For those who love getting lost in the worlds of the pen-and-paper multiverse of Dungeons & Dragons, the problem often arises: it’s quite rare to find people who regularly have time to start a session. For all those who long for a good story and DnD-style games during such times, MeinMMO has compiled a list.
Anyone who has ever started a few juicy rounds of pen-and-paper knows: it can be addictive. The possibilities and the freedom of choice presented to you, combined with an epic story and deep characters, are simply magical.
It is even worse when you have a long dry spell and can’t find a common date with your group to indulge in your favorite hobby.
For precisely such times, we have put together a list of games that can help satisfy this longing on your PC or console. So take a look and dive into exciting stories with pen-and-paper-like gameplay that can sweeten the time until your next DnD session.
Baldur’s Gate 3
When we talk about games for fans of Dungeons and Dragons, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an absolute MUST. As the name already suggests to all fans, the story takes place in the DnD universe around the city of Baldur’s Gate and the Sword Coast.
You take on the role of an adventurer who falls victim to a mind flayer and, along with his companions, seeks a solution to his problem before he becomes one himself. That’s the short version. In three thrilling acts, you face powerful enemies and a growing mind flayer problem that soon affects the entire Sword Coast.
Along the way, you can choose from 12 classes with around 46 subclasses and numerous combination options. In cinematic scenes, with deep characters and many creative ways to express yourself, Baldur’s Gate 3 offers the perfect balance when a “real” DnD session is not within reach.
You can play it either via Steam on PC, on PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S.
Pillars of Eternity I + II
Pillars of Eternity may not take place in the DnD universe, but it captures the essence of the infamous pen-and-paper gaming experience very well. Both Part I and Part II offer a grand epic story and immerse the player deeply in the world of Eora. After Pillars of Eternity became one of the biggest successes on Kickstarter, the second part, Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire, joined the ranks some time later.
Here, too, you face epic powers and initially trace a mystery through which children are born without souls. In the sequel, you confront rogue gods and sail as the captain of a ship across the islands of the Deadfire region. While the story builds on each other, you can also play the second part without knowing the first.
Both games embrace an old-school RPG flair and received many positive reviews. You can play both parts on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
Divinity Original Sin 2
Another work from the game studio Larian Studios, which created Baldur’s Gate 3, is Divinity Original Sin 2. Although this epic does not take place in the DnD universe, it borrows much from it and captures the typical pen-and-paper feeling very well.
Here, you have the opportunity to ascend to godhood – as long as you survive the journey there. Because the actual divine being is dead, and you plunge headfirst into the intrigue surrounding this position. You explore the multifaceted world of Rivellon and can interact with just about everything and everyone you encounter.
The game also offers a lot of freedom for creative decision-making and problem-solving and can be played online or locally with up to four players. There is even a PvP and a dungeon master mode. But, if one has friends who have the time for that, one could also just play DnD directly, right?
It is available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam, and even on iOS devices.
Next up on page 2 is Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous and Solasta: Crown of the Magister.
