Baldur’s Gate 3’s characters and romances keep fans rich in meme fodder

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a finite game; after the player works their way through the massive campaign, there’s no battle pass, no ongoing challenges, and no bonus content. It’s a one-and-done game, and while the campaign is an enormous one with plenty of meat on the bone, you might expect fans to move on after they see the credits. People are instead returning to the game for more than one playthrough, making fan art, animatics and character theories. Baldur’s Gate 3 has done an incredible job at building a fandom, and it’s leading to the game’s long-term success.

One of two things keeps single-player games relevant: a campaign with a consistent high quality or high replayability. Baldur’s Gate 3 excels on both metrics: The campaign is solid, and there are so many branching paths that it’s impossible to see everything. Then, there’s a major draw that many other games lack: a cast full of compelling companions with indulgent, sometimes ridiculous romances.

Tav is the hero of this show. Theory, Baldur’s Gate 3’s companions and characters have played a big part in drawing fans in. Many players may not have immediately been hooked by other pitches of the game, like “this is a CRPG from a studio proven in the genre” or “this is an epic tale of revenge against deadly mind flayers,” which are both true. But a gameplay clip of hanging out with an incredibly sassy Astarion, or hearing tales of Gale’s initial too-horny behavior? Getting to date a tiefling with big ol’ biceps and a flaming heart of gold? Now, that’s an elevator pitch.

And Tav doesn’t have to exist — players don’t even have to create their own character. Players can take the role of an Origin character, getting to play as Shadowheart, Lae’zel, other party members, and the mysterious Dark Urge. These playthroughs are a great way to experience the game, but they’re proving to be a popular way for superfans to experience Baldur’s Gate 3. The context of a character’s past, and their internal conflict is much better understood when you play as them. This also makes it easier to screenshot and share on Tumblr.

Shippers can find a lot of joy in the romance between characters from Origin. If you are a Gale/Astarion fan, then it is likely that you regularly check the #bloodweave hashtag on social media for the most recent fan content. The dynamic between these two characters can be enjoyed by playing either character and romancing another. The Origin characters are as important and as powerful as Tav in the fandom. Players write or draw fanfics to explore what-if scenarios.

The influx of new people into the city is a good thing. Baldur’s Gate 3Cast members can be fun in a variety of ways. Voice actors enjoy joking about the flaws of each character. It has resulted in some fantastic jokes. Baldur’s Gate 3Conversations, memes, and other forms of communication help to keep the excitement going.

Baldur’s Gate 3Even months after the release date, this game continues to dominate all of my social media. This is a kind of fan frenzy that’s rare to see, but it occasionally manifests around games like the Dragon Age franchise or New Vegas Fallout. The fan bases that develop around these big RPGs with lots of characters can keep them relevant well beyond the campaign. Baldur’s Gate 3Has joined their ranks.