Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition

Just purchased BGEE on Steam and loaded it on my M3 Macbook air. I've played 14.5 hours and just worked through what appeared to be all my game saves vanishing. Turns out I had somehow clicked into the DLC that I hadn't played yet, but nothing in the interface gave me a clue to that until I desparation clicked "Import Game" and saw my saved games as an option. It was clear to me that it was the DLC as soon as the game started. Thanks for the minor heart-attack, Beamdog and Steam!

A legendary fantasy adventure epic, and a blueprint for the best RPGs yet to come

★★★★★★★★★☆

If there was ever a game that perfectly encapsulates the essence of what most would imagine under the idea of "epic fantasy adventure", it would be the first Baldur's Gate. Nowadays a legend of its own, well-deserved right, the 1998 masterpiece is still remembered most fondly by those who it had charmed in the previous century – and rightly so. While Baldur's Gate at the time of its release reaped heaps of critical acclaim for the way it "revitalized" computer RPGs, when you re-visit it now, what stands out the most is the sheer genius of it's legendary writing, picturesque/fantastical yet also brutally realistic and authentic world and lore, and the overwhelming number of gameplay possibilities stemming from one of the best game adaptations of D&D ruleset.

"Tonight you dream of blood. Not of blood on a blade or the blood on your hands, but an ichor that runs as a torrent through the Realms. A flood that pours across the fields and forests. An ocean that floats you to the world's edge, and threatens to cascade off into the void."

"The blood seems a frightening thing: a massive force that sweeps away all resistance. As a whole it is a monster and it cannot be stopped. Were it to be viewed from on high, it would seem to cover the entire world in its red-black embrace."

"You, however, do not have such a lofty perch. From within the deluge you can see it does not move as one, but is filled with currents, eddies, and undertows. Pockets of calm afford breathing space, whilst violent whirlpools threaten to rend limb from limb. Ultimately it seems undirected, mindless, and meandering. You may be caught within, but there are still options open: still choices to be made."

"The tide presses on, but you press back. Let the blood rage, as it will: you are in control of what is yours, and that is all you can ask."

After the endless praise being thrown in Baldur's Gate's direction, if you are someone who is just looking to experience it for the first time today, you might be asking about what exactly is in it for you. What does this 25+ year-old game has that more recent titles in a more "visually appealing" packaging do not? The simple (although abstract) answer is - it has "soul". Each part of the game breathes and sweats authenticity, and while the game world feels appropriately threatening, it also WANTS you to explore it and experience it in it's totality.

Another aspect I found particularly unique about BG is it's (nowadays) highly unusual approach to the story. Whereas most fantasy epics would give you goals and aspirations of immense proportions, after the initial plot twist, you are merely tasked to investigate an iron shortage in the region, which then gradually and gracefully evolves into the narrative behemoth later on. The game also does not push you into doing anything - you generally uncover the overlaying conspiracy because you WANT to know, want to understand what your character's legacy really entails. It is one of the many different things that make BG one of the most realistic and believable fantasy worlds in the RPG history.

Generally, whenever someone feels reluctant to give BG a try, it is for one of the two reasons: 1) outdated graphics and 2) the outdated gameplay. Whereas the former is remedied by a stellar art style and the Enhanced Edition treatment, the latter is BG's both boon and bane. AD&D ruleset which felt revolutionary and fresh in '98 has not aged well in every aspect. That said, if you can overcome the initially brutal and unforgiving learning curve, you'll be rewarded with some of the most in-depth role-playing systems any RPG can offer, with the number of approaches to different situations depending only on your imagination and creativity.

Baldur's Gate is one of those games that everyone taking gaming/RPGs to any degree seriously should experience. I see it often appearing on those "X games to play before you die" lists and while many argue over most of these games' right to belong there, Baldur's Gate (and especially it's no less legendary sequel) are the undisputed cornerstones of the must-experience titles.

