapons. Both approaches have merits. A cleric (healer) is always recommended and a fighter / cleric as backup is sometimes nice. Think a bit ahead of weapon specializations so that not all fighters use the same type of weapon. Don't feel restricted by being a power gamer or role player. You decide how to play and have fun. The story starts in the town of Easthaven as your party is on an expedition to the town of Kuldahar after reports of strange events reached this town. The story itself is really good and the twist are excellent. You will get a lot of surprises that enhance the story. The focused of the game is more on exploration and (tactical) battles. There are nearly no side quests that I remember. This is a make or break point for many and this is for you to evaluate. For me it did not work that well but that means not it is not for you. The design, graphics and soundtrack are top notch for its time. I must praise it here as it was impressive. Overall this is an excellent game that I cant appreciate as much as it deserved. I think it aged not well enough and lacks in comparison to the above mentioned games.… Expand
  13. Joewashere
    Aug 27, 2019
    9
    If you ever played Baldur's Gate 1 and found yourself thinking "This is great, but I wish it had full party creation, a less confusing area and quest structure, and had a lot more combat and dungeons in it", then Icewind Dale is for you.

    Buoyed by one of the best soundtracks in gaming, and working off the exquisite AD&D second edition ruleset, IWD was made for those players who    If you ever played Baldur's Gate 1 and found yourself thinking "This is great, but I wish it had full party creation, a less confusing area and quest structure, and had a lot more combat and dungeons in it", then Icewind Dale is for you.

    Buoyed by one of the best soundtracks in gaming, and working off the exquisite AD&D second edition ruleset, IWD was made for those players who primarily enjoy Infinity Engine games for the combat. Graphics range from equal to BG1 quality to significantly better - especially the inventory icons and spellcasting animations are a true joy to behold.    … Expand
  14. IstrosOfAsgon
    Jul 18, 2017
    10
    I often heard people saying this game lacked depth. For me it didn't. It is a very subtle game where you have no clue what is happening story wise until close to the end. But when you find out what was going on all the time, all the pieces and hints you came along during the game add up to a big picture. Despite the main story there are countless side stories going on, that really suck youI often heard people saying this game lacked depth. For me it didn't. It is a very subtle game where you have no clue what is happening story wise until close to the end. But when you find out what was going on all the time, all the pieces and hints you came along during the game add up to a big picture. Despite the main story there are countless side stories going on, that really suck you into the game. It is an absolute linear game! No doubt about that. But for me it always was far from boring. In this game it is the uncertainty of what is actually going on that makes up for the lack of side questing. You don't need side quets here. The main quest is what is all about. I always had an urge to find out what the solution to all the strange events actually is. I just can't see how it is lacking depth. Sure, your party is not really involved in the story other than finding out what is going on. That again makes it so interesting. Your party is just as uninvolved as you yourself are sitting in front of your PC. That again let's you be so unbelievable involved. It actually could be you exploring this cold and inhospitable land of ice. The game play is top notch by the way. Spell casting and the round based fighting system are great. Everything is spot on. And what makes this game great even after 17 years, is the environment. The images are beyond beautiful. Sure it is an old game with ancient graphics. But that doesn't impair the perception of this strange, magical and beautiful land, that you can enjoy every second of playing. It is diversified and every area you travel to has a distinct look to it. But all of what I described so far wouldn't be as great as it is without the phenomenal soundtrack. Right after you step out from the cozy tavern into the freezing heart of the Icewind Dale for the first time an overdose of ambiance surrounds you. I've played my fare share of video games over the years. Never did I feel the same.

    I don't want to compare this game to BGII. BGII is a masterpiece in it's own dimension. But for me personally so is Icewind Dale.    … Expand
  15. edmondhonda304
    Apr 30, 2020
    7
    I'm reviewing here Icewind Dale (IWD), it's expansion Heart of Winter (HoW), and the expansion of the expansion, Trials of Luremaster (ToLM) in one blow. The original one, not Beamdog's Enhanced Edition.

