The best successor to Baldur's Gate 3 may have been revealed without you realizing it

Baldur's Gate 3 changed the way people see modern Dungeons and Dragons video games, raising the bar on storytelling, character development, and tactical combat. Due to its success, many players look for similar games. Although other developers are probably trying to create games that can rival Baldur's Gate 3a new title may have gone unnoticed: Solasta 2. This is not a big-budget release, but a sequel to a highly successful title announced at The Game Awards 2024.

Solasta 2 is based on the popular Solasta: Magister's Crown using familiar 5th Edition D&D rules while introducing new features. Solasta 2 plans to expand beyond dungeon crawling and offer a large open world. Solasta 2 will maintain the tactical combat that fans loved in the first game, but will bring free exploration. Your discreet announcement may go unnoticed, especially by those who aren't already fans of the Solasta series. Solasta 2 could become a strong player in the CRPG genre and a worthy rival to Baldur's Gate 3.

Solasta 2 is an RPG based on D&D like BG3

Solasta 2 will be more similar than you think

Solasta 2 It’s not just a side dish; It's a big step forward. Gameplay still follows the rules of Dungeons and Dragons 5th Editionand players can expect the same strategic combat that made the first game fun. The basic mechanics are very similar to Baldur's Gate 3as both games are built on the same 5E ruleset. Building on the success of its predecessor, Solasta: Magister's Crown, This new game could capture the feeling of Baldur's Gate 3 but with your own touch.

Tactical Adventures developers can easily take notes on the success of Baldur's Gate 3 without abandoning Solastaunique strengths to create something original. The first game was a near-perfect version of 5th edition's combat, but there's always room for improvement. While the first game focused on detailed dungeon exploration, Solasta 2 opens up a large, explorable world. This world is not technically the same as Baldur's Gate 3but the player still influences through their choices.

This is a big change, giving players the freedom to travel through different environments, find hidden locations, and undertake missions that weren't possible in the simpler first game. There are choices for players to make and rolls to see if the player will be successful in their adventure. Most RPGs are like D&D in some capacity, but the the tactical combat and 5th edition ruleset really make Solasta feel like Baldur's Gate 3.

What makes Solasta 2 different from Baldur's Gate 3

Solasta 2 is still a different game from a different series

Both Solasta 2 and Baldur's Gate 3 are based on Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition rules, but they work very differently. Baldur's Gate 3 focuses on deep storytelling and character interactions, allowing players to make choices that significantly affect the story. On the other hand, Solasta 2 emphasizes tactics and new opportunities for exploration. This encourages a different style of play, where the excitement comes from discovering new places and facing unexpected challenges, rather than focusing on dialogue and building relationships.

Both games use turn-based combat that aligns with the 5th edition rules, but present it differently. Baldur's Gate 3 is known for his cinematic style, while Solasta 2 aims for a more straightforward feel that resembles a tabletop gaming experience. It's not that it's especially noticeable at first glance, but looking at things like the developer logs Steam shows that the team wants to make the game feel like a tabletop experience brought to life.

One of the biggest differences is that Solasta: Magister's Crown is not a typical officially licensed game, relying on a more limited license to use the official rules found in D&DSystem reference document. This prevented the game from focusing on stories and characters from the D&D universe, and the sequence will continue in SolastaNeokos' own world. So while Baldur's Gate 3 took place in the Forgotten Realms and referenced many pre-existing stories, Solasta 2 you will not need to follow the same guidelines.

Then, Solasta 2 is offering a new experience that is very similar to Baldur's Gate 3 but different enough that players feel like it's a whole new adventure. That would come in a world with its own cultures and moralitywhich provides the fix many needed, without needing a true sequel.

Solasta has room to grow and improve

There are opportunities here

Solasta: Magister's Crown was impressive for how well it adapted the rules of Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition in a video game that is not part of Forgotten Realms. However, it is mainly the linear style of dungeon crawling limited how expansive and replayable it could beespecially when compared to other RPG games. Solasta 2 addresses these issues head on and brings more to the table.

This sequel isn't just about better graphics or more content; It fundamentally changes the way the game is played. By focusing on a scenario with more open exploration, Solasta 2 can give players more freedom to explore and face unexpected challengessomething that was missing in the first game. As this game is still in development, the team working on it, Tactical Adventures, may be able to target opportunities that Baldur's Gate 3 did not cover.

The other advantage is that Solasta 2 does not need to follow the plot or tradition established in Dungeons and Dragons, so it can grow wherever developers need it. While it's often nice to be able to access a large library of knowledge to draw from, the restrictions that come with not altering this tradition can be overwhelming. Solasta 2 You have the freedom to create your story and rules without having to check, giving you the creative freedom you need to create a great experience.

Players who loved it Baldur's Gate 3 should like Divinity Original Sin 2but the Solasta 2 the team can create their own niche with something new. Solasta 2 has the opportunity to grow wherever it wants and meet the needs that players have thought about since finishing other CRPGs. In fact, this could be Solasta 2The opportunity to become one of the top games players go to when they want a CRPG. With Larian Studios no longer making Baldur's Gate games, there is a gap that a different team can fill.

Source: Solasta 2/Steam, thegameawards/YouTube