Positives & Negatives

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[th] Positives [/th]
[th] Negatives [/th]
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[td]+ Masterfully handled static isometric graphical art style that, although outdated, still captures the magic of the old-school RPGs and plays into ingenious environmental storytelling[/td]
[td]- There are some seriously outdated mechanics mainly stemming from the archaic AD&D ruleset - anything from having to re-roll continuously for acceptable starting attributes (which is just an unnecessary game of patience), plenty of spells being useless due to how the dice roll works, counterintuitive approach to Armor Class (which was fixed in later additions), and more[/td]
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[td]+ World/Level design – while Baldur's Gate has an overall simplistic approach to the Sword Coast's map design, the overall cohesion and care put into each chunk having its own distinct personality and purpose elevate it to heights rarely seen in the games that followed after[/td]
[td]- Speaking of outdated systems, some gameplay mechanics end up being stupendously annoying and frustrating - path-finding is constantly refusing to work, or the AI Scripts doing different things that they are supposed to[/td]
[/tr]
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[td]+ One of the best-written fantasy stories of all times, where each narrative component flows from one to another with flawless precision and grace, with one of the best endings in RPG history[/td]
[td]- While I spend a lot of time praising the character work, the actual companions leave some things to be desired - don't get me wrong, the sheer number of interactions between different party combinations is staggering, but compared to Baldur's Gate 2, after the initial meeting, the companions is just kind of "there" for the ride without too much to contribute narratively[/td]
[/tr]
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[td]+ Unforgettable characters with their own motivations, dreams, fears, and desires, independent of the main player character[/td]
[td]- Enhanced Edition new additions-specific issues: the new comic-style cutscenes don't do the originals justice, 2 of the four new companions aren't interesting, and the new full-fledged content (SoD, Black Pitts) leaves most indifferent[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]+ While I point out some negatives, Baldur's Gate's utilization of the AD&D tabletop systems is nothing short of a genius for the time – the more time you put into learning all of the interactions, synergies, and planning strategies of the individual combat systems, the more you feel like an absolute tactical mastermind, which is a feeling few games can evoke so well[/td]
[td][/td]
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[td]+ Enhanced Edition brings this beloved classic to a polished technical state with all of the quality of life fixes it was due[/td]
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[td]+ Random encounters (be it ambushes or something you run into when exploring) are yet another aspect of the game that makes it stand out - most of them reach the first Fallout's level of quality, intrigue, and surprise[/td]
[td][/td]
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[td]+ Timeless soundtrack that perfectly underscores each encounter, situation, or environment it plays over (and massive bonus points for Conan-like main menu theme)[/td]
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[td]+ While it is rather sparse, every piece of voice-acted dialogue is a work of art [/td]
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If you haven't played this game then I don't know where the flying f*ck you've been but please...do yourself a favor and buy this game and play it and know it was the best purchase ever. sincerely Jimmyus Paladin of Torm.

I have finished this game 3 times over the years and, man, on the third time this was hell of sludge. I still recommend it, though, because it is a classic RPG and there is still some entertainment to be had.

First thing I hate about this game is the f-ing trash mobs. Walk in the wilderness for a few meters and you get jumped by a billion gibberlings. Walk again on the trail you had already walked a minute ago and bam! Another f-ing horde of gibberlings.

Speaking of wilderness, most of it is just an empty space worth not exploring at all with few points of interest. Just a waste of time to make you hit another ambush.

The story is… I guess there is a story, but it is hidden behind walls of text of exposition dumps and yapping. The writing is not that great. Same can be said about the followers who sometimes react to what you do, but that is mostly based on reputation. Otherwise, they are just an extra body to throw on the enemy that complains and b*tches all the time with few exceptions. And their stats also are not very good.

Then there is new content that was added over time to the base game. Some of it is not that bad like Durlag’s tower, but most of it is also not that great, including the writing which actually blends quite well with the base game because both are not that great. There are followers with their own quests even, shame I didn’t like any of them.

Despite all the bad, this game scratches a certain itch of nuking fantasy creatures with fireballs and missiles, so “6 out of 10” game.

really really doesn't holdup anymore but dang I loved this game when it was the gold standard.

Baldur’s Gate is nothing short of a legendary experience — a true masterpiece that has shaped the entire RPG genre. From the moment you step into the Forgotten Realms, you're transported into a rich, immersive world full of deep lore, unforgettable characters, and thrilling adventures.

