The RPG genre has been capturing imaginations since its inception in the 1970s and 80s. It gained momentum with the launch of tabletop classics like Dungeons and Dragons and later reached a broader audience with iconic video game series such as Final Fantasy and The Elder Scrolls. Over the past few decades, the RPG genre has undergone substantial evolution, often propelled by innovative games. One such title that has driven the genre is Baldur’s Gate 3.
Baldur’s Gate 3, which has bagged numerous Game of the Year accolades, is often hailed as one of the greatest games ever made and a revolutionary force within the RPG sphere. Its comprehensive character creation tools, vast choice systems, and myriad in-game abilities and actions grant players an extraordinary level of freedom. It’s set the benchmark for Western RPGs, and it would be fantastic to see a Star Wars RPG that meets such high standards.
Baldur’s Gate has been a pioneering series, both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. In 1998, BioWare released Baldur’s Gate, which is credited with revitalizing the computer RPG genre through its expansive world, engaging storytelling, and significant player freedom. The first game sold about 2.8 million copies globally.
Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn followed in 2000, elevating every aspect of its predecessor and further enhancing the Western RPG genre. Over the next five years, it sold more than 2 million copies, underscoring its status as another landmark entry in RPG history.
Fast forward over two decades, and Baldur’s Gate 3 enters the scene, no longer under BioWare’s banner but developed by Larian Studios, known for Divinity: Original Sin. This installment not only lived up to its predecessors’ legacies but also quickly outperformed them in sales and recognition. By November 2024, it had sold over 15 million copies, making it the series’ highest-grossing entry by a long shot.
The release of Baldur’s Gate 3 was a phenomenon, achieving what its predecessors hadn’t—a massive commercial success supported by countless awards and innovative gameplay features. It took the series to unprecedented heights, cementing Baldur’s Gate as a household name in gaming.
Despite Star Wars already being a renowned name, it’s been quite a while since it was linked to an innovative RPG. While The Old Republic still expands its universe with well-received expansions, the last single-player Star Wars RPG, Obsidian’s Knights of the Old Republic 2, came out way back in 2004.
It’s high time for the Star Wars franchise to receive a new RPG that propels it to new heights, echoing what Knights of the Old Republic achieved in the early 2000s. It’s time Star Wars received its Baldur’s Gate 3 moment.
Despite the warm reception of Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi series, and the decent mechanics found in Star Wars Outlaws, not to mention EA’s popular Battlefront franchise, it’s clear that fans could use a refreshing change of pace. A new Star Wars RPG could offer engaging companion characters, a robust choice system, and unparalleled player freedom, providing a unique experience that steps away from the usual fast-paced action approach.
