Let me just say it up front: Baldur’s Gate 3 is a masterpiece.
Not just in terms of scope or visuals or production value—but in craft. Larian Studios didn’t just build a game; they built a world that feels alive, where player choice matters, every conversation feels meaningful, and exploration is rewarded in all the best ways.
As an indie developer, I went into BG3 for the adventure—but I came out inspired, energized, and with a notebook full of ideas.
This article is a love letter to the game, but also a reminder: you don’t have to be Larian to learn from Larian. You can take powerful lessons from big games and implement them—on your scale, in your way.
And yes: it’s also your sign to take a break, play a game, and remember why you’re doing this in the first place.
🎮 Why Playing Games Is Part of Making Games
As indie devs, we often feel guilty when we’re not “producing.” We grind, build, debug, and hustle… and forget that play is fuel.
Playing great games is part of being a great developer.
They remind us what’s possible. They expose us to systems, interfaces, and storytelling choices we might never consider on our own. And yeah—they recharge our creative batteries.
So if you’re deep in dev mode and haven’t touched a controller in weeks, this is your official permission slip:
Go play something. Explore. Analyze. Be inspired.
What Baldur’s Gate 3 Taught Me (and You)
1. Choices Matter—Even Small Ones
BG3 is loaded with big, branching narrative choices—but it’s the small ones that really stuck with me. Deciding whether to pet a strange animal. Choosing to steal an apple from a cart. Letting a party member make a comment or stay silent.
Takeaway:
In your own game, you don’t need 300 hours of branching content. You just need moments that respect the player’s agency.
Indie Scope Hack:
Add small optional choices with flavorful consequences. Let the player interact with a world that responds, even in subtle ways. It builds immersion without ballooning your game size.
2. Character-Driven Design Wins
BG3’s characters aren’t just stats—they’re people. You remember them, laugh with them, disagree with them. And they evolve over time.
Takeaway:
Players stick around for characters. Even in a small game, a single well-written companion or NPC can elevate the whole experience.
Indie Scope Hack:
Pick 1–2 characters and really develop their arc. Give them motivations, flaws, and reactions to what the player does. You don’t need 30 companions—you just need one that feels real.
3. Exploration = Reward
From secret cliffside paths to books with hidden lore, BG3 constantly rewards curiosity.
Takeaway:
Exploration doesn’t have to be about loot. It can be about story, atmosphere, or emotional payoff.
Indie Scope Hack:
Design 1–2 hidden areas that reveal a cool moment, piece of lore, or environmental storytelling beat. Let players feel clever for finding it.
4. Systems That Interact Are More Fun
One of BG3’s biggest strengths is how its systems interact—fire spreads, water conducts electricity, grease becomes a trap. It’s chaotic and beautiful.
Takeaway:
Interactivity gives players tools to experiment, and creates emergent fun.
Indie Scope Hack:
Add 2–3 lightweight systems that can chain together. Fire + oil? Water + electricity? Light + shadow? Small systems create big engagement.
5. Tone Can Shift—and That’s Okay
BG3 isn’t afraid to be funny one moment, dark the next. It lets players breathe before diving into the next intense beat.
Takeaway:
Your game doesn’t have to be one-note. Variety in tone keeps players emotionally connected.
Indie Scope Hack:
Weave in humor, heart, or quiet moments. Even a spooky puzzle game benefits from a moment of lightness or hope.
And Finally: You Don’t Need To Be AAA To Be Brilliant
Larian had the team, the budget, the time—but they also had vision. And that? That’s something every indie dev can have.
So don’t get discouraged by the scope. Don’t aim to be Baldur’s Gate 3.
Instead, let it remind you why you make games:
To inspire wonder.
To give players a world worth getting lost in.
To tell stories that stay with them.
And guess what? That’s 100% possible at indie scale.
Final Thoughts from Legend Games
We had an absolute blast playing BG3—and just as much joy breaking it down afterward. There’s no shame in learning from the best. There’s only strength in studying, adapting, and creating your own path.
So go play something. Take notes. Steal the good stuff.
Then make something beautiful—and make it yours.
– Legend Games
Legend games 