Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
A character in Baldur's Gate 3 stands looking behind the camera.
Screenshot by Dot Esports

5 ideas for your next Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough

Time for a new adventure.

Baldur’s Gate 3 has taken the gaming world by storm and one of the best things about it is its replayability.

Recommended Videos

No single playthrough will ever be the same in Baldur’s Gate 3, with race and class choices unlocking different dialogue options, which in turn can offer different ways to advance the story.

Decisions you make along the way also vastly alter the progress of Baldur’s Gate 3, and it’s possible to take an entirely different approach in a new playthrough. On top of that, there are several characters to romance and companions to align with.

If you’ve made your way through a playthrough in Baldur’s Gate 3 and are looking for your next option, you can try these ideas for an entirely fresh experience.

Table of contents

Embrace the Dark Urge

Image shows promotional art for The Dark Urge, a Background in Baldur's Gate 3.
Evil never felt so good. Image via Larian Studios

The Dark Urge is an origin character in Baldur’s Gate 3 with a difference, as it is entirely customizable for class and race—unlike the other origin characters that come with a defined look and suggested classes.

While you can try to fight back against the urges of bloodlust that emerge from your mysterious history, it’s just as fun to fully embrace them and become an absolute psychopath with no love for anyone and a desire for war.

The Dark Urge origin leads to some shocking and unforgettable moments which, without spoilers, can give you a hand as a souvenir and lead you down some very dark paths.

Shadowheart’s opposite

Woman with dark hair and a headband scowling in BG3
Become her arch-nemesis. Image via Larian Studios

Shadowheart, a cleric for the dark goddess Shar, makes her beliefs abundantly clear in Baldur’s Gate 3. Throughout the course of the story, that can of course change, but you can make her particularly prickly at the start by being her complete opposite.

To do so, you can choose to be a Cleric of Selune. Shadowheart will not take kindly to you and it will require some work to get her on your side, or you can opt to continue to be polar opposites throughout the course of your campaign.

Either way, it’s a great way to create some unique dialogue options that give a deeper insight into Shadowheart’s history.

Become an Illithid

Creature with glowing eyes, a large head, and tentacles in BG3
Time to get squiddy. Image via Larian Studios

With the Mind Flayer tadpole in your head, Illithid powers become an option throughout your Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough and a major decision needs to be taken on whether to embrace them or avoid them—and opting for the former changes the game.

Throughout the course of the campaign, you’ll find more tadpoles that can enhance your ability, then be given the opportunity to embrace the Illithid lifestyle that your Guardian is pushing upon you. Eventually, you can go full Illithid.

This provides a rather unique gameplay opportunity that is otherwise locked away completely and is certainly worth experiencing.

Related: Baldur’s Gate 3: All Mindflayer Parasite locations in BG3

The Lone Wolf

A Drow woman in the Astral Plane in Baldur's Gate 3.
Who needs friends? Screenshot by Dot Esports

Baldur’s Gate 3 really pushes you towards finding allies and recruiting companions to your party, but you can challenge yourself by going the completely opposite way, shunning any alliances and instead adopting a full Lone Wolf approach.

This challenge is not for the faint-hearted, particularly in battles against hordes of enemies and powerful bosses that can quickly whittle down your health bar, but there is a mod available that provides boosts that make a huge difference.

The Lone Wolf challenge, however, does not necessarily lock you out of companions entirely, who can stay behind at your camp, and you’d just need to be on your own when exploring and entering combat situations.

Permadeath

Baldur's Gate 3 Figther Lae'zel in Baldur's Gate
You only get one shot. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Permadeath runs in gaming have become a staple challenge for players to adopt and Baldur’s Gate 3 really ups the ante, particularly when it comes to decision-making in the game that alters the way the story develops.

The general gist of this playthrough is simple. If someone dies, they are dead. While this can be applied to your character, resulting in a restart if you die, you can continue going yourself and instead apply the rules to any companions and NPCs.

If companions die, there’s always the option to recruit Hirelings with Withers to expand your party and, if they die, replace them, thus making it slightly more forgiving as you can always ensure you have allies—as long as you have the gold.

Others Asked

What unique feature does Baldur's Gate 3 offer to its players?

Baldur's Gate 3 allows players to do practically anything and everything they want, including killing important characters in the game’s story.

Was this helpful to you?
What choices does a player have when creating a character in Baldur's Gate 3?

Players can choose their character's race, class, subclass, abilities, proficiencies, and background when creating a character in Baldur's Gate 3.

Was this helpful to you?
What aspect of Baldur's Gate 3 allows players to have different experiences each time they play?

Baldur's Gate 3 allows players to have different experiences each time they play due to its roleplaying options and the unique choices players can make, leading to different scenes and outcomes.

Was this helpful to you?

Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Josh Challies
Josh Challies
Staff Writer. Professional writer since 2014. Pokemon, Marvel, Star Wars and overall geek. Previously wrote for Yahoo Sport, Stats Perform and online news publications.