    Icewind Dale shares the same Black Isle's Infinity Engine that powers other great DnD RPGs such as Planescape Torment (PST) or Baldur's Gate (BG) saga. The combat system is just like    I'm reviewing here Icewind Dale (IWD), it's expansion Heart of Winter (HoW), and the expansion of the expansion, Trials of Luremaster (ToLM) in one blow. The original one, not Beamdog's Enhanced Edition.

    Icewind Dale shares the same Black Isle's Infinity Engine that powers other great DnD RPGs such as Planescape Torment (PST) or Baldur's Gate (BG) saga. The combat system is just like Baldur's Gate. It involves six-second rounds concealed behind an appearance of real time combat with the option to pause combat whenever you need (and you'll need it) and jargon terms like THACO, AC, save roll and so on.

    Sadly, the game in lacks where it counts. In spite of visual and combat similarities, this beast is much different to BG than I first thought. Gone are the interesting companions with backstories and desires that join your party along the way. Here you start your adventure with six silent and functional playable characters that answer swiftly to your clicks and whose attributes and skills you can customize from the ground up. The story is relatively simple and not told in an interesting way. NPCs are mostly the classic saint-or-evil stereotypes you find on hundred of video games. The first two big dungeons do a disservice to the game, they are 100% barren and essentially act as padding between you and the corresponding boss. Fortunately, after that you start to find some engaging locations, NPCs and quests. The game gets a bit of traction and you finally start to care about this universe and the people that live in it.

    Whereas BG was a semi-open world game where you could explore and discover its different areas in any order (with the usual story related restrictions), Icewind Dale takes a totally linear approach. You can't travel to a location if it isn't on your map, and it won't be on your map until you are assigned the primary quest that takes place there, which won't happen until you solve the primary quest you are currently involved in. You'll find and solve all the side quests as you follow this straight line that is IWD, though there are a couple whose resolution require some on purpose backtracking.

    Icewind Dale focuses on dungeon crawling and combat but it does not excel in it. For example, on the first floor of certain dungeon you'll be fighting reptile people, on the next one trolls, once you go downstairs again, undead. I would probably equally complain if enemies were always of the same type, but that's because the key here is that certain dungeons are just too long for the sake of it. Nothing really interesting happens as you descend from one floor to the next, just a succession of forgettable mob slaughters until you reach the final boss which offers some decent opposition, whereas I still recall lots of memorable encounters from BG Saga.

    On the other hand the expansions are brief but better focused. The backstories and NPCs you find there are engaging and the raw dungeon crawling is less jarring. Unfortunately Heart of Winter has one of the most underwhelming final bosses I have ever met in a video game, rivalling with the last one you fight in Blade: Edge of Darkness. Trials of Luremaster, accessible from the first area of Heart of Winter, consists of a dungeon were you have to kill monsters and solve some riddles à la BG1's Durlag's Tower. Not bad at all, and it has some captivating lore to reveal reading tomes, scrolls and having conversations with NPCs.

    I now realise I have mentioned "Baldur's Gate" in six of the seven paragraphs that make this review up. There is no better indicator to what I would rather have been doing while playing this game.    … Expand
  16. Leaven
    Nov 1, 2020
    10
    Best CRPG of all time, allowing to create the whole team as u wish, story and gameplay is mastered. Finished this one 5 times and will do 5 time more.
  17. hyrts
    Jun 4, 2022
    10
    I love this game series. I totally do. Please try this game if you're into DnD, RPG, medieval world, spells, dwarfs, lore, dungeon crawling and such.

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Best PC Game of 2000
25
#25 Most Discussed PC Game of 2000
62
#62 Most Shared PC Game of 2000

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Adrenaline Vault
    80
    Bottom line is this: anyone who enjoys traditional fantasy role-playing games will love Icewind Dale.
    Read full review
  2. GamePro
    90
    Anyone looking for a classic AD&D gaming experience to hold them over until "Baldur's Gate II" arrives should definitely check out Icewind Dale.
    Read full review
  3. Daily Radar
    100
    Though in five years we will not look back on "Icewind Dale" as the game that changed the world, we will likely remember it as one of the most enjoyable RPGs we've had the pleasure to crack open.
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