Reddit users grapple with how to stop playing Baldur's Gate 3

Today, a Reddit user has started a fascinating conversation on the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit; how to stop playing Baldur’s Gate 3. This massively popular and critically praised CRPG was released almost two years ago now, but the sheer replayability of it has kept people playing for hundreds, and sometimes thousands of hours. There’s so much to discover that it’s nearly impossible to find everything in one run. Even if you played, you might not have had this intentionally rare conversation with Minthara, met this oddly powerful sheep companion, or maybe you missed out on Wyll’s story because you thought he was a joke character. So, as much as this is a bit of cheeky humor on the BG3 subreddit, there is some truth to the joke. There are few games that compare to Baldur’s Gate 3, but Reddit did its best to help out.

How do you stop playing Baldur’s Gate 3? Reddit does its best to provide some answers

A user by the name Fun-Top5592 posted to the BG3 subreddit with the title “Any tips on how to stop playing Baldur’s Gate” and added in the description, “I want to play other games, but every time I sit down, I just click on this one.” The simple earnestness of the post paired with the basic tenants of self-control being ignored is at the same time funny and concerning. As with most text on the internet, it’s hard to tell if the poster is being genuine or leaning into the joke.

Of course, as this discussion was taking place on the subreddit dedicated to Baldur’s Gate 3, there was plenty of people poking fun at the idea of ever stopping. One user wrote, “Press escape. Click exit game. Usually works for me, until I accidentally click play game on Steam and it’s right back on.” A few other users simply replied with “All other games are overrated” and “I don’t see the issue.”

A few other users explained that they are encountering a similar problem and would also like to know a solution. One user wrote, “Let me know if you ever find out. I’m rapidly approaching 3,000 hours and show no signs of slowing down.” Another user added, “…BG3 ruined all other games for me…” pointing out the truth of the situation for many players. Baldur’s Gate 3 really is just that good for some people. It won so many accolades, including Game of the Year in 2023, for good reason. Few other games compare to the depth, story, mechanics, creativity, and quality Larian Studios put into Baldur’s Gate 3.

Fortunately, there were some users who took the discussion more seriously. Some users suggested playing a similar game, such as previous Larian Studios titles like Divinity: Original Sin 2 or previous games in the Baldur’s Gate series. Other CRPGs like Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader from Owlcat Games also came up, and a few users recommended other various RPGs like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Disco Elysium, and Dragon Age: Inquisition. Only a few games from slightly different genres came up, including Outer Wilds and RimWorld, but even just keeping it within the realm of RPG or CRPG shows just how many other great options players have these days.

One user explained their solution well, writing, “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 did it for me. I’m back to BG3 again but it made me take a long break and BG3 is now in my rotation as opposed to [being] the game I always boot up…” emphasis added by the user. If Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of your favorite games, you shouldn’t force yourself to quit and never come back. Sure, take a break by trying something new here and there, but never quit entirely. Adding BG3 to a rotation of games like this user did, sounds like it could be a good solution for anyone hoping to not get completely locked down by Larian.

Of course, if you are constantly having fun and not playing it so much that it’s unhealthy, there’s nothing wrong with consistently playing Baldur’s Gate 3. But if you are looking for something else, there’s no shortage of great games to try out there. Personally, I have a few recommendations to add to the list.

If you’re looking for something with similar use of dice and roleplaying mechanics, give Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector a try. The first Citizen Sleeper is great too, but you don’t need to have played it to enjoy the sequel. For a great co-op RPG experience, I highly recommend Sunderfolk. It’s great as a tactical, party-based RPG, but also turns the genre into a party game experience, where only one player needs to own the game and the other three can join in both locally or online.

Dungeons of Hinterberg is a great option for something more action oriented, but still somewhat relaxed and mechanics built around building relationships with NPCs. Arco is an incredible story set in a gorgeous pixel art world with a fascinating mix of real-time tactics and turn-based combat. Finally, I’ll leave you with Neva, a beautiful action platformer with an emotional story about fighting alongside a wolf pup as it grows to adulthood.

Baldur's Gate 3

August 3, 2023

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