The storytelling is phenomenal. Every choice you make matters, and the branching dialogue options create a game that feels truly yours. The companions you meet along the way are iconic — with their own personalities, backstories, and quests that make you care about every decision you take.

The gameplay perfectly captures the spirit of classic Dungeons & Dragons. Whether you're planning intricate strategies in battle or navigating moral dilemmas, every moment feels meaningful. The sense of freedom and player agency is simply unmatched.

Visually, even in its original form, Baldur’s Gate is charming, and the enhanced editions have made it even more accessible to new players while preserving its timeless magic. The music, the atmosphere, the writing — everything comes together in a way that few games ever achieve.

Baldur’s Gate isn't just a game — it’s an epic journey that stays with you long after you’ve finished. A must-play for any fan of fantasy, storytelling, or role-playing games. Truly one of the greatest games ever made!

I remember playing this game growing up when it was a 6 CD game. I never got to finish the game then and I really enjoy being able to play it.

Fun, immersive D&D adventure, brutally difficult and demands some serious strategy for some of its encounters.

Didn't even take me 27 years to get to this instant classic.

As always, I started out playing an Elven wizard, but apparently it wasn't yet agreed upon in 1998 they'd get 20% more content. With BG1 you get sucky gameplay (constant resting to refresh spells) in exchange for nothing. It's much more fun to go with a fighter. After a long discussion with ChatGPT, I ended up choosing Kensai/thief (don't be lawful!) multiclass for my second, much more fun, playthrough. I exploited basilisks (in story mode you don't have to find out about Protection from Petrification) to quickly level him up (Gibberlings3 Tweaks Anothology to remove the exp cap) and sliced and diced to my heart's content without traps, chests, or the occasional pickpocketing quest ever stopping me.

GameBanshee's maps are an excellent way to see if you missed anything: https://www.gamebanshee.com/baldursgate/walkthrough/candlekeep.php They're really thorough, but you can go even more in-depth here: https://baldursgate.fandom.com/wiki/Baldur%27s_Gate_Wiki Like you might want to find out how to score Paws of the Cheetah boots to move around quicker, but some of the more cheaty patches will make you move fast out-of-combat anyway. Also you can increase the framerate cap to 60 in Baldur.lua. If you enable cheats there, CTRL + 8 will roll all maximum stats during character creation if you don't feel like spending hours at a slot machine.

BG1 has 5x as many companions as you can handle. It's meant to be this way. Only some of them have companion quests and certain ones are pretty much deemed 'the canonical party' (Imoen, Khalid, Jaheera, Minsc, Dynaheir). I liked completing their stuff one by one and then ditching them at some inn in case I ever missed them (I didn't).

I chanced upon some crtiticism over Siege of Dragonspear, but I thought it was lovely. Really showed how far you can stretch Infinity Engine on modern setups. And the story was fine as well.

If you're ever stuck completing a quest because you forgot to pick up a random ring or dagger somewhere and it disappeared, use the EEKeeper character editor to add it to your inventory.

10/10
I've been coming back to this game Since 1999 when it came with 6 separate discs. It absolutely still holds up 26 years later.

Pros:-
- The added Enhanced edition characters bring some great dialogue. (Purists hate them)
- Great Class and race variety.
- Hundreds of weapons, armours, wands and other items to use.
- intricate tactical combat.
- Beginner friendly with a plethora of guides and youtube videos to help you plan and gear up.
- You can Import your main character straight into Fall of Dragonspear then/or Baldurs Gate 2 to continue your characters story.

Cons:-
- Character models haven't aged well.
- A lot of reading required to understand the story fully.
- Character stats and abilities not explained very well and will probably require third party guides.

If you like Role playing games then this is a must!

This is a good remaster of a really old, but amazing game. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves RPGs, especially fans of BioWare's golden days. The controls take some getting used to, but there is also a 'story mode' option for anyone who just wants to play for the characters and story. In this mode, your character and team don't take any damage so don't shy away from this game if you're uneasy about the gameplay!
Overall, this is a great game. Its story will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. It's also a good look into where the RPGs we know and love today came from, even if it's been updated.

It's basically required playing for any CRPG fan.

I would very much like a small update that adds back the original cutscenes.

