Baldur's Gate II

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,913 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Baldur's Gate II Game Cover
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"Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition" is an updated version of the classic RPG, featuring the original Shadows of Amn campaign, Throne of Bhaal expansion, and new arena battles in Black Pits II. It includes 11 playable classes, iconic characters like Minsc and Boo, and new NPCs with customizable player voices. The new difficulty setting, Story Mode, allows players to prioritize story and exploration over combat.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,913 reviews
story843 positive mentions
stability104 negative mentions
  • Deep and engaging storyline with complex characters and moral dilemmas.
  • Enhanced features improve accessibility while preserving the essence of the original.
  • Unparalleled character customization and diverse companions with unique backstories.
  • Combat can feel clunky and overwhelming, especially for newcomers unfamiliar with D&D mechanics.
  • Pathfinding issues can lead to frustrating moments where characters get stuck.
  • Some new content added in the Enhanced Edition is considered poorly written and detracts from the original experience.
  • story2,168 mentions

    The story of "Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn" is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and engaging narrative, featuring a rich tapestry of character development, moral dilemmas, and memorable plot twists. Players appreciate the seamless integration of new companions and quests in the enhanced edition, which expand upon the original storyline while maintaining its epic scope. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and occasional bugs, the overall consensus is that the game offers one of the most compelling and immersive storytelling experiences in the RPG genre, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “It's a masterpiece of storytelling that still sets the bar for modern RPGs.”
    • “The story is incredibly compelling, with a lot of twists and turns that will keep you engaged from start to finish.”
    • “The story, characters, and the depth of the world, the jokes, the strategy... whenever I get back to BG, I always find something new.”
    • “The story is much worse than Baldur's Gate I.”
    • “The main quest is extremely linear and has a habit of getting you locked into these very long chapters.”
    • “The only other disappointment story-wise I feel is the ending quarter of the Shadows of Amn campaign which I felt could have used more quests to flesh the characters/area out much more.”
  • gameplay669 mentions

    The gameplay of Baldur's Gate II is deeply rooted in the Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition ruleset, offering a complex and strategic experience that rewards players willing to learn its mechanics. While the real-time with pause combat system can feel cumbersome and the interface is dated, the game excels in character customization, storytelling, and replayability, making it a classic RPG that still captivates players today. However, newcomers may find the steep learning curve and intricate mechanics challenging, necessitating the use of guides or prior experience with the series.

    • “The gameplay in 'Baldur's Gate II' is deep and rewarding, with strategic real-time combat, complex character customization options, and a wealth of quests and side activities to keep you engaged for hours on end.”
    • “The enhanced edition masterfully revamps the original game, preserving the essence that made it a classic while introducing modern enhancements that significantly improve the gameplay experience.”
    • “Gameplay mechanics have been refined to enhance accessibility without compromising the tactical complexity that fans adore.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious at best and the story and cast are pretty bog-standard D&D basics.”
    • “The mechanics are harder to understand, and a lot of the 2nd edition D&D rules are strange, but if you run into trouble just turn the difficulty down a notch or two.”
    • “The UI is outdated and awkward, the mechanics are often questionable and frustrating, the visuals are of course decades out of date, the RPG rules used here (2nd edition AD&D) are probably the worst incarnation of D&D and if you don't remember a time when this game represented the pinnacle of CRPGs I expect you'll likely find it frustrating and annoying.”
  • graphics517 mentions

    The graphics of Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its original release in 2000, yet many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and artistic style that have aged relatively well. While some users express disappointment with the lack of significant graphical updates, others find the enhanced visuals and interface improvements breathe new life into the game, making it more accessible to modern audiences. Overall, the consensus is that while the graphics may not meet contemporary standards, the engaging story and gameplay more than compensate for any visual shortcomings.

    • “The updated graphics and new features make the game more accessible to modern audiences and the game runs smoothly on modern computers.”
    • “The graphics have been seriously worked upon as well, delivering a good appeal visually, most of the other things like the party system, the open-ended quest system, and the isometric CRPG system remain unchanged.”
    • “The enhanced edition brings forth compatibility with modern PCs along with several graphical enhancements, as well as new gameplay content.”
    • “The graphics are outdated, which may discourage new players for whom the visual aspects must be on par with current technical capabilities.”
    • “The graphics, understandably, don’t hold up to modern standards, and the gameplay can take a bit of time to adjust to.”
    • “The graphics are old but the gameplay remains simply stellar to this day.”
  • replayability147 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting its depth, diverse character classes, and branching storylines that encourage multiple playthroughs. The inclusion of various companions, romance options, and mod support further enhances the replay value, making it a standout title in the RPG genre. Overall, players find the game endlessly engaging, with countless choices and outcomes that keep them returning for more.

