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How Many Hours Does It Take to Beat Baldur’s Gate 3?

Baldur’s Gate 3, the sprawling RPG from Larian Studios, is a game that respects your time…or completely devours it, depending on how you approach it. The answer to “How long does it take to beat Baldur’s Gate 3?” isn’t a simple one. If you focus solely on the main objectives, you’re looking at around 75-100 hours. However, if you’re a completionist determined to see every nook and cranny, experience every side quest, and unlock all the game’s secrets, prepare for a journey that can easily stretch to 140 hours or more. Some players have reported needing even longer to achieve true 100% completion. The immense freedom and player choice ingrained in BG3’s design directly impact its playtime.

Factors Influencing Playthrough Length

Several factors dramatically affect the length of your Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough:

Playstyle: Are you a speedrunner, a main-story enthusiast, or a meticulous explorer? Speedrunners have impressively completed the game in under 15 minutes, while explorers will inevitably spend hundreds of hours.
Difficulty: Playing on easier difficulties might allow you to breeze through combat encounters more quickly, while Tactician mode will require careful planning and execution, extending your playtime.
Side Quests: Ignoring side quests drastically shortens your playtime. Conversely, engaging with every side quest, dialogue option, and exploration opportunity will significantly increase it.
Character Choices: The choices you make throughout the game impact both the story and the content you’ll experience. Different character builds and party compositions can also influence combat difficulty and overall speed.
Exploration Habits: Do you meticulously explore every corner of the map, searching for hidden items and secrets? Or do you stick to the main paths? Explorers will naturally spend far more time with the game.
Familiarity with D&D 5e: Players familiar with the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition ruleset upon which Baldur’s Gate 3 is based will likely grasp the combat and character progression systems faster, potentially reducing their playtime.

Act Length Breakdown

Baldur’s Gate 3 is divided into three main acts (plus a brief Prologue). Each act varies considerably in length:

Act 1: Approximately 50 hours. This act serves as an introduction to the world, characters, and gameplay mechanics.
Act 2: Approximately 70 hours. This act typically offers a larger, denser map with more complex quests and challenges.
Act 3: Approximately 40-50 hours. Although possibly shorter in physical space, this area is packed with content and complexity. It is also the most complex and dynamic section of the game.

These are just estimates, of course. The actual time spent in each act will vary widely depending on your playstyle.

The Completionist Experience

Achieving 100% completion in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a monumental task. It involves:

Completing every quest, both main and side.
Exploring every region and uncovering all secrets.
Experiencing all possible character interactions and dialogue options.
Unlocking all achievements.
Potentially playing through the game multiple times to see different outcomes and character stories.

Be warned: a completionist run of Baldur’s Gate 3 is a significant time investment.

Baldur’s Gate 3 and Learning

While seemingly just a source of entertainment, Baldur’s Gate 3 offers many potential learning opportunities to its players. The game necessitates strategic thinking, problem-solving, teamwork (if playing multiplayer), and a strong understanding of risk assessment. These can be useful in other areas of life and are the focus of organizations such as the Games Learning Society. For more information on the educational impact of gaming, see GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Baldur’s Gate 3 hard?

Yes, Baldur’s Gate 3 can be challenging, especially for players unfamiliar with D&D 5e or similar tactical RPGs. However, the game offers multiple difficulty settings to cater to different skill levels.

2. How long does it take to reach Baldur’s Gate in BG3?

You’ll reach Baldur’s Gate in Act 3. This typically takes around 60 hours, but can be faster if you focus on the main story.

3. How many endings does BG3 have?

Baldur’s Gate 3 boasts an impressive number of ending variations – around 17,000, thanks to the countless decisions players make throughout their journey.

4. What is the maximum level in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The maximum level in Baldur’s Gate 3 is 12, lower than the tabletop D&D 5e’s level cap of 20.

5. Can you play Baldur’s Gate 3 solo?

Yes, you can play Baldur’s Gate 3 solo. Modders have even created “Lone Wolf” modes to enhance the solo experience.

6. How many acts are in Baldur’s Gate 3?

There are three main acts in Baldur’s Gate 3, plus a short Prologue.

7. Can you be evil in BG3?

Yes, you can absolutely be evil in Baldur’s Gate 3. The game allows for a wide range of moral choices, and playing as a villain can be a rewarding experience.

8. Is Baldur’s Gate 3 bigger than Divinity: Original Sin 2?

While both are massive RPGs, Baldur’s Gate 3 is generally considered a bigger game than Divinity: Original Sin 2 in terms of content and scope.

9. What happens if you don’t help the Emperor in BG3?

The Emperor plays a vital role in protecting you from corruption. Fighting him comes with significant consequences, including facing his Intellect Devourers and Githyanki invaders.

10. Will there be DLC for BG3?

Currently, there are no confirmed plans for DLC, but Larian Studios hasn’t ruled out the possibility of future expansions.

11. Why is Baldur’s Gate 3 so good?

Baldur’s Gate 3 is praised for its deep characters, complex narrative, player agency, and the sheer amount of content it offers.

12. How far can you romance in BG3?

You can form romantic attachments with several characters, including Shadowheart, Astarion, Wyll, Lae’zel, Gale, Karlach, Halsin, and Minthara.

13. Should I play BG3 on easy?

There’s no shame in playing Baldur’s Gate 3 on easy, especially if you’re new to the genre. It allows you to enjoy the story and characters without being overwhelmed by the combat.

14. What is the best act in Baldur’s Gate 3?

While subjective, Act 3 is often considered the best due to its unparalleled freedom, exploration, and density of content.

15. How long was Baldur’s Gate 3 in early access?

Baldur’s Gate 3 was in early access for approximately three years, allowing Larian Studios to gather feedback and refine the game before its full release.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the time it takes to beat Baldur’s Gate 3 depends entirely on your personal playstyle and goals. Whether you’re a speedrunner, a completionist, or somewhere in between, Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a rich and rewarding experience that can provide hundreds of hours of entertainment. So, grab your dice, gather your party, and prepare for an epic adventure that is uniquely your own.

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