Highlights
Baldur's Gate 3 could benefit from adding features that allow players to customize their characters post-creation, such as a respeccing tool or a magic mirror.
A free camera mode would greatly improve players' ability to capture screenshots and document character interactions in Baldur's Gate 3.
Larian Studios should contemplate incorporating a feature that emphasizes all interactive objects within the game, thereby facilitating efficient information processing for players and enhancing exploration of the game world.
Baldur's Gate 3 offers a condensed and faithful adaptation of the D&D 5e ruleset, enhancing the RPG experience. This approach immerses players in a visually stunning D&D playthrough, bringing to life spells and actions that were once only imagined in tabletop sessions.
Despite its strengths, some players of Baldur's Gate 3 may identify areas where Larian Studios can improve the game experience. By implementing quality-of-life changes, Baldur's Gate 3 can solidify its status as the most precise and unyielding video game adaptation of the beloved tabletop role-playing game.
10 Customize Characters Post-Creation
Once players have finished creating their character in Baldur's Gate 3, they proceed directly into the game without the ability to customize anything other than their class. This means that the chosen appearance of the player's custom character remains unchanged throughout the entire game. While devoted D&D fans may have spent hours perfecting their character during the creation process, other creative gamers may feel limited by this lack of flexibility.
Larian Studios could draw inspiration from their previous game, Divinity: Original Sin 2, particularly in regards to its Magic Mirror. This mirror serves as a convenient tool for re-specifying a character, allowing players to alter every aspect of their character's appearance according to their preferences. Incorporating a similar feature in Baldur's Gate 3 could prove invaluable, particularly for players who wish to visually portray the changes their characters undergo as the game unfolds.
9 Free Camera Mode
Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay provides players with a D&D simulator experience that captivates them to no end. The intricate detail of weapons and armor by Larian Studios allows players to customize their characters and create their own D&D personas in the world of Faerun.
Additionally, players can press the F10 key to remove the UI, offering a pseudo-camera mode for taking screenshots or witnessing character interactions in stunning visuals. However, Larian Studios has the potential to enhance this feature with a Free Camera Mode. Similar to cinematic camera modes in other games, this mode could revolutionize screenshot-taking possibilities in Baldur’s Gate 3. By incorporating various poses, it could inject fresh vitality into in-game pictures.
8 Show All Interactives
Players enjoying Baldur's Gate 3 gameplay can use the Left-Alt key to see highlighted corpses and certain boxes in their surroundings. However, it is important to note that not all chests and containers will be highlighted, so it is advisable to manually check them while exploring an area.
A valuable addition that Larian Studios could consider is implementing the ability to highlight all interactive objects by using Left-Alt in combination with the ' + ' key. This feature is similar to the one used in Diablo, where it highlights all items within an area. Since Baldur's Gate 3 is not exactly an action role-playing game, having a feature that displays all interactive objects on the screen can greatly enhance players' information processing efficiency.
7 Target Locking
With Baldur's Gate 3 mechanics being so versatile, players always have the means to effectively use any feature, whether it's an attack or a spell. The game explicitly indicates if an action cannot affect a particular area, granting players the freedom to explore various possibilities.
To enhance the gameplay experience, Larian Studios may consider implementing a target locking mechanism that provides a subtle "snap" to the cursor when hovering over a viable target. This feature proves especially valuable when players need to locate an accessible area within a concealed location to utilize abilities like Jump or Misty Step, as it saves time navigating through different locations.
6 Map Percentage
The thrill of games like Baldur's Gate 3 lies in the unknown expanse of the maps for exploration. However, to enhance the gaming experience, Larian Studios should consider including a Map Percentage stat. This would inform players of the remaining areas to be explored in a given location.
Having knowledge of the unexplored portions of an area helps players avoid unnecessary time wastage and encourages them to venture into new territories. This feature would be particularly beneficial for completionists who strive to thoroughly explore an area before moving on to complete side quests in other locations.
5 Cutscenes Folder
Larian Studios has announced that choices made in Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay have a subtle yet significant impact on the overall narrative. This means that cutscenes can differ based on decisions and rolls. However, players who wish to revisit cherished moments may find it challenging without a recording.
To address this issue, Larian Studios may consider introducing a Cutscenes Folder. This folder would provide players with access to the most memorable moments in the game involving their character. In addition to reliving these favorite scenes, it would also allow players to feel a sense of achievement in their current gameplay progress.
4 Rename Saves
Saves play a vital role in the gameplay of RPGs, particularly in games like Baldur's Gate 3 where a single mistake can lead to a disastrous encounter. Fortunately, Larian Studios has made it easier for players to organize their Saves by arranging them according to each character. Additionally, Autosaves and new Saves already have the name of their immediate location.
However, it would be a useful feature for Larian Studios to allow players to rename their Saves in the Save Menu. While players generally understand what they are saving when naming a Save, more tactical players may prefer to give their Saves more precise names, especially during more intense playthroughs.
3 Faster Team Swaps
In Baldur's Gate 3, players have the option to choose from a variety of Companions. However, deciding on the optimal members for a four-person party can be challenging. Fortunately, players can easily switch out characters by going to Camp, outside of combat, and having a conversation with the desired characters to reassign them.
Nevertheless, the process of conversing with characters can be time-consuming and inconvenient, especially in critical situations. To address this, Larian Studios may consider introducing faster team swaps for more convenient gameplay. This feature would be particularly helpful when there is a need to switch out a spellcaster like Gale for a specialist in versatile weapons, such as Lae'zel.
2 Sub-Inventory Slots
Inventory management is an essential aspect of playing Baldur's Gate 3, especially due to the game's active Encumbrance system. While the game provides a convenient sorting feature to help players navigate through their items, those skilled in managing their inventory can greatly benefit from using sub-inventory slots.
These sub-inventory slots function as pouches or other inventory-type items, like backpacks, that offer additional storage within a player's main inventory. This concept is commonly seen in games like World of Warcraft, where players can carry extra pouches that also provide storage space. With this system, players in the D&D game can arrange their items in various configurations.
1 Scroll Character Selection
In Baldur's Gate 3, players have the flexibility to split their characters using the Group/Ungroup feature. This allows them to individually control party members without the rest of the group following suit. Although this option provides greater control over character actions over long distances, it can still be time-consuming to perform specific tasks, as each character needs to be manually selected and deselected.
To streamline this process, Larian Studios could consider implementing a scroll character selection or a multi-pick system. This would enable players to choose a group of companions at once instead of manually selecting them one by one. With this improvement, players would be able to strategically position characters in various combinations much more efficiently.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently available on PC and is slated for a September 6, 2023 release for PlayStation 5.