    • “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.”
    • “The game is very replayable, with multiple companions, romance and stronghold options, story branches and quests.”
    • “The replayability is amazing, as most quests can be solved in multiple ways, often good or evil, and each class gets its own unique missions to acquire their base.”
    • “The replay value of this game is almost impossible to measure.”
    • “That being said, one of the only downfalls to this game is that its worldbuilding ability is far from stellar; in fact, aside from the multiplayer story mode, this game has no real replay value.”
    • “Replayability is decent; the main story stays the same, but you can play as evil or good, change group members to change the gameplay, and follow their storylines.”
  • music144 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised as one of its standout features, with many reviewers highlighting its epic and immersive quality that enhances the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as beautiful, memorable, and fitting for various in-game scenarios, often evoking strong emotions and nostalgia. While a few users noted minor issues, the overwhelming consensus is that the music is exceptional, making it a key element of the game's enduring appeal.

    • “The musical score, a blend of nostalgic and new compositions, perfectly complements the epic journey you undertake.”
    • “The music is just a feast for the ears, with tunes that symbolize calm ambiance, epic battles, and everything in between.”
    • “The soundtrack will stay with you forever (nostalgia hits me every time I open the main menu), and all tracks fit every scenario like a glove, finishing the immersion with a flourish.”
    • “The music never works; it's unbelievable that a stupid glitch like this happens in 2024.”
    • “While the UI update was definitely jarring to me, I haven't played as much Baldur's Gate as I used to (usually because the in-game music always sucked in my opinion and I liked replacing it with other music, but it crashes the game every time it's minimized now).”
    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
  • stability109 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience. While some players note that the enhanced edition is less buggy than the original, issues persist, particularly in multiplayer modes and with newly added content, leading to frustration and a need for frequent saving. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," with many recommending caution before purchasing due to its ongoing stability problems.

    • “Works 'straight out of the box' with no messing around and appears to be completely bug free!”
    • “This game is from a time before early access, DLCs, and microtransactions ruined gaming, back when games released complete and virtually bug free.”
    • “The game has been out since November 2013 and still shows no bugs, making it a great experience.”
    • “A very dated RPG with a clumsy, sometimes painfully buggy game engine that's more inventory management software than anything else.”
    • “The game in general is a buggy mess and the writing and conceptualization of the new content is poor, badly conceived and does not fit with the original game at all.”
    • “It's a lot of fun, but borderline unplayable due to the constant glitches and how often the game crashed, especially during cutscenes.”
  • humor62 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and memorable character interactions, with players enjoying the quirky antics of characters like Minsc and Jan Jansen. The blend of heartfelt moments and comedic dialogue creates a rich, immersive experience, making the characters feel alive and relatable. While some feel the humor may not resonate as strongly as in earlier installments, the overall consensus is that the game successfully balances humor with its serious narrative, providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout.

    • “Whether you're laughing at Minsc's antics or navigating Viconia's complexities, the party dynamics are unmatched.”
    • “The writing is excellent, the humor hilarious, the characters are interesting and multi-dimensional.”
    • “The dialogue in this game is probably the best of any game ever made -- epic when it needs to be, and hilarious otherwise.”
  • atmosphere50 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed world, enhanced by beautiful graphics, a captivating soundtrack, and strong voice acting. Players appreciate the depth of lore and character interactions that contribute to a vibrant fantasy setting, making exploration and storytelling particularly engaging. Despite its age, the game’s atmosphere remains unmatched, drawing players into a memorable and emotionally resonant experience.

    • “With all that out of the way, it's still a very fun and endearing game once it gets going. The dungeons are neat and the encounters are challenging - requiring you to use every spell/tool at your disposal to progress past them. The art, audio, and atmosphere are incredible and definitely a major highlight of the overall experience.”
    • “It creates an immersive atmosphere, and with the beautiful soundtrack playing alongside your travels, you really feel part of the world.”
    • “All these things, in conjunction with the game's substantial lore, help build up an incredibly immersive atmosphere.”
    • “Instead they introduced a horrible UI design, disgusting new art/cinematic/portraits made in a completely different style, that distracts and ruin the whole atmosphere.”
    • “When you look at screens alone, some places look gross, but when you actually play, somehow you feel real atmosphere in every place, and everything, no matter how odd, just fits perfectly and enriches the world.”
    • “Dated graphics mean nothing; the mechanics and atmosphere demolish recent games.”
  • grinding49 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with many citing slow combat mechanics, clunky controls, and repetitive quest design as major drawbacks. While some appreciate the depth and flexibility of the gameplay, the overwhelming amount of backtracking, inventory management, and the need for extensive grinding detracts from the overall experience, making it feel unnecessarily prolonged and monotonous. Despite these criticisms, a few players still find enjoyment in the game, particularly for its nostalgic value and strategic elements.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious at best and the story and cast are pretty bog-standard D&D basics.”
    • “The problem lies in the pacing of them and in the design of making every single step through those quests as tedious as possible.”
    • “I played the first ten minutes and I was completely turned off by the tedious mechanics and by not knowing what is going on (and not being satisfied by the tutorial's explanation of how to do things).”
  • character development42 mentions

