Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition

This is such an awesome game from a really classic period of CRPG's. Definitely a must have.

This is one of the best cRPG that has ever been created. If not the best. BG3 is not even close.

One of my top two favourite games of all time. Why haven't you played it yet?

A favorite pasttime game of mine. Although the rules are outdated, once you learn the system, the game offers a vast narrative, engaging story, a great cast of characters, and giant miniature space hamsters for all.

A fantastic sequel! So next up in my CRPG marathon is Baldur’s Gate 2, a classic among many, and something I finally got to play through for the first time. But what did I think?

Starting off, I did play this game on story difficulty as I was mainly just interested in seeing the story through, but I will do higher difficulties when I replay this game one day. Combat is real time with pause, and it based on 2.5 edition of DnD I believe, so a little old school but I was more accustomed to the systems after playing the first game. All that said though, don’t take my thoughts on combat too seriously as like I said, I mainly played this game for the story and characters.

Visually the game looks okay but it definitely hasn’t aged that well. Obviously the graphics are going to age over time, but for me it was more just the artstyle as it’s lot of browns, greys and blacks. I say that mainly after playing through Icewind Dale, which was made on the same engine, yet it’s aged better imo in just how they used colors to vary up the locations you visited.

One cool aspect is that you get a stronghold in this game, with which stronghold you get being unique based on what class you play, which I thought was cool. That said, it's very basic and there isn’t that much stronghold management as there was in something like say Pillars of Eternity with Caed Nua. You can raise taxes to get more money, and you are supposed to get visitors but I only got 1 visitor in my whole playthrough. It was some merchant complaining about his caravans being raided by bandits, which I thought might lead to a cool quest, but no you just do the rich guy solution, which is throw gold at the problem until it goes away.

One of my main complaints from the first game was the party management, and there were just way too many companions and you realistically couldn’t recruit them all. Well they do address that here to a degree, it's not perfect but it's better then the first game for sure. For starters when you dismiss companions they will tell you where to find them, with most of them going to a specific tavern in the main city, which was a big improvement on the first game. When you get them you will get a companion quest which is timed and you do want to complete it quickly otherwise they leave your party permanently. The companion quests are very good though I must say and a big step up from the first. Some of my favorites being Jaheria’s and Nalia’s. Also if you want to go evil in a playthrough, do Dorn’s quest as it will make up for all the modern RPGs these days that DON’T let you be the bad guy. That said, this game still uses the alignment system on whether your lawful good, chaotic evil etc… This is important with companions, as I infamously found out the hard way in my BG1 playthrough where in the middle of an important story mission, 4 of my companions broke out into a fight and killed each other which still shocked me even to this day. So whenever I met a new potential companion, I had to go search them up on the BG wiki, and cross reference to see which party members they conflicted with. It got very tedious after a while and made me feel like some HR manager at a company.

Also a little mini rant about Neera. Now I had Neera in my party for most of the first game and I think she’s a fun character. She has a pretty big recruitment quest which I was going to go do, only for me to soon realize that because she’s a wild mage, she has a spell that randomly goes off in combat that literally nukes the gold out of your inventory. I had like 40k gold and after a few combat encounters, I was penniless which definitely had me steaming. Especially since you need gold for the first half of the game in order to progress the main story. You could chuck that up to old game design, but no Neera is a new companion that was added by Beamdog in this remaster, so it was just some random dev with a sick sense of humor who thought it’d be funny which I definitely don’t appreciate. Anyway, rant over.

Quests are also really good with many of them presenting tons of choice and consequences which I enjoyed. Especially in chapter 5 where you get to see one of the drow (dark elves) cities and see races like mind flayers and githyanki which obviously play a big role in BG3, so it was cool to see them here.

