Baldur's Gate 3 Fans Celebrate What’s NOT Included in the Game

A Baldur’s Gate 3 fan recently shared a list highlighting all the things they’re grateful Larian Studios chose not to include in the popular RPG. While gamers typically hope for more features and mechanics in expansive titles, particularly RPGs, Baldur’s Gate 3 has many fans who appreciate the omissions that keep the gameplay experience streamlined and enjoyable.

Since its release in 2023 for PlayStation 5 and PC, Baldur’s Gate 3 has quickly established itself as one of the most celebrated RPGs of all time. The game made its much-anticipated debut on Xbox the same night it claimed Game of the Year honors at the 2023 Game Awards, where it also swept five additional categories.

Despite its initial acclaim, Larian Studios has not slowed down, consistently rolling out patches and content updates throughout 2024. These updates have enriched the game with new cutscenes, official mod support, and more, keeping players engaged. Yet, even with the game’s impressive scope, many fans feel that certain exclusions have made the experience more enjoyable rather than cluttered.

On Reddit, user "twitchy-y" posted a list outlining the aspects they’re glad didn’t make it into Baldur’s Gate 3. Surprisingly, the community largely agreed, with many praising Larian Studios for these thoughtful decisions.

Key Mechanics Players Appreciate Larian Avoiding

The first two points of praise on the list are related to weapons. Specifically, players are thankful that ranged weapons have unlimited ammo during combat and that gear doesn’t break after use. For many, the idea of scavenging for ammo or constantly repairing equipment would have made the game tedious, detracting from the otherwise smooth gameplay.

Another mechanic the user praised Larian for skipping is a crafting system. Baldur’s Gate 3 already requires players to juggle a lot between managing companions and other systems. Adding crafting into the mix could have overwhelmed players, making the game feel unnecessarily complicated.

Additional elements the Reddit post celebrated not being included are stamina systems outside of combat, repetitive fetch quests, and restrictions on where and when players can save their game. These design choices help Baldur's Gate 3 maintain its fluid and player-friendly experience, avoiding some common frustrations seen in other RPGs.

Divisive Omissions Spark Discussion

Not every omission, however, is universally praised. Twitchy-y also pointed out that Baldur's Gate 3 does not include fishing or cooking mechanics—activities that some players enjoy in RPGs. This sparked debate in the comments, with a few fans expressing disappointment, while others defended the decision, saying it helps keep the game focused. One commenter also praised the game’s lack of microtransactions, a feature most fans were glad to see left out.

Though Larian continues to push updates for Baldur’s Gate 3, it seems unlikely that any of the omitted features praised by Twitchy-y will be added in future patches. This is good news for players who agree with the Reddit post and want the game to stay as it is. While Baldur’s Gate 4 is reportedly being developed by a different studio, Larian is already hard at work on its next title. Studio head Swen Vincke humorously remarked that fans shouldn’t expect it to arrive until 2029.

In the meantime, Baldur’s Gate 3 remains a stellar example of how sometimes, less is more when it comes to designing a game that balances depth and accessibility.