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Videogame fantasy settings are staler than mouldy bread proper now

The upcoming launch of Baldur’s Gate 3 has stuffed my head with ideas of elves and dragons and enchanted swords, all of which I’ve realised I am totally exhausted by. My tolerance for fantasy impressed by European folklore and Tolkien has completely run out, leaving me wishing sport builders would delve into weirder locations to search for a brand new muse. 

Baldur’s Gate is, in fact, beholden to an current universe, one of the crucial acquainted ones, so these mainstays are inevitable. However the world of Toril, the place the Forgotten Realms are located, is likely one of the least thrilling areas in D&D, particularly when in comparison with the fantastic mess of the planes or the void between worlds that performs host to Spelljammer campaigns. Gimme a few of that cosmic fantasy.

(Picture credit score: Wizards of the Coast)

That mentioned, Larian deserves credit score for nonetheless embracing the odder aspect of D&D. The deal with thoughts flayers and physique horror, the introduction of characters like The Darkish Urge and, in fact, having intercourse with a druid utilizing the Wild Form spell make sure that Baldur’s Gate 3 stands out. The studio is clearly having loads of enjoyable inside this in any other case typical setting and attempting to push it in uncommon instructions. However we’re nonetheless inundated with the overly acquainted, the place even probably the most celebrated of fantasy video games really feel obstinately conservative, ticking off a dizzying array of historic tropes.

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