Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3may be a surprise hit to many, but developerLarian Studioshas come from a long track record of RPGs over the years. Given the steady growth of theDivinityfranchise with many different releases, the success of the latestBaldur’s Gatecould seem like a natural progression forLarian. BG3 has proven to be one of the studio’s most popular games yet, but its predecessors still hold up to their fans as well. With several outings in theDivinityseries since the early 2000s, however, the quality of the titles has ultimately varied in the eyes of many players.
While the high-fidelity presentation ofBG3has raised the bar for CRPGs to some, Larian’s games weren’t always so polished and cinematic. With its previously released titles pretty much only consisting of theDivinityseries, Larian has mainly stuck to a more traditional CRPG formula and presentation. For fans of the genre, however, these more isometrically-focused experiences can be just as rewarding as the gameplay found inBaldur’s Gate 3. It may be worth trying out all theRPGs that Larian has previously releasedwhen it comes to getting a complete sense of context, but that doesn’t mean all of them will hold up to the quality of the best.
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Baldur’s Gate 3 (S Tier)
Baldur’s Gate 3-Following up on the legacy of BioWare’s prolificBaldur’s Gateseriesseems unlikely, but Larian managed to makeBaldur’s Gate 3a worthy successor to the influential games that preceded it to many players. Using experience gained across the entireDivinityfranchise, the studio has madeBG3respectful of the past and an innovative exploration of new ideas at the same time for those interested in an experimental approach to CRPGs. As more patches continue to roll out and refine it even further,Baldur’s Gate 3has the potential to remain a popular representative of the RPG genre well into the future.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 (A Tier)
Divinity: Original Sin 2-A release that tookDivinityto the next level in terms of popularity, the success ofOriginal Sin 2has been strong enough to prove Larian’s status as one of the most well-known CRPG developers in recent memory. Expanding on what the studio established withDivinityfor years before, this game laid the groundwork in the proprietary Divinity Engine for much of what players find engaging inBaldur’s Gate 3. With its reputation for having the most refined set of mechanics and presentation of lore that theDivinityfranchise has seen, many fans are still anticipating athird game in theOriginal Sinseries.
Divine Divinity (A Tier)
Divine Divinity-It may be surprising to newer fans, but the first game oftheDivinityseriesactually holds up for fans of the older CRPG style. This title can be a worthwhile experience for fans who want to get more context behind the lore surrounding the universe, as it first established the series chronology. Featuring an emphasis on open-ended gameplay that would later come to be popular in more recent Larian releases,Divine Divinityis a worthwhile outing despite the sometimes buggy nature it can have due to its old age.
Divinity: Original Sin (B Tier)
Divinity: Original Sin-One of the most memorable CRPGs that came out of the mid-2010s,the firstOriginal Singamedeserves a lot of credit for the ideas it brought to the genre. While its sequel refined the formula and featured a more serious and engaging narrative in the eyes of many players, this game first explored Larian’s unique focus on emergent gameplay that has come to define the fun ofBG3.
Divinity 2 (B Tier)
Divinity 2-Not to be confused withOriginal Sin 2, this title was originally released back in 2009 asDivinity 2: Ego Draconisand is the furthest along the timeline chronologically. Quite removed from the current formula seen in the more popular Larian Studios titles of recent years,Divinity 2is likely to feel like a strange departure in its different lore and presentation in the story of the Dragon Knight. Known to have some bugs and problems running, this release can still be rewarding for fans of theDivinityseries as a whole.
Dragon Commander (C Tier)
Dragon Commander-Not even known to some fans of the CRPGDivinitygames,Dragon Commanderis a bizarre foray into the real-time strategy genre that unexpectedly expanded the series’ lore. Taking place thousands of years before the events ofOriginal Sin,Dragon Commanderfeatures advanced technology that disappears in the future. Similarly exploring social simulator elements through a dialogue system for NPC interactions, this game can end up feeling like a mix of genres that lacks cohesion when compared to the other offerings in theDivinityfranchise.
Beyond Divinity (C Tier)
Beyond Divinity-As the game that is typically considered the weakest game of theDivinityseries, it makes sense thatBeyond Divinitywas rumored to have had a rushed development during the earlier days of Larian Studios. Following up on the lasting quality found inDivine Divinity, thisCRPGis surprisingly seen as a far less memorable experience. Between the less popular approach to skills, the repetitive nature of the Battlefield areas meant for grinding, and the technical issues that make it difficult to even run the game on modern hardware, it can be tough to recommendBeyond Divinityover any otherLarian Studiosrelease.
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