Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 brought console gamers a classic Dungeons & Dragons tabletop RPG on a scale the genre hadn't seen in a long time. At the outset, the hero is infected by a parasite that threatens to transform him into something entirely different, and the search for a cure leads through forests, swamps, subterranean realms, and the city of Baldur's Gate itself. Players can create a character from a wide range of races and classes, or take control of one of the prepared companions, each with their own motivations, secrets, and opinions about the hero's decisions.

Combat is turn-based, following the fifth edition rules, with dice rolls, actions and bonus actions, terrain height, and plenty of room for ingenuity. Practically every problem has more than one solution: it can be negotiated, bypassed with a spell, solved through a quiet break-in, or simply set on fire. The game's strength lies in accounting for approaches other RPGs wouldn't allow — killing an important character, sacrificing an ally, or a completely unexpected dice roll outcome. Co-op for up to four players, including split-screen on a single console, is one of the few ways to experience an RPG of this scale together. The environment also plays its part: burning oil, knocking an opponent off a height, or a frozen floor can decide a fight just as reliably as a well-chosen spell.

On PlayStation 5, the game runs smoothly, and fast loading helps considerably given how often you revisit saved positions; gamepad controls got their own radial menus and were designed from the ground up rather than simply ported from the PC version. The storytelling is backed by an extensive voice cast and directed dialogue, and the music, alternating chamber motifs with songs, has an unusually strong identity. Reception was extraordinary, and the game noticeably raised expectations for choice-driven possibilities in modern RPGs. Today it's a staple in the library of anyone who loves narrative-driven games — just be prepared for dozens of hours and an appetite for reading. The screen also fits a journal, map, and inventory without shrinking the text, which for a game with this many items is no small feat.