Highlights

  • Baldur's Gate 3 marks a successful progression for Larian Studios, known for their RPGs, but the quality of their previous titles varied among players.
  • Larian's games have evolved from a traditional CRPG formula to a more polished and cinematic experience with the high-fidelity presentation of BG3.
  • While BG3 is popular, the older CRPGs in the Divinity series, such as Divinity: Original Sin 2, still hold up and offer a rewarding experience for fans of the genre.

Baldur’s Gate 3 may be a surprise hit to many, but developer Larian Studios has come from a long track record of RPGs over the years. Given the steady growth of the Divinity franchise with many different releases, the success of the latest Baldur’s Gate could seem like a natural progression for Larian. BG3 has proven to be one of the studio’s most popular games yet, but its predecessors still hold up to their fans as well. With several outings in the Divinity series since the early 2000s, however, the quality of the titles has ultimately varied in the eyes of many players.

While the high-fidelity presentation of BG3 has raised the bar for CRPGs to some, Larian's games weren't always so polished and cinematic. With its previously released titles pretty much only consisting of the Divinity series, Larian has mainly stuck to a more traditional CRPG formula and presentation. For fans of the genre, however, these more isometrically-focused experiences can be just as rewarding as the gameplay found in Baldur’s Gate 3. It may be worth trying out all the RPGs that Larian has previously released when it comes to getting a complete sense of context, but that doesn’t mean all of them will hold up to the quality of the best.

RELATED: Best Modern-Day CRPGs, Ranked

Baldur's Gate 3 (S Tier)

Baldur's Gate 3 - Following up on the legacy of BioWare's prolific Baldur’s Gate series seems unlikely, but Larian managed to make Baldur's Gate 3 a worthy successor to the influential games that preceded it to many players. Using experience gained across the entire Divinity franchise, the studio has made BG3 respectful of the past and an innovative exploration of new ideas at the same time for those interested in an experimental approach to CRPGs. As more patches continue to roll out and refine it even further, Baldur’s Gate 3 has the potential to remain a popular representative of the RPG genre well into the future.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 (A Tier)

Divinity: Original Sin 2 - A release that took Divinity to the next level in terms of popularity, the success of Original Sin 2 has been strong enough to prove Larian's status as one of the most well-known CRPG developers in recent memory. Expanding on what the studio established with Divinity for years before, this game laid the groundwork in the proprietary Divinity Engine for much of what players find engaging in Baldur’s Gate 3. With its reputation for having the most refined set of mechanics and presentation of lore that the Divinity franchise has seen, many fans are still anticipating a third game in the Original Sin series.

Divine Divinity (A Tier)

Divine Divinity - It may be surprising to newer fans, but the first game of the Divinity series actually holds up for fans of the older CRPG style. This title can be a worthwhile experience for fans who want to get more context behind the lore surrounding the universe, as it first established the series chronology. Featuring an emphasis on open-ended gameplay that would later come to be popular in more recent Larian releases, Divine Divinity is a worthwhile outing despite the sometimes buggy nature it can have due to its old age.

Divinity: Original Sin (B Tier)

Divinity: Original Sin - One of the most memorable CRPGs that came out of the mid-2010s, the first Original Sin game deserves a lot of credit for the ideas it brought to the genre. While its sequel refined the formula and featured a more serious and engaging narrative in the eyes of many players, this game first explored Larian’s unique focus on emergent gameplay that has come to define the fun of BG3.

Divinity 2 (B Tier)

Divinity 2 - Not to be confused with Original Sin 2, this title was originally released back in 2009 as Divinity 2: Ego Draconis and is the furthest along the timeline chronologically. Quite removed from the current formula seen in the more popular Larian Studios titles of recent years, Divinity 2 is likely to feel like a strange departure in its different lore and presentation in the story of the Dragon Knight. Known to have some bugs and problems running, this release can still be rewarding for fans of the Divinity series as a whole.

divinity 2
Divinity II

Platform(s)
PC , Xbox 360
Released
January 5, 2010
Developer(s)
Larian Studios
Publisher(s)
Larian Studios , Focus Home Interactive , Atlus , 1C Company , dtp Entertainment , CDV Software
Genre(s)
RPG

Dragon Commander (C Tier)

Dragon Commander - Not even known to some fans of the CRPG Divinity games, Dragon Commander is a bizarre foray into the real-time strategy genre that unexpectedly expanded the series’ lore. Taking place thousands of years before the events of Original Sin, Dragon Commander features advanced technology that disappears in the future. Similarly exploring social simulator elements through a dialogue system for NPC interactions, this game can end up feeling like a mix of genres that lacks cohesion when compared to the other offerings in the Divinity franchise.

Beyond Divinity (C Tier)

d (6)-2

Beyond Divinity - As the game that is typically considered the weakest game of the Divinity series, it makes sense that Beyond Divinity was rumored to have had a rushed development during the earlier days of Larian Studios. Following up on the lasting quality found in Divine Divinity, this CRPG is surprisingly seen as a far less memorable experience. Between the less popular approach to skills, the repetitive nature of the Battlefield areas meant for grinding, and the technical issues that make it difficult to even run the game on modern hardware, it can be tough to recommend Beyond Divinity over any other Larian Studios release.

MORE: Baldur's Gate 3's Duellist's Prerogative Legendary Weapon is Well Worth the Long Road to Get It