Hands down one of the best games ever made. I keep coming back to it year after year, only because the story is so good. True to D&D.

This one's better than the third one because I can actually rest without being propositioned like it's some kind of fantasy dating sim

Old school game that is as fun today as it was in the 90's

Old classic, with bad pathing. But the music is great while you reload your saves over and over again.
Maybe you will like it?

Best Baldur's Gate, played this game 1000's of hours when it was first released in the late 90's. Great story, fun game play, and uses the most familiar to me D&D rule set 2nd edition.

Had a lot of fun going down memory lane to all the absurdities of AD&D, enjoying shit like THAC0 and admiring how the LOWER the armor class you have the BETTER. It's also great fun when a wizard has 4 hp and can barely do anything in a fight, but can absolutely win a whole encounter with a well placed sleep or color spray. I love these spells actually being good and doing something unlike in 5th Edition!

That said, this game has a ton of problems and really isn't an old gem worth going back to. Other related games have great writing, but this game's writing is verbose, tedious, and not all that interesting. Most of the quests are fetch quests and aren't very memorable. The new characters added in the enhanced edition are way, way more fleshed out than anything in the original game.

Since there isn't a lot of dialogue and intrigue to chew on, the combat and exploration are the main appeal of the game. Exploration is mostly crawling through mostly empty zones trying to find the two or three interesting things in that area.

The combat is fun in the sense that you are trying to make the most of your limited resources, especially healing and spells. Fights are straightforward until they aren't. Poison is ridiculous and you learn pretty quickly to take some Slow Poison and antidotes with you. Another big issue is when you fight any magic user at all, they will cast Confusion on your party and half or more of your guys will be disabled for a long ass time. It sucks, and dispel magic doesn't even remove it. Only way to prevent it is to drink a potion to block the magic beforehand.

So a lot of fights go like this: explore, find someone, they are hostile and you get rocked. Then you try again and plan a little better but still get rocked. Then you chug potions and prepare before the dialogue even starts. Go in, do a lot better and win, then move on. You basically have to earn metagame knowledge of a fight before you can beat it. To some degree, all CRPGs are like this, but it got really tedious for me here. It's really hard to improvise, and most of the best spells and wands are area of effect and will absolutely friendly fire your guys in you don't plan well. Melee enemies quickly run right into your ranks before the fireball can even be cast. All of this really drove me crazy. Would not recommend to anyone unless you are really curious about AD&D or you played BG3 and are dying to know the Baldur's Gate backstory.

The classic RPG that broke nearly a decade of not-so-great D&D computer games. This is what has set the standard since it's release and re-release as an Enhanced Edition that adds some content, improves a few, and quashes a few more bugs.

If you really enjoyed the original Baldur's Gate or want to get into this classic then I highly recommend it unless you're vehemtly opposed to classic isolinear combat.

Honestly, a crappy game given today's standards, but it has a nihilist and a guy who insults me constantly.

I have a lot of nostalgia for this game. I had played 2nd edition AD&D for close to a decade before I played this. It faithful reproduction of those rules made the manageable to play because I knew the system.

This game has steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with those old rules. I firmly believe learning 2nd edition AD&D is worth learning to play this game.

What can be said that hasn't already been said about this game? Still great 20 years later.

Play this, it's great, but don't bother with Siege of Dragonspear. It's got some good bits but there's just a long, boring grind at the end.

With a surprisingly small number of mods applied this thing is still well worth your CRPG time in 2025. That is an amazing accomplishment for the dev team that made BG1.

Big mention of BG2 Radar Overlay which I feel like is a must have nowadays.

I have to original and had to get the enhanced. This game set the standard for computer fantasy gaming. If you want to delve into the genre, this is without a doubt the very best.

You must gather your party before venturing forth.

GOOOOOOOOOO FOR THE EYES BOO!!

You. Again.

Heh, your a queer fellow.

These voices have burned into my brain.

There are some very silly bugs (e.g. getting stuck around stairs, reputation loss from self-defence that causes everyone in your party to aggro for no fault of your own) that have made me scared of old games, but it's such a good timeless RPG coming from someone who is allergic to CRPGs.

