Parents' Guide to

Baldur's Gate 3

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

D&D inspired game has plenty of violence, nudity and sex.

Game PlayStation 5 , Windows , Mac 2023
Baldur's Gate 3 game art: Characters from the fantasy role-playing game

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Charlie W.
Charlie W. Parent of 5, 11 and 15-year-old
August 18, 2023
age 13+

Amazing, yes it contains nudity but that can be turned off.

This is an amazing game that my 15 year old son has been loving! It does contain graphic violence and nudity but those can be turned off incredibly easily and includes great role models. Amazing pathway into dungeons and dragons and if your child/children want to get into dnd and enjoy video games, buy them this. It's very easy to get into and very accurate to dungeons and dragons. You do not need to play the previous two games to understand/enjoy this game, the only things that are the same are the world your in, it's a 100 year gap between games, so nothing is relevant from previous games.
Kristen B.
Kristen B. Parent of 3, 13 and 17-year-old
August 18, 2023
age 12+

Amazing game! All things that make it 17+ are disablable!

It's a really good Introduction to dungeons and dragons, has a lot of inclusivity and teaches many lessons. The reason taht this game is 17+ is due to the nudity and violence, the nudity can be completely turned off and you are asked if you want nudity on when you first start the game up, also the violence isn't that much. Amazing game but not for under 12's
See all 4 parent reviews

What’s It About?

One of the most beloved fantasy role-playing games (RPG) set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons is back: BALDUR'S GATE 3 is available for Windows PC and Mac, and soon, PlayStation 5 (PS5). The huge game – both in size (at 150 gigabytes) and in estimated campaign gameplay (100+ hours) – lets you choose from one of 12 classes and 11 races, or create your own character from scratch, and set out in an epic adventure to fight an evil force. Players can be a force of good or evil, based on the paths you choose. You'll fight, explore and loot across the vast Forgotten Realms universe (and beyond) – including cities, forests, caves and dungeons – along with taking on side missions and companion quests (and possible love interests) while tackling the massive game by yourself or as a part of a group of up to four players online. Using offensive attacks and defensive decisions, combat is turn-based against enemies using might and magic, plus there are environment considerations, team-based strategies, and an optional Tactician mode for a more challenging experience. Note: Baldur's Gate 3 (sometimes referred to as Baldur's Gate III) looks and plays the same between platforms, with the computer versions adding mouse and keyboard along with controller support.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 is an exceptionally good game, providing a ton of depth and breadth for both novice players and serious RPG fans alike. Aside from some technical issues, which marred the experience on more than one occasion, there isn't much to complain about with this stellar game to play on your own or with friends. Expect to play this game for months rather than days or weeks, with its several hundred spells and attacks and seemingly limitless options on what to do and where to go as you aim to traipse your way through the three acts and evolve to Level 12. There's even more than 174 hours of cinematics, according to Larian Studios, ensuring an entertaining narrative based on your personal choices, and no two games will play out exactly alike. With the engaging combat (that may take some time to figure out) and some environmental puzzles that require light surveying and experimentation, the game exceeds in the character development, friendships with companions, and other relationships that may affect your path to success.

This game is masterful, not only in its stunning visuals, but also in its writing and musical score. Smooth performance relies on having the recommended specs of an Intel Core i7 or AMD r5 3600 processor, 16GB of system memory (RAM), Nvidia GTX/RX graphics card, and 150GB of available space (solid-state drive is required). A few freezes and crashes that are likely to happen, means progress isn't always saved and you may have to repeat some aspects of the game over again, which can prove frustrating. These performance issues can be improved after installing some downloaded patches to fix various technical bugs. Whether you've played its predecessors or are new to this series, Baldur's Gate 3 could be a classic if the bugs can be ironed out. Still, those who want a big, beautiful and dangerous fantasy world in which to explore, fight turn-based battles, and unravel an epic story in the process won't be disappointed.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether Baldur's Gate 3 needs the nudity and sex for it to be appealing to players. Does this actually add to the plot or substance of the game, or does it feel like it's not necessary? Why do you think game developers feel the need to add this?

  • This game is based on the popular Dungeons & Dragons, but is much more graphic in many ways. How does this compare to the tabletop role playing game? What are the pros and cons of taking a board game and bringing it into the video game world?

  • Parents concerned about the mature content in Baldur's Gate 3 -- as well as any other games and content – should consult with Common Sense Media regularly to reviews, tips, and articles to managing media in the home.

Game Details

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