Baldur's Gate II

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 11,855 reviews

story1.7k positive mentions

stability210 negative mentions

The game features a deep and engaging storyline with rich character development, moral dilemmas, and memorable twists that set a high standard for modern RPGs.
The enhanced edition brings updated graphics, improved gameplay mechanics, and additional content, making it a worthwhile experience for both new and returning players.
Character development is intricate and meaningful, allowing players to shape their characters through choices and interactions, resulting in a captivating narrative.

The game suffers from dated graphics and a clunky UI, which may deter new players and frustrate those accustomed to modern standards.
Many players report numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration during gameplay.
The gameplay can be tedious and requires significant grinding, with some mechanics feeling outdated and cumbersome, particularly for newcomers.

story
4,348 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
59%
2%
The story of "Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn" is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and engaging narrative, featuring rich character development and moral dilemmas. 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 game is celebrated as a classic RPG that offers a captivating experience filled with memorable twists and a compelling main antagonist, Jon Irenicus.
- “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.”
- “The story is a fantastic continuation and ending to the Bhaalspawn story, and there are innumerable ways to play the game.”
- “The story in Baldur's Gate II is a letdown.”
- “The world is just a mishmash of fantasy tropes; most of the lore you learn will apply to the quest you're currently doing and nothing else.”
- “The story falls apart into ridiculousness except the game pretends it hasn't and you're supposed to too.”
gameplay
1,342 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
4%
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 game features rich storytelling, character customization, and a wealth of quests, many players find the mechanics dated and occasionally cumbersome, with a steep learning curve that can be daunting for newcomers. Despite its flaws, the game remains a classic RPG, praised for its engaging narrative and depth, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “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.”
- “The gameplay in 'Baldur's Gate 2' 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.”
- “The gameplay is tedious at best and the story and cast are pretty bog-standard D&D basics.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay isn't changed (characters still have trouble pathfinding and casting spells) and the action is still so fast you have to pause every 2 seconds so you don't get to enjoy seeing things play out.”
graphics
1,037 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
66%
11%
The graphics of Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its original release in 2000, yet they maintain a certain charm that resonates with fans of classic RPGs. While some players appreciate the nostalgic 2D art style and the enhancements made in the updated version, others find the visuals lackluster compared to modern standards, which may deter new players. Overall, the game's strong narrative and gameplay often overshadow its graphical shortcomings, making it a beloved title for those who prioritize story and mechanics over visual fidelity.
- “The updated graphics are a delight, breathing new life into the beautifully crafted environments and character models.”
- “A classic game to scratch the itch of classic isomorphic RPG D&D gameplay with HD-ized graphics and a compelling storyline and epic world.”
- “The enhanced edition of the game brings updated graphics, improved gameplay mechanics, and additional content to the classic RPG experience.”
- “The art style was changed for this one and doesn't feel as natural for this environment as the art in the original did.”
- “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 ugly.”
replayability
294 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
49%
1%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting its depth, diverse character classes, and numerous choices that significantly alter gameplay experiences. The inclusion of multiple companions, romance options, and branching storylines further enhances replay value, making it a favorite among fans of role-playing games. Additionally, the availability of mods and the game's rich content ensure that players can enjoy countless hours of varied gameplay.
- “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.”
- “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, and the only redeeming feature is that it is an epic game that sprawls through every facet of the Dungeons and Dragons game.”
- “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.”
- “The replay value of the base game is immense already, the amount of content, the forking story in chapter 3 (you choose a side in a conflict), and the many ways to complete quests—good or evil ways—and the amount of companions, most with their own side quests and interjections, can allow for entirely new experiences.”
music
288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised as one of its standout features, with many reviewers describing the soundtrack as epic, beautiful, and immersive, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. The compositions are noted for their ability to evoke strong emotions and fit seamlessly with the game's various scenarios, making it memorable long after playing. While a few users mentioned glitches affecting the music, the overwhelming consensus is that the soundtrack is a timeless masterpiece that significantly contributes to the game's legacy.
- “The musical score, a blend of nostalgic and new compositions, perfectly complements the epic journey you undertake.”
- “It creates an immersive atmosphere and with the beautiful soundtrack playing alongside your travels you really feel part of the world.”
- “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, unbelievable that a stupid glitch like this happens in 2024.”
- “The music is annoying, especially when loading the game.”
- “While the UI update was definitely jarring to me and 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 TSFH, but it crashes the game every time it's minimized now).”
stability
220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
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, it still suffers from persistent issues, particularly in multiplayer modes and with newly added content. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," leading to frustration and requiring frequent saving to mitigate the impact of these technical 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.”