I like the story much better than the one about that PC in BG3. That backstory in BG3 is just ridiculous, but you feel like an actual person with so much more at stake in this one.

The game would definitely be an acquired taste for younger gamers, but for someone who loves old-school RPG's it was a hit. So many maps to explore, so many companions to choose from, and tons of mods available to spice things up (mods not included).

I love this classic, really love RP part and choices. Really good story! It is some hasle to get into it as new player and you should find some youtube videos to explain gameplay, also use steam guides and bg fandom wiki!

Would I recommed OG BG? Since it is my childhood absolutely, however in comparison with modern RPGs this title has many gameplay aspects that might not make you interested in playing - some of those can be solved by using various QoL mods (such as Dragonspear UI++, which makes the whole interface much closer to new titles).
The other aspects you just have to roll with, the progress might feel too slow paced at times - which on other hand rewards you with intriguing story and interesting side quests.

TL;DR: You're going to enjoy if you do not mind slower paced RPGs that has older UI and few odd gameplay rule choices.

very hard to learn and sound wont work. ran through all the options to try to get sound to work, works on all other steam games, just not this one.

“The streets will run red with blood when my work is finished.”
~Sarevok Anchev

Baldur's Gate is a legend. It was one of those game-changing things that made huge impact on the whole CRPG genre. For many reasons. First, there was D&D. Not like we didn't have games based on Dungeons & Dragons before, those SSI titles, for example, were quite famous, but BG brought all that on the whole new level. While using the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, it pretty much simulated the whole tabletop thing, while making it look like our usual diagonal-down CRPG at the same time. Some mistakes were made, but still, for their very first game, BioWare (a young Canadian team formed by newly graduated doctors) did an amazing job. Second – BG introduced an advanced pause mode. The same one we still use in, say, Bethesda's Fallout. While being a real-time game, BG managed to avoid messy battles by letting us giving commands during the pause. The juiciest part, though, was dialogues.

Heavily inspired by Star Control II (and already improved in Fallout series), those became even more cool in BG. Technically, dialogues in BG were less complicated than what we had in Fallout. In Fallout, lots of your stats played a key role in dialogues, while in BG those stats checks relied mostly on charisma. But that's not the point. The point is – BG was a true RPG. All of those D&D alignments? Those were there and they actually mattered. While most of the other games wanted us to be good (ish), BG allowed us to choose. For real. Good, evil, everything in between? It was there. Our choices mattered and NPCs treated us accordingly. What's even better – the game was lore-heavy. BioWare actually bothered and studied lots and lots of Forgotten Realms literature, thanks to which not only we've got in-game lore books, there were also tons of nods that only the fans of that settings understood. Heck, we actually met characters like Drizzt Do'Urden from R.A. Salvatore's novels and Ed Greeenwood's Elminster Aumar! And, of course, the original story was an epic tale that revolved around the dead god. An evil one too, which made both good and evil paths even more satisfying. BG was... I dunno, to me, a huge D&D fan, it was a bloody religion back in the days. Therefore, to just say that I do recommend it is to say nothing. But. As you can see, this here is not an original BioWare's game. It's Beamdog's “Enhanced Edition”. And it's... not the same thing.

First of all, who da f*ck are Beamdog? Well, it's a company founded by ex-BioWare Trent Oster (who worked on original BG's models) and Cameron Tofer (original BG's co-coder). Means that they know what they're doing, right? Right? Well, unfortunately to us all, it doesn't really look like it. Where should I start... Let's just say it's one of them mobile-oriented remasters that come with all sorts of in-built “cheats”. There's a difficulty selector now and the lowest option comes with a “god mode”. Means you can't die, OK? And while usually I don't mind things like “rewind” feature in old platformers, this? It feels like a bull. Poorly implemented too, especially since you still can be killed by certain spells. That's not my biggest complain, though. My biggest complain is “press the button to see secrets” feature. Originally introduced in a sequel, it doesn't make sense in the first game at all. See, BG was designed to have secrets. Those pixel-wide guide-oriented stashes that were close to impossible to find without knowing exactly where to look. Enhanced Edition? It shows you them all. And it ruins the game a lot. Think about it. One of the best armors in a game (the best for fast characters) requires you to hunt down some strong enemies, pay quite a lot of money and wait. But you know what? Thanks to how you can see all secret stashes now, you can just go and pick one up minutes after you'll finish prologue. What. The f*ck?