Now onto the story, which is easily the best part of this game. The main reason being the bad guy, Irenicus, who is now up there for me as one of the best villains in all of gaming next to Handsome Jack. He’s just so evil and selfish that you hate him but also his voice actor did such a great job with a commanding voice that made you interested in hearing what he has to say. He’s also present throughout the story and will appear multiple times unlike some final bosses in other CRPGs. And this man has been messing with me ever since the Siege of Dragonspear expansion (if you played it) from the first game, so revenge on him is all that much sweeter by the end. And while the story is very serious, there are some humorous moments in the writing which had me genuinely laughing. Like one time, where I had to get an item in a chest that was being guarded by a big-eyed monster called a beholder. So I went up and spoke to it, and it had a lot of opinions about what’s going on in the city and those annoying imps around the corner and their stupid riddle quest they try to get people to do. And when you ask what’s in the chest they're just like “I don’t know, I was just told to stand here and guard it.”. Definitely had me chuckling as I played.

But overall, a great sequel to an already fantastic RPG in the first game. I look forward to the Throne of Baal expansion next.

Absolute classic. wonderfully written and immersive from beginning to end.

Instant classic. Still better than BG3. Play it now.

This is a classic, if it's your bag baby you'll love it. If not, move along. Not like the game has changed much in 25 years.

One of the greatest single-player RPGs ever.

[■■■□□] [Gameplay] 🕹️

BG 2 is very slow party-based game D&D game. It is not turn-based unlike BG 3. During the combat, as there is no order like other turn-based games, it is simultaneous. Pause much for using potions, spells or anything.

[■■□□□] [Graphics] 🖼️

So, BG 2 is not and not about a graphics game and if you look into the release date, it is pretty old. So, do not expect good graphics.

[■□□□□] [Audio]👂

Just a basic audio. The main menu theme is OK. Dialogues are rarely voiced. Some sounds are unbearable.

[■■■■■] [Storytelling] ✒️

BG 2 follows the main story from BG 1. If you are a fan of the story, you should start from BG 1. The story goes with hunting the bad guy. Throughout that, you are also doing the side quests to gain exp for your party. The story goes with chapters, and final chapter is 7, and from that the Throne of Baal DLC continues.

[■■■■□] [Difficulty] 💪

It is hard for beginners. Although there is a story mode difficulty setting that focuses on the story itself – great for casual players.

I enjoyed BG2. I am not sure about ToB, it is too linear and I wish that it allowed you to go back to Athkatla.

D&D rules which I don't particularly like, but can live with.
There are times when you seem to be fighting the interface as much as the enemies.
I dislike some of the set pieces where you are not able to setup as you want.

I really enjoyed Baldur's Gate 1, and my friends assured me that Baldur's Gate 2 was even better. Turns out they were right! It certainly feels a lot bigger than the previous installment, with more variety in things to do, and the character writing took a level or ten in awesome. The Shadows of Amn and Throne of Bhaal campaigns proved fascinating, complex, and satisfying. Amusingly, for all that "Baldur's Gate" is in the title, this sure is a game that never visits the city of Baldur's Gate!

⭐ "A Timeless RPG Masterpiece, Now Better Than Ever!" ⭐

Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition is the ultimate way to experience one of the greatest role-playing games of all time. Whether you're a longtime fan of the original or a newcomer to the series, this edition delivers a polished, immersive, and captivating adventure that stands the test of time.

What Makes It Exceptional?
Deep and Engaging Storyline: The narrative is rich, filled with complex characters, moral dilemmas, and memorable twists. It's a masterpiece of storytelling that still sets the bar for modern RPGs.
Enhanced Features: The Enhanced Edition brings modern conveniences without compromising the essence of the original. Updated graphics, interface improvements, and quality-of-life changes make the game more accessible while preserving its nostalgic charm.
Unparalleled Character Customization: With Dungeons & Dragons-based mechanics, you have endless options to create and develop your character. From multi-classing to alignment choices, the game caters to every playstyle.
Incredible Companions: The companions are diverse, with their own personalities, backstories, and interactions. Whether you're laughing at Minsc's antics or navigating Viconia's complexities, the party dynamics are unmatched.
Expansive World: The game offers a vast, intricately designed world filled with hidden treasures, challenging encounters, and rewarding side quests. Every corner of Faerûn feels alive and brimming with adventure.
Challenging Tactical Combat: The real-time-with-pause combat system rewards strategic thinking and careful planning. It’s challenging but immensely satisfying for those who enjoy mastering intricate battles.
Why Choose the Enhanced Edition?
Beamdog has done an excellent job in revitalizing this classic:

Includes the Throne of Bhaal expansion, extending the epic storyline.
New companions and quests seamlessly integrate with the original content.
Cross-platform support and multiplayer enhancements make it easier than ever to adventure with friends.
Final Thoughts
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition is a must-have for RPG enthusiasts. It's a love letter to fans of classic RPGs, while the updates ensure it remains relevant and enjoyable for a modern audience. Few games can match its depth, replayability, and emotional impact.