humor
125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and memorable character interactions, with players enjoying the antics of characters like Minsc and Jan Jansen, whose quirky dialogue adds a delightful charm to the experience. Many reviews highlight the balance of humor with serious storytelling, creating a rich narrative that feels alive and engaging. While some feel the humor may not resonate as strongly as in previous installments, the overall consensus is that the game successfully blends wit, charm, and comedic moments within its expansive role-playing environment.
- “It's a weird combination of incredible music, terrific writing, diverse and interesting characters, epic spells and abilities, and weird quirky humor at times.”
- “The dialogue in this game is probably the best of any game ever made -- epic when it needs to be, and hilarious otherwise.”
- “Different companions and party configurations add lots and lots of fun interactions with you, with NPCs, and among them... starting hilarious conversations that are a delight (especially if you keep Minsc and Boo with you, and maybe drop in a certain 'intelligent' sword to the mix).”
atmosphere
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
37%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by beautiful graphics, a captivating soundtrack, and rich lore that invites exploration. Despite its dated visuals, the game successfully creates a vibrant and engaging world filled with memorable characters and emotional depth, making it a standout experience in the RPG genre. Players appreciate the intricate details in environments and interactions, which contribute to a unique and inviting atmosphere that remains unmatched even years after its release.
- “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. It's damn beautiful to look at; 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 (that applies mostly to BG1 but still - compare their UI to BG Tutu, for instance), 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.”
- “This uncomparable atmosphere of the game is really much amplified by the outstanding soundtrack, which is so grand and epic, even I'm not much of an orchestral music fan.”
grinding
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and clunky, with many players expressing frustration over repetitive tasks, slow combat mechanics, and cumbersome inventory management. While some appreciate the depth and flexibility of the gameplay, the overall sentiment leans towards a need for significant patience and time investment, often requiring players to engage in extensive grinding to progress. Despite its nostalgic appeal, many reviewers find the experience marred by monotony and poor pacing.
- “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.”
- “I know I'll ruffle a few feathers by saying it, but I found BG1 to be an unbelievably tedious mess, mired by terrible pacing, woefully uninteresting story, plainly irritating quest design, and a myriad of other issues.”
- “The problem lies in the pacing of them and in the design of making every single step through those quests as tedious as possible.”
character development
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
44%
4%
Character development in this game is widely praised for its depth and intricacy, with many players highlighting the engaging narratives, meaningful relationships, and the ability to shape characters through choices and interactions. Despite its age, the game continues to set a high standard for character development in RPGs, offering a rich blend of storytelling, personal quests, and romance that captivates players. However, some critiques mention that certain aspects of character development can be missed due to gameplay mechanics, which may frustrate players seeking a more comprehensive experience.
- “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 (Karlach 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.”
emotional
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised for its depth and the strong connections players form with richly developed characters and their stories, often leading to profound experiences, including moments of joy and sorrow. However, some players feel that the dialogue can be excessive and detracts from the overall emotional impact, with certain attempts at humor and emotional expression coming off as overdone. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, making it a memorable and immersive experience.
- “I absolutely adore this game: rich, interesting characters, beautiful environments, deeply customizable and complicated builds, an emotional and interesting story.”
- “Voice acting and sound design remain top-notch, bringing emotional weight to dialogues and adding to the overall atmosphere.”
- “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.”
optimization
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
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, such as new NPCs and features, enhance accessibility and performance, making it a worthwhile experience for both new and returning players. Overall, the improvements in stability and performance have garnered positive feedback, contributing to a more enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “It also addresses compatibility issues with modern systems, ensuring a smoother and more stable performance.”
- “Super happy that this was re-released and optimized for modern hardware systems.”
- “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.”
monetization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is viewed positively, as it harks back to a time before the prevalence of early access, DLCs, and microtransactions, offering a complete and bug-free experience. Players feel they receive good value for their money, contrasting it with modern practices that often prioritize profit over quality. However, some critiques suggest that the game's marketing may mislead players into expecting more than what is delivered.
- “This game is from a time before early access, DLCs, and microtransactions ruined gaming, back when games released complete and virtually bug-free.”
- “I'll title this version Baldur's Gate II: Cash Grab Edition.”
- “Because anyone advertising an 'enhanced' version, the expectation is something actually enhanced.”

73%Critics’ scoreBased on 19 critic reviews

Buy Baldur's Gate II

85h Median play time

190h Average play time

21-210h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 66 analyzed playthroughs

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Baldur's Gate II

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Swords for Everyone! -- Baldur's Gate I & II, Planescape: Torment & Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition for Switch

They Didn’t Enhance Enough

Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition Pack PS4 Review

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