Sorry, Baldur's Gate 3 Isn't Leading To A Classic RPG Renaissance

With the release and immense success of , many clamor for a revival of classic roleplaying games (CRPGs). Also known as computer roleplaying games, CRPGs are a genre that saw its prime during the late 80s and 90s. Similar to ’s predecessors, the origins of the CRPG genre can be traced back to the original. Games inspired by tabletop RPGs ended up spawning some of the first CRPGs, such as the famous, which Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios, attributes his inspiration to when creating the series.

During the late 90s and early 2000s, many CRPGs began to switch to real-time with pause combat, such as the original or , and what many players knew as a CRPG system became outdated and less marketable than their real-time with pause siblings. The CRPG genre has been quiet since then, and many AAA developers have opted for either real-time with pause combat or more combat-focused ARPGs (action roleplaying games) such as and. However, 'srelease brought hope that the CRPG genre might see renewed life.

