Baldur’s Gatehas been ongoing for several decades and, whileBaldur’s Gate 3is the third game in the mainline franchise, the series includes several more spin-off games and expansion packs. Expansions such asBaldur’s Gate: Throne of Bhaalare considered classics today, and are especially known for their worldbuilding, RPG systems, and classic characters, while the mainline games, such asBaldur’s Gate 3, are each considered hallmarks of their generation.
This tier list ranks everyBaldur’s Gategame, including the overlookedDark Alliancespin-offs. As eachBaldur’s Gategame was well-received on release, even the lowest ranking is still considered worth playing for gamers who love RPGs and the world ofBaldur’s Gateand the Sword Coast.
S-Tier: Genre-Defining Games That Set the Standard For Their Decade
Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amntook what was great aboutBaldur’s Gateand ran with it.Shadows of Amnincludes some of the most memorable companions of the franchise, deep storytelling, and some of the best RPG systems in gaming even today.Baldur’s Gate 3arrived 23 years later, but it took off as one of the defining games of the decade with incredible characters, seemingly endless freedom, and a self-contained story that keeps players coming back for more.Baldur’s Gate 2: Throne of Bhaalis an expansion toShadows of Amn, and gives players a satisfyingconclusion to the Bhaalspawn Saga.
A-Tier: Games That Began a Legacy
The one that started it all,the firstBaldur’s Gateis not only iconic for launching one of the most beloved video game franchises of all time, but is also an incredible game in its own right. It kicked off the Bhaalspawn Saga, and established a world and characters who are still fondly remembered and beloved decades later.
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliancewas the first spin-off set in the same world asBaldur’s GateandShadow of Amn. While its story didn’t match the expectations set by the mainline games, it included a satisfying combat system, a great co-op system, and was a great expansion into the Forgotten Realms.
TheBaldur’s Gate: Enhanced Editioncame with an overhauled UI, new companions, and a modernized engine. TheBaldur’s Gate 2: Enhanced Editionwas also streamlinedin a similar way. However, both games were fairly controversial among some players, who preferred the mechanics and systems of the originals.
B-Tier: Great Baldur’s Gate Games But May Not be for Everyone
Baldur’s Gate: Descent Into Avernusis the prequelthat directly leads into the events ofBaldur’s Gate 3.Descent Into Avernusstands out from the other entries on this list as a TTRPG campaign, making it a perfect launch point forBaldur’s Gateplayers who are interested in venturing intoDungeons and Dragonsas a tabletop game.
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2was released in 2004, and was the last newBaldur’s Gatecontent that players would see for a long time. While it includes more content than its predecessor, it’s also a less polished product, putting it lower on the list.
C-Tier: Baldur’s Gate’s Forgotten Expansion
Siege of Dragonspearwas released as an expansion pack forBaldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition. While it’s a good bridge betweenBaldur’s GateandShadows of Amnthat adds more context for players, its combat system was clunky, and its art style was criticized for being too cartoonish.