There's more. Like they've added new expansions. One of which is just an arena, while another one acts a bridge between first game and its sequel. Which is cool, but they've also raised the level cap there. Why is that bad? Because you can export characters to BGII. Again, you weren't supposed to be that overpowered originally. Even the core game, while having an official old expansion called Tales of the Sword Coast included by default, becomes more imbalanced now. Like they did some changes in D&D thing. Which is good. On paper. I mean, rangers were supposed to have dual-wielding weapons according to the original rules. It was one of the biggest mistakes BioWare did and since I love rangers, I used to complain about that a lot. But think about it. BG was a finished product. And it wasn't designed for dual-wielding rangers. Now what Beamdog guys do? They give rangers two swords and let 'em pick up the best armor early in game. What. Were. They. Thinking?! Sure, BG was never a perfectly balanced experience. But this? This is a mess.

There's more. The core game comes with some new places and characters (companions included). Again, sounds like a good idea, but no. It lets you earn more experience easily, it adds things that game wasn't designed to have (like those item bags) and... It feels stupid most of the time, really. Remember Garrick? A bard that wanted us to protect his mistress from some baddies? Beamdog placed one of the new characters right next to him. Why is that bad? Because situation is exactly the same. We've got two possible companions now, one next to another, both with the same exact prelude. Again, WTF? They even placed another bald guy next to Minsc and guess what? The dude placed so poorly he has no way but to help us against one of the assassins even without recruiting. The good thing is that you can romance the new guys (romances weren't a thing until sequel back in the days), but guess what? Only the new guys are romanceable. Which is... Weird. To say the least. Heck, Beamdog even managed to mess up the lore! Original version happened a bit later in Forgotten Realms' timeline, while Beamdog moved it a bit earlier, which... Let's just say there'll be things mentioned now that weren't supposed to happen yet. They even added the new bugs, while obvious problems like Nester's dagger sprite weren't addressed at all.

In other words, the Enhanced Edition of good ol' BG feels more like a mod. Technically, there's a lot of new content, life improvements and, of course, it's more comfortable – the map is way better, you can change the font size, copy notes to your journal, switch between “improved” visuals (which are just blurry mess similar to filters from emulators), etc. But somehow, it ends up being as far from the original experience as possible. Does that mean that you shouldn't pay for this version? Not really, no. BG is still a fantastic game that even in this form feels totally awesome. Many of the problems I've mentioned you won't even notice without knowing about how things were supposed to be originally. Also, there are lots of people who like adding all sorts of mods to their games. And before you ask, yes, I'm one of those who always prefer the vanilla experience, but still, I'm not bi****ng about things not being the way they were when I was younger. I'm complaining about the changes not being thought-through at all. Somehow, Beamdog managed to do more damage to Baldur's Gate than our pal Sarevok. And one of the most epic role-playing sagas out there totally deserved better. Dixi.

Game is wicked...Took a bit to get used to the controls as Ive played all the BG series on PC etc and ecpected to be similar. Beauty graphics and storyline so far.....

Just dont feel like Beamdog puts much effort in their Enhanced Editions, and this game further reflects that to me. Not impressed at all. This game deserves better than Beamdog.

Some would say this is the best game ever made. These people are wrong, this title goes to the second game in the serie. But Baldur's Gate 1 is a close second.

I hadn't played this game for well over a decade, but decided to play the Enhanced Edition with a friend who never played it at the time. Baldur's Gate is a janky experience, the UI is ugly and bloated, and the game does not do a good job explaining systems that are, in and of themselves, also needlessly opaque. These are things modern RPG's do do better. Having said that, once you learn how to interface with this game, you will find something incredibly special. The story is riveting, the world is beautiful in an understated way with pastoral meadows and handpainted castles, and there's tons of freedom regarding what type of character(s) you want to play. It's also one of very few games that are genuinely funny, with the mix of serious stories and funny one-off encounters mirroring a good tabletop session.

