Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios’ hugely popular 2023 CRPG, boasts incredible potential for replayability. And we are replaying it, constantly: Three years after launch, BG3’s weekend peaks still hit around 75,000 concurrent players on Steam.
Chances are, if you’re one of those players, you don’t need an excuse for a new Baldur’s Gate 3 run. But if you are looking for a focused challenge as you do, we’ve got you covered. Next time you hit “New Game,” consider the following twists for your adventure.
1
Keep all your companions alive on a permadeath run
Thanks to Withers and Revivify, when a companion dies in Baldur’s Gate 3, it never feels too-too devastating. That’s comforting, but it can take the edge off combat. Reintroducing life-or-death stakes adds that tension right back in. The idea that a beloved party member could leave you forever after any unlucky encounter, misstep, or bad dialogue choice is terrifying — and enough to leave you sweating through every combat action you take, even if it’s your umpteenth time playing the game.
2
Save the world as a party of two
Already got an idea about your next love story in Baldur’s Gate 3? What if you upped the drama by attempting to save the world with just one companion: A romantic partner, sibling, or best friend, perhaps.
Create your character, get to the overworld, and then initiate your meet-cute with your intended in-game partner. After that, don’t add anyone else to your party. From there, see how the pressures of fending off goblins and avoiding fungal attacks in the Underdark affect your relationship. If that sounds too daunting, remember that you can rely on Withers’ hirelings to make your chances of survival a little better.
3
Complete a true Illithid run… as a githyanki
About halfway through Baldur’s Gate 3, your character gets the option to explore the potential perks associated with their mind flayer parasite. It’s a choice that unlocks tempting skills, like the ability to conveniently cluster your enemies in combat… but at the cost of becoming partially Illithid. You know, that thing that’s consuming you, that thing you’re racing to destroy.
Maybe it’s time to lean into that. For a very different run, embrace all of your tadpole powers — and the story that goes with them. Max out the Illithid skill tree! Fight solely or primarily using those powers! Romance the Emperor (the story’s rogue Illithid NPC)! Go full mind flayer at the end of the game! Bonus points if you play as a githyanki making these choices, since part of that race’s lore is hating the Illithid.
4
Play as the Dark Urge and go for your redemption arc
In Baldur’s Gate 3, there’s a seventh Origin character who you can choose to embody, if you dare: The Dark Urge (or “Durge”). Often speculated to be the true main character or intended story arc of BG3, the Durge’s story is packed with new content and wildly dark dialogue options…and gore. Lots of gore. No matter how much gore you’re thinking of right now, there’s more.
I won’t spoil why your seemingly innocent player character is so bloodthirsty, or reveal the more horrifying choices in store for you. But whether you give in to your darker impulses or pursue a redemptive good ending, the Durge playthrough definitely inserts you further into the story — for better or worse.
5
Indulge in a legitimately evil run
You don’t have to play as the Durge to be bad. In fact, there’s a certain thrill in deciding, for instance, to play as a Tiefling and then betray the entire Tiefling camp in Act 1. (If you do this, set aside extra time to weep over the dialogue options you’re presented with. Trust me on this.)
In a truly evil playthrough, you’ll likely start by siding with the goblins, massacring the Tieflings, and recruiting Minthara to your party. After that: Will evil prevail? If you’re at the controls, possibly. Check your conscience at the door, first!
6
Roll for Deception and tackle a smooth talker run
Baldur’s Gate 3’s combat is a hugely satisfying part of the experience, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. When you set up and level your character, prioritize Charisma, Deception, and Stealth. Select skills like Minor Illusion and Disguise Self, and make sure you’re good at lockpicking.
Then, when you’re headed toward a fight, try and talk your way out of it. It’s a slower, trickier take on BG3, but the game gives you many options to pickpocket, steal, and lie. This is a roleplaying game — why not see what it feels like to be a deft criminal slash chameleon? There aren’t any consequences. In the real world, anyway. The NPCs you’re betraying may disagree.
7
Recruit a party of strategic summoners…
As you set up your party, you could opt for a balanced group of fighters, healers, and magic-wielders. Or you could build four characters who can summon minions to do their will. It’s a different type of attack strategy, but, admittedly, summoning a sudden magical army to squash your enemies feels very, very fun.
If you go this route, consider character builds like…
- A Circle of Spores Druid, who can access spells like Conjure Woodland Being and react with temporary fungal zombies;
- A Beast Master Ranger with a scaling animal companion that can fight independently while you wreak havoc with your ranged weapon; or
- A Necromancer Wizard, who can cast Animate Dead and then boost the damage and health of the zombies and skeletons they summon!
8
Alternatively, go for realism and make your party all one class
Creating a balanced party is key to enjoying fair combat and effective exploration through Baldur’s Gate 3. Or is it? Make everyone Wild Magic Sorcerers (or Barbarians) and then watch in bemused dismay as you accidentally set your entire group on fire when combat starts — or as you transform everyone within range into cats. Or roleplay as an unlucky acapella group and see how well four well-meaning but less-than-combat-friendly Bards do saving the world!
9
Go achievement hunting
As you’re playing Baldur’s Gate 3, certain actions can net you Steam (or Xbox) achievements that pop up on your screen and attach to your platform player profile. If you’ve played the game once, you probably have at least some. What about the ones you haven’t gotten, though?
I won’t fully spoil them here — half the fun of a Steam achievement is being surprised when one pops up. Just see what happens when you, say, use one enemy as a weapon to attack another. Or pet Scratch the dog and the Owlbear cub at the same time. Or, if you’re really feeling dedicated, take the time to read 100 books in just one playthrough.
10
Pick a hilariously bad weapon as your go-to
Let’s say your character is convinced they’re only good in a fist-fight and won’t pick up a weapon. Ever. Or maybe they’ve decided that the only weapon for them is a basic dagger. Or, worse – the Comeback Handaxe. (It is what it sounds like: A boomerang weapon that inflicts damage whenever you catch it.) If you prefer magic in combat anyway, this might be a no-brainer — or if you’re seeking a lower-stakes alternative to an Honor Mode challenge, try this one.