If you’re seeking a true RPG experience with unparalleled storytelling, strategic gameplay, and a world you'll lose yourself in for countless hours, this is the game for you. Don’t miss out on this timeless gem!

⭐ 10/10 Highly Recommended! ⭐

Different team builds with thousands of ways to play. Super fun. Yeah you also need a game cheater like EE Keeper to try some wild ideas.

Baldur's Gate 2 is a RPG classic that needs no presentation.

Pretty much a perfect game.

I played this growing up, it was amazing back then it is amazing today. much better than some of the modern day trash. Old school RPG.

Oldie but goodie. Playing this after BG3. So good.

Okay, this game might be that shit

Kręgi proroctwa wykonały pełny obrót.

Love the graphics and plot. Very intuitive and easy to start

Greatest RPG ever made, in my view, when combined with the first. The modding scene makes it even better. Might take some getting used to for a modern player, but it is worth it. The journey and trying and failing is part of the experience. So many resources out there for people to learn the game, too.

Seige of Dragonspear was a miracle. Love to see them add new content. Hope BEAMDOG someday does an official extended edition trilogy and combines all the games into 1, maybe even adds some of the mod developed content or updates the sprite and backgrounds to even high levels of graphical detail. I'd pay for that again. Much like Skyrim, these games don't have a shelf life. The stories and characters are timeless, and so much better than much of the stuff being put out now.

I view BG1, BG2:SoA & ToB as one long game and I highly recommend you play them in that order. It's a continuous story where you can import your character from BG1 into BG2 and continue where you left off stats & equipment wise (which is a really cool feature). I was around when these games first came out 20 years ago and heard how amazing they were, but didn't really play them back then. After playing them properly for the first time in 2024, I'm really sad I didn't give them a shot back then as I now know I would have loved them.

These are awesome games! Yes they have flaws and bugs and are over complicated in some instances....but the overall vibe, story, gameplay and fun factor are what make these some of the greatest games ever made. They very much hold up in 2025. This is also a great introduction to the world and rules of D&D (something I wasn't super familiar with beforehand). Learning the D&D mechanics are not essential to success, you can trial and error your way through most of the game...but figuring out how the THAC0 & AC systems work will really give you an edge and does become part of the fun.

I have not played BG3 yet, but I can only imagine after playing BG1 & 2 that I am primed for everything that game will have to offer. If you're even thinking about playing theses games...just do yourself a favor and just get them.

I don't know what to say. I played this for 210 hours on my Steam Deck and am still playing the expansion pack.

has always been a great game from the time it came out to now

This game is often praised as being one of the best RPGs ever made, and that praise is 100% deserved. The first game was good, but they hit the ground running with the sequel, it is just a straight up upgrade in pretty much every way.
It's still uses the same engine and the same modified AD&D 2nd Edition ruleset as the first game, but the gameplay is far more polished. The combat is higher level, so there is more depth and complexity to it.
It can still be a bit obtuse for people not familiar with its ruleset, or not willing to put the time into familiarizing themselves with it, but it does come with a storymode if one would rather focus on the narrative of the game.
Well worth playing no matter which way you go about it.

It's a continuation of the first game, letting you import your savefile to keep playing with the same character. The writing has been greatly improved upon, especially NPC dialogue. Story and sidequests have a lot more complexity to them, and are far more nuanced.
Irenicus is still one of the more memorable villains I've encountered in a game, with some fantastic voice acting by the late David Warner.

The companions are greatly fleshed out from the first game, with a lot more dialogue and reactivity. Depending on who you bring in the party, you can have entirely different sets of interactions in different playthroughs. Companions get into conflicts with each other, form relationships or friendships, some will despise each other and try and kill one another.
Later Bioware games and Larian's follow-up title might have bigger, more cinematic cutscenes, but the quality of the dialogue and the sheer scale of the interactions this game has to offer is far more impressive in comparison.