There's a lot to be said about how the philosophy of this game is very different from most modern RPG's. Beyond the game just being kind of awkward to operate and poorly explained, there is also genuine choices made by the developer to make the game feel unforgiving and deadly. People are squishy, getting stabbed or bitten is dangerous, it is easy to wander into areas that you are simply not yet equipped for. However, because of this there is also more of a sense of genuine progression. Areas that you will struggle with early on will become not just possible, but trivial. Enemies that used to make for dangerous duels will fall to you by the dozens. It is a different style than the more flat or level-scaled worlds of modern RPG's, and in a way it can sometimes feel like the game punishes you for exploring. However, it's always possible to find a solution to the problem the game poses you, even if it might require some preperation. Just like you will come across encounters that will be difficult, you will sometimes get the drop on foes or have the perfect tools for the job, and being able to exploit your opponents and mow through encounters makes the game feel fair, because it is harsh on both you and your enemies.

Overall, I don't blame anyone that bounces off this game. We've made a *ton* of progress in terms of game design since Baldur's Gate. Anyone that tells you that this game is perfect and it's been downhill since 1998 is blowing smoke. However, if you can get past the jank, the actual game underneath is beautiful and awesome and a pure labour of love. It's worth it. Give it a try. Maybe ask your nerd friend to explain thac0 to you and save yourself some pain.

One of the first games I ever bought as a kid, back when games came on CD's. I remember this one being in it's own book and my father remarked how "massive it must be because of the fact that it had 7 CD's. I have about a thousand hours in this game and it's gameplay and storytelling are absolutely timeless. It will forever be one of the greats and is worth a playthrough or two if you've ever considered yourself a forgotten realms or RPG fan.

Brings back great memories of playing The Forgotten Realms Gold Box Series.

Playing through a second time and its really good, once you tune into its really good, the enhanced edition makes a difference. I would definitely recommend it.

Hard to get into don't get me wrong and it's hard to say when you finally "get" it but, when you do it's a very satisfying play.
don't be afraid to lower the difficulty as it is a steep learning curve and that's with some dnd experience under my belt (5th edition), but 2nd edition (aka advanced dungeons and dragons) is a VERY scary looking system. I promise if you ask questions and really take a little time to thumb through some material it actually gets pretty intuitive as you go deeper.
Most importantly set the difficulty to where your having FUN that's the MOST important thing to keep in mind
HAVING FUN.

You can read the review in English and Polish :)

ENG: Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition – A Classic Reborn

Released in 1998 by BioWare and later remastered by Beamdog, Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition brings the legendary RPG back to life with modern enhancements while preserving the essence of the original.
Story & World

The game transports players to the Forgotten Realms, where they take on the role of an orphan raised in the secluded fortress of Candlekeep. Soon, dark forces set events into motion, leading the protagonist on an epic quest filled with mystery, betrayals, and legendary battles across the Sword Coast. The enhanced edition stays true to this masterful narrative while adding new content to deepen the experience.
Gameplay & Mechanics

Following the AD&D 2nd Edition ruleset, the game features real-time combat with a pause function for strategic planning. Enhanced Edition improves the interface, introduces UI scaling for modern resolutions, and adds quality-of-life improvements like better pathfinding. Additionally, new characters and companion quests offer fresh story elements for veterans and newcomers alike.
Graphics & Sound

The original hand-painted 2D environments have been polished, supporting higher resolutions without losing their charm. Michael Hoenig’s iconic soundtrack remains as captivating as ever, perfectly setting the tone for adventure.
Pros & Cons

✅ Rich, immersive world with deep lore
✅ Strategic combat with meaningful choices
✅ New characters and companion quests add replayability
✅ Improved UI and widescreen support
✅ Cross-platform play for modern devices
✅ Classic soundtrack enhancing the atmosphere

❌ High difficulty curve, especially for newcomers
❌ Some outdated mechanics remain unchanged
❌ Occasional pathfinding and AI issues

Final Verdict: 9.5/10

Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition is a must-have for both long-time fans and new players looking to experience one of the best RPGs ever made. The improvements make it more accessible while staying true to its roots, proving once again why it remains a cornerstone of the genre.