    Character development in this game is widely praised for its depth and intricacy, with many players highlighting the engaging narratives and meaningful relationships that enhance the overall experience. Despite its age, the game continues to set a high standard for character progression and storytelling, offering players significant choices and emotional arcs that resonate deeply. While some critiques mention limitations in quest design and pacing, the overall consensus is that the character development remains a standout feature, contributing to the game's status as a classic in the RPG genre.

    • “As someone who cherishes deep storytelling, intricate character development, and immersive world-building, this game delivers on all fronts and then some.”
    • “One of the game's crowning achievements is its character development.”
    • “Deep character development, storyline, relationship building, roleplaying elements, and sheer replayability will have you spending many hours in this classic.”
    • “Bg3 was bottlenecked into three regions, those regions were bottlenecked further by level expectations on quests within each region, which were then piled on with abstract completion quotas for character development that can easily be missed (Karla let me down easy because... I didn't do enough long rests in part 2? Wtf? I'm punished for not sucking?).”
    • “Even for a game written before choice mechanics and branching storylines became 'big', there is a surprising amount of leeway in character development and in the details of how the story progresses (even though the plot is linear).”
    • “It's apparent Bioware was just beginning their pedigree with this title, and while future titles implemented more comprehensive relationship options and development of characters, for its time, this nailed the freedom of choice and character development.”
  • emotional23 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its rich character development and deeply engaging story, which evoke strong feelings and connections with players. While some find the dialogue excessive and occasionally tedious, many appreciate the emotional weight brought by the voice acting and sound design, enhancing the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully combines humor and heart-wrenching moments, creating a memorable emotional journey that resonates with players long after they finish.

    • “Few games can match its depth, replayability, and emotional impact.”
    • “I absolutely adore this game: rich, interesting characters, beautiful environments, deeply customizable and complicated builds, an emotional and interesting story.”
    • “I was so moved when I read about Kelemvor, Cyric, and Midnight in the expansion Throne of Bhaal, that I couldn't help myself... I cried.”
  • optimization20 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been well-received, with users noting that the enhanced edition runs smoothly on modern systems, including Windows 10, and addresses compatibility issues effectively. The updated graphics and additional content enhance accessibility for new players while maintaining the classic gameplay experience. Overall, the improvements in performance and stability have made the game a worthwhile re-release for both veterans and newcomers alike.

    • “The updated graphics and new features make the game more accessible to modern audiences, and the game runs smoothly on modern computers.”
    • “Overall happy on the improvements made to the game's performance and stability.”
    • “Instead of watching this performance by Beamdog the understudy, it's just as well to buy the original on Steam or GOG and give that a go - you'll spare yourself from a lot of grief, exceptionally bad voice acting, and a myriad of bugs to choke an otyugh.”
    • “First of all, this game is just the original game, with a few extra graphical 'improvements'. There is nothing new to add to that, but if you want the classic gameplay of Baldur's Gate 2 with improvements to performance and the ability to run on more modern systems, then it's worth a go!”
    • “The enhanced edition is the way to go as it includes the extra NPCs that come with that one and also has far better optimization for modern OS such as Windows 10.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is viewed positively, as it is appreciated for being a complete and bug-free experience without the pitfalls of modern practices like early access, DLCs, and microtransactions. Players feel they received good value for their money, contrasting it with contemporary titles that often rely on aggressive monetization strategies.

    • “This quiet little game is really strange, but it's the type that I probably wouldn't have even noticed if it wasn't for the ads and the first entry.”
    • “I'll title this version Baldur's Gate II: Cash Grab Edition.”
    • “This game is from a time before early access, DLCs, and microtransactions ruined gaming, back when games released complete and virtually bug-free.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

85hMedian play time
190hAverage play time
21-210hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 33 analyzed playthroughs

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