BeamDog did introduce their own companions with the release of the Enhanced Edition, but I would honestly recommend just steering clear of them. They're not as well written or as well integrated into the game as the original companions.

An incredible followup to a great first game, that belongs in the library of any CRPG fan.

You must gather your party before venturing forth.
You must gather your party before venturing forth.
You must gather your party before venturing forth.

Pros:
- The game has a lot more voice acting and is more cinematic than its predecessor.
- The story of Shadows of Amn is pretty good and Jon Irenicus is a very memorable villain performed incredibly by the late David Warner.
- The City feels a live with a lot of quests. Those quests have multiple choices and outcomes.
- The companions becomes more fleshed out and have a lot of banter and they can clash or leave.
- The combat gets more powers and options.
- The art direction of the locales is great and the levels are intricate and have neat navigation puzzles.
- The soundtrack is amazing and epic.
I honestly played the game for 40 hours without feeling the time and I know I left a lot of the quests untouched.

Cons:
- The combat can get messy especially Throne of Bhaal power creep and it had a ton of encounters.
- Some pathfinding issues for the companions and sometimes it's hard to visually discern the intractable items even with zooming all the way in.

Character voices very limited and of poor quality, and they removed for some reason most of the voices from the first one, character portraits are the same like in the first one with a few new of lower quality. I feel forced to play with characters from the first game, it makes me feel bad for playing with a party of my own, and I don't like that. I know that fighter or ranger with the hamster is cool and all but I don't wanna play with these characters and I keep seeing them because the story revolves around them, whatever, the downgrade in character portraits and voice of characters made me quit 10 minutes after I started. Is easy to mod some cool character portraits but with audio I just found it harder and I just quit.

10/10. This game is extremely fun and has aged incredibly well.

I have about 1500 hours in this series pre-Steam.

If you find low level adventuring tedious and you want to get around to stopping time, contingency-casting chain lightning or beating a dragon to death with your bare hands, this is your game.

Beamdog's characters have a distinctly different "tone" to them. I don't find any of them to be as endearing, memorable or well-written as the original characters, although they provide more options for evil characters.

Some of the characters and their development moved me deeply, like Minsc's development (from what happens in BG1 to him finding a new witch) or Keldorn's arc (try not to cry when the ending text for Keldorn starts scrolling), others were hilarious (Edwin's antics).

Highly recommended if you like old school CRPGs and don't know it yet for some reason.

While not quite as captivating as the original (At least for me) this is still a fun classic dungeon crawler. The art style was changed for this one and doesn't feel as natural for this environment as the art in the original did. But that is just a personal complaint. Other than that, the gameplay and story is fantastic and worth playing through to get the complete Baldur's Gate experience.

i have seen some people say BG2 is one of the best games of all time. i can totally see why people would say that, however this game is best experienced after ample time spent with the first game so you get a better understanding of the rule set and game mechanics at work here.

BG1 is a lot more streamlined than BG2, so while BG1 is something you can speed through once you know what you're doing, able to skip tons of areas if you deem it unworthy of your time, etc. but BG2 is a massive expansive world that is a lot more difficult to navigate. it also runs a lot longer than BG1 does. because you'll be a higher level than in BG1, you also spend more time micro-managing rounds & high level spells which can definitely be intimidating as well as frustrating, especially if you struggle to grasp how the game's combat works.

i feel like the game runs a good 20-30 hours too long, and it should've been a bit more comparable to the first game. you are constantly being bombarded with new side quests, companions, companion quests, etc. and i struggled to settle in and get to know all the characters (this very obviously suggests that multiple playthrus are almost necessary at a point to experience everything the game has to offer.

also, BG2 has one of the all time greatest villains and that alone makes it a classic just like it's predecessor and successor were/are

Sequel to one of the best RPG's and it only got better! can't get enough of this series

I have played a lot of classic cRPGs but man this game makes me feel stupid, or I'm just being old and impatient. That’s what I tell myself anyway.