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PL: Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition – Klasyka w Nowym Wydaniu

Wydane w 1998 roku przez BioWare, a następnie zremasterowane przez Beamdog, Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition przywraca do życia legendarną grę RPG, wzbogacając ją o nowoczesne ulepszenia, a jednocześnie zachowując jej klasyczny charakter.
Fabuła i Świat

Gracz wciela się w sierotę wychowaną w odizolowanej twierdzy Candlekeep. Wkrótce mroczne siły zmuszają go do wyruszenia w epicką podróż pełną tajemnic, zdrad i legendarnych bitew na Wybrzeżu Mieczy. Edycja rozszerzona pozostaje wierna tej fascynującej historii, dodając jednak nowe wątki i postacie, które wzbogacają przygodę.

Rozgrywka i Mechanika

Gra korzysta z zasad AD&D 2. edycji, oferując walkę w czasie rzeczywistym z aktywną pauzą. Enhanced Edition usprawnia interfejs, wprowadza lepszą skalowalność ekranu i poprawia mechaniki, takie jak ścieżki poruszania się postaci. Dodatkowo nowi towarzysze i zadania wzbogacają fabułę zarówno dla weteranów, jak i nowych graczy.
Grafika i Dźwięk

Oryginalne, ręcznie malowane lokacje zostały poprawione pod kątem wyższych rozdzielczości, nie tracąc swojego klimatu. Kultowa ścieżka dźwiękowa Michaela Hoeniga nadal urzeka i świetnie buduje atmosferę gry.

Zalety i Wady

✅ Bogaty, wciągający świat i głęboka historia
✅ Taktyczna walka z wymagającymi decyzjami
✅ Nowe postacie i zadania towarzyszy wzbogacają rozgrywkę
✅ Ulepszony interfejs i obsługa szerokich ekranów
✅ Możliwość gry na różnych platformach
✅ Klasyczna ścieżka dźwiękowa budująca atmosferę

❌ Wysoki poziom trudności, szczególnie dla nowych graczy
❌ Niektóre przestarzałe mechaniki pozostały niezmienione
❌ Okazjonalne problemy ze ścieżkami poruszania się i SI

Ocena końcowa: 9.5/10

Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition to obowiązkowa pozycja zarówno dla fanów oryginału, jak i dla tych, którzy chcą poznać jedną z najlepszych gier RPG wszech czasów. Ulepszenia sprawiają, że jest bardziej przystępna, ale nadal wierna swojej klasycznej duszy. Ta gra nie bez powodu pozostaje kamieniem milowym w historii RPG.

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There are mods that will make this great game even better, but it is still good without them if you're a new or returning player.

Amazing, immersive RPG with with a really interesting quest line. Defenitley would recommend

Oldie but a goodie :D Never played this game before but it fulfills my rpg needs. 10/10

I finally beat this for the first time. Has a simple story with complex gameplay and rules. Persistence was key for me, but the journey was worth it. I already transferred my character to BG2 and am looking forward to beating that game for the first time, as well.

An absolute classic and the grandaddy of BG3. Admittedly a bit pixel-heavy for the modern age, but with a map completely packed with secrets and quests that add richness to the main story.

Beat Baldur's Gate 3 and wanted more Baldur. Definitely an old game and in some aspects you have to meet it where it is at, but I'm really enjoying my time with it. Would recommend.

I just don't know what to say, something that started with a simple curiosity about what the first Baldur's Gate was like and turned into love, besides it being my first D&D, I had no idea about anything, I didn't know how to play or how to set up my class and yet I learned the hard way (dying, dying, dying, dying).
The story is fantastic, the side quests divert you from the story in a natural way that makes you immersed in the game world. The companions are incredible (Branwen is my favorite)
I did it twice before this review because I felt like I had to play the game more than once to enjoy what I learned the first time.
9/10
Fantastic only Fantastic

TO THIS DAY, no one has been talented enough to create a game as perfect as BG, IWD, and BG2. The format for these games is the BEST ROLE PLAYING FORMAT EVER CREATED. The ability to customize your character with your own pictures, artwork, and sounds is like something from the future, even though it is past. These games are like the successful Apollo missions. Masterpieces.