Role-playing · 2023 · Larian Studios · local · online
Baldur's Gate 3
A role-playing game the size of a house move — and the two of you may carry all of it.
What it is about
A role-playing game by the rules of Dungeons & Dragons — which means almost anything is allowed, and a die decides whether it works. You build characters, pick up companions and travel a world where every conversation has several exits.
Combat is turn-based, and the surroundings count: height gives you an advantage, barrels explode, and a well-placed shove can settle a fight before it starts. If you have no appetite for fighting, you talk your way out, sneak past, or find a third route somebody already thought of.
With two, each of you controls your own characters from the same party, and you can split up: one haggles with the merchant while the other clears out his storeroom next door. Whoever gets there first has the conversation — and whatever they answer counts for both of you.
Our verdict for couples
A hundred hours if you see it through, and that is not a number for an evening but for a winter. In return you get a game that firmly expects you to disagree: you can go separate ways, cut across each other and make decisions the other one hates. Because everything is turn-based, nobody needs reflexes — but both of you need an appetite for rules and for reading. If that is very unevenly spread, the shared adventure turns into a tutoring session, and you will only notice after three evenings.
Pros
- Huge campaign playable entirely in co-op
- You can go your separate ways
- Turn-based — nobody needs reflexes
Cons
- Needs many long evenings
- Steep learning curve
Suitable from
Hobby–Gamer
- Conflict potential
- Spirited
- Cosiness
- Mixed
- When you can stop
- Any time
- How long it lasts
- Over 40 hours
What other co-op fans say
Played together, the role-playing game turns into a standing appointment over months. The reviews talk about 90-hour campaigns and about the shared party being the reason to sit down together for the better part of a year. If you play with a partner, expect an evening to pass without visible progress now and then — there is still talking, planning and rolling going on the whole time. You read hardly any complaints about the co-op itself; the reviews consider the game equally sound alone or with others, the difference lies not in quality but in the calendar.
- “I played through this game with two very good friends of mine, and we had a blast in our 90hr campaign.”
- “a game that has allowed us to come together for a better part of a year, and to bond over such a compelling experience”
- “whenever I play with my boyfriend it’s always a fun time, sometimes we feel like we didn’t progress much but spent hours playing”
- “really fun solo AND with friends”
Summarised by machine from 60 Steam reviews, not written by our editors. The quotes appear verbatim in those reviews.
If you like this one
Runs on the same devices as this game.
A turn-based role-playing game where the scenery is deadlier than any weapon — and where you are allowed to double-cross each other.
Absolum
A beat ’em up with randomised runs from the Streets of Rage 4 people — and considerably easier as a pair than alone.
An action role-playing game in a grim world where two people can set out from one television.
A shooter with role-playing gear for people who enjoy comparing weapons.
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