It’s been a little over a year since Baldur’s Gate 3 came out and basically shook up expectations of a role-playing game… and, indeed, games in general. The level of flexibility, wrapped in a compelling story and fairly interesting characters like Baldur’s Gate 3, garnered a ton of awards and overwhelming critical acclaim. But where did it all start?
Well, that’s a bit of a tough answer, but an easy answer – and an easy one at that – is Baldur’s Gate 1. And it just so happens to be free to download and play on Amazon Prime Gaming right now ; handy if you’re craving an in-depth game to dive into this weekend.
Released all the way back in 1998 for PC and developed by Bioware, which wasn’t quite the RPG giant it is today, Baldur’s Gate is quite a bit different than Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3. It uses an isometric perspective that requires mouse and keyboard controls, and is firmly in the realm of what are now known as CRPGs (classic role-playing games). If you’ve played Pillars of Eternity, you already know what to expect.
Luckily, Amazon offers the Enhanced Edition of Baldur’s Gate, which means the game runs smoothly on modern PCs and gaming laptops.
And for people who want to discover the origins of Baldur’s Gate, are looking for a good dose of nostalgia (if you’re a thirty-something RPG fan like me), or are looking for a great classic RPG with a deep story and some old-school Dungeons & Dragons rules, then Baldur’s Gate is definitely worth a download.
I haven’t played Baldur’s Gate in years, but I still have fond memories of the world that was almost painted on a screen, yet surprisingly detailed. I could spend hours just enjoying the layout of Candlekeep.
The combat and D&D rules can be a little tricky to get to grips with, but once you get the hang of it, building up your character and party as you explore the Sword Coast can be quite satisfying. And there’s something relaxing and enjoyable about guiding your ragtag band of heroes with the click of a mouse and a few taps of the keyboard; Baldur’s Gate can easily be played one-handed, so you can sip on something tasty while you take in the story, lore, and character banter.
If the CRPG bug has gotten to you, you’re in luck, because Baldur’s Gate has more in the form of the Tales of the Sword Coast expansion that is included in the Enhanced Edition. After that, Baldur’s Gate 2 Enhanced Edition can be found for a steal on Steam; I managed to grab it as part of an earlier Games with Prime drop. I found myself really engrossed in Baldur’s Gate 2’s story, which felt surprisingly fresh compared to a lot of other fantasy fare, so it’s definitely worth checking out.
To get access to Amazon Prime Gaming, all you need is an Amazon Prime membership, as the gaming side of things is included – it’s just not always mentioned by Amazon. Amazon Prime comes with all sorts of perks, but if you don’t fancy committing to a long-term membership, you can take advantage of a 30-day trial; check the box below.
If I haven’t convinced you that Baldur’s Gate is worth checking out, especially if you’ve played Baldur’s Gate 3 thoroughly, there are a few other free games you can claim right now. May I suggest the excellent Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Sith Lords, and the intriguing time-looping The Forgotten City?