Just like its predecessor, Baldur's Gate 2 is a great role-playing game. The rich world of the Forgotten Realms is presented in a new light in this game. From the well-known Sword Coast, we went to the Lands of Intrigue - Amn and Thetyr were open to us. We were given the opportunity to visit new locations, meet new people, and renew relationships with well-known characters. Each of them, just like our protagonist, struggles with the demons of their own past. It is up to us whether we will support them in this, or perhaps our twisted, divine blood will force us to be indifferent to their pain. The Throne of Bhaal expansion adds a new, more epic dimension to the gameplay. Thanks to it, we have access to skills unavailable in the previous version.
And finally we can decide what fate awaits our Bhaalspawn, their 'siblings' and the existence of Bhaal - the god of murder himself. The Enhanced Edition once again rose to the occasion, refreshing the visual part of the game as well as its gameplay. Thanks to this renewal, we also got a new companion - one of my favorites, a vampire lady named Hexxat. If you want to find out what happened on the Sword Coast and the Lands of Intrigue before we got Baldur's Gate 3, definitely check out this game. You will meet some familiar faces who, over a hundred years later, will still visit Baldur's Gate, telling stories of their past adventures.

You can always enchance your expierience with many, MANY mods available out there. I can honestly recommend Lava's mods, which give the impression that they were made by the official creators of the game (find them here -> https://www.weaselmods.net).

Pros:
- Classic isometric cRPG, for hardcore and new fans as well.
- The rich world of the Forgotten Realms, shown in a new light.
- A colorful group of companions - something good (or... bad) for everyone.
- Did I mentioned romances (if you're into that)? Yeah, romances.
- A captivating story that gives a closure to this particular Bhaalspawn protagonist.
- Many different gameplay styles to test.
- An extensive modding community, adding a lot of fresh, new elements to the gameplay.

Cons:
- Outdated graphics, that may discourage new players for whom the visual aspects must be on par with current technical capabilities.

Final score: 10/10

Yes. Good old classic bioware goodness.

Good Story. A lot of stuff to do. This game sees a lot of replay despite being a long game. Plenty of characters from the first game show up in this one too... including your own. Just like the first game it also uses Second Edition rules with minor tuning for balance on PC.

Lost charm of first game, buggier than first and feels both bloated and linear at once. SoA's villain in Irenicus is its only saving grace.

I played the original Baldur’s Gate many years ago but never got around to starting Baldur’s Gate II. It wasn’t until I completed the massively successful Baldur’s Gate 3—twice—that I felt compelled to go back and finally finish the second game. I was particularly interested in revisiting the storylines and trying to remember (or discover) some of the characters that appear in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Baldur’s Gate II is a very enjoyable experience, but keep in mind that it’s a decades-old game. The graphics, understandably, don’t hold up to modern standards, and the gameplay can take a bit of time to adjust to. That said, the storyline is excellent, and the game offers countless hours of engaging entertainment.

Don’t expect to breeze through all your enemies without effort. You’ll need to pay attention to quest logs, experiment with strategies, and figure out what works (and what doesn’t). The game can be challenging, especially if you’re unfamiliar with D&D mechanics, but there are plenty of excellent guides online to help you along the way. You don’t need to min/max your characters to succeed, but I highly recommend taking a balanced party to handle a variety of challenges.

If you’re a D&D fan and don’t mind playing an older game, Baldur’s Gate II is absolutely worth your time. It’s a classic that still holds up as one of the best RPGs ever made.

No demon children you have to defend. No love affairs with gay vampires. No Mexican Orcs or gay Dwarven bakers. Just pure sweet adventure, combat, and loot, with good vs. evil, or you can BE evil, if you want, just like D&D used to be and hopefully will be again. I've played through this maybe seven times in the past, and playing through it again. I don't think I have any cons for this game except maybe the graphics are slightly dated by today's standards. But if you let that put you off this game, you a missing one of the greatest epic quest adventure stories in gaming history.

I've had this game since inception and I had the OG beamdog launcher version before it crapped out,
do not let the low hours fool you, I've had this game in one shape or another since 2000 in fact I still prefer 1 and 2 over 3.
Not that 3 is bad mind you, just a more personal connection to the character I made.
My favorite RPG of all time, and my second favorite game of all time, next to Mechwarrior 2 being my number 1.

I like that it follows (mostly) 2nd edition rules, which brings back fond memories, and is the main (if not the only) reason I have installed it in the first place in 2024. Unfortunately, it cheats like there is no tomorrow (on normal difficulty), no idea why. Example: Ice Memphis encounter, where the AC of the attacked creature is HIGHER than my main charecter's THACO, and my characters still manages to miss 4 times in a row (later landing a hit every now and then, so it is not immunity, which would be a different thing of course). F**k that, pardon my french. Played 4 hours, noticed a pattern (insane amounts of misses, across the board, even with goblins, ffs), checked the stats, realised I'm taken for a ride, uninstalled. Maybe it is a great game, and an all time classic, but this amount of...hmmm...."inbalance" is not something I want to spend my free time with.

I've been playing this game since purchasing the original back in the 90s. It's hard to say any game I've been playing for 25+ years isn't great, but this is one of my personal favorites. Between playing as different classes, playing solo without a party, making different game choices, and exploring things like romances, this game has tons of replay value. I own it on Steam, Mobile, GOG, and my original version. This version is my favorite and the cloud saves keeps it so I can play when I want to, take a break when I want to, and keep my different games going even on new computers. After 25+ years, I still have things I haven't played but want to, and still discover new things every time I play through.

There's not many games out there that do sequels just as good as their original counter part and there's not many games out there that do it better and improve on the story line, then you have that once in a trillion sequel that comes along that offers the same magical experience as the first one and makes you feel you are playing it for the first time and at every corner, every fight, every dialogue, side quest, every piece of lore you come across, you are "wowed" into the game.

BG2 follows through as if its first masterpiece, as if its 1998 and you are experiencing it all over again the game is absolutely fantastic.

BG2 offers one of the most solid story lines for the genre it follows the D&D rules down to a T and its absolutely fun to play on any difficulty level.
Make sure to save often, saving is King and while doing so, choose different dialogues/actions to change the outcome of not only the game but with your posse also.

The graphics (for the time) are great, the UI is spot on, inventory and items are so easy to figure out and use, assigning hotkeys etc, (every developer needs to learn to make is simple and productive like BG), the game play oozes with fun, its challenging and rewarding, do it wrong and it will hurt you especially on harder levels but hey that's how RPG's should be played, then comes the music, absolutely brilliant, buying the soundtrack is so well worth it, you will find yourself at times just listening to the music and loving it.

BG2 is a must for not only the avid RPG fan but for everyone that appreciates the classics. Get in there and explore and immerse yourself into the world of D&D!

A very dated RPG with a clumsy, sometimes painfully buggy game engine that's more inventory management software than anything else.

It's also still one of the best RPGs I've ever played.

One of the greatest RPGs of all time, even to this day. It set the stage for ALL modern western RPGs that came after. If you played Baldur's Gate 3 and have not played Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 out of respect, you are an embarrassment, don't talk to me.

I liked it less than the first Baldur's gate but I use it to learn languages nowadays because I know the story and can better deduct the meaning of the words without actually searching in a dictionnary.
The best tool to learn... I upgraded my German and Italian with his Game and probably going to use it for Russian next,

This is a tentative recommend. Mostly for the same reasons I tentatively recommended BG1.

This is an old game.
There are many things which a modern player might find difficult and even more they might find unacceptable. So if you are not into retro games probably best to give this a miss.

The good
The story is great.
Hearing David Warner's voice acting is chef's kiss.
You can skip all the splash screens and intro videos.
There is a quit to desktop option in the in game menu.

The not good.
Active pause is a terrible mechanic. You really need to love micro.
The RTS style controls often made me want to uninstall the game.
The AD&D SE rule set is really really bad.

There is a charming nostalgia to playing this and if you can persevere through all the frustration with early 2000's PC gaming there is a lot of fun to be had.
If you have no nostalgia for this series or retro games then I do not think you will enjoy this.

Might be one of the best RPGs of its time. But certainly does not match up to DOS or DOS II imho.

Still much better than pillars of eternity. A low bar I know.

Still one of my favorites after all these years!

Playing the extended edition some 20 years after my first time around with BGII. So much has changed in video games in the interim, but it still delivers a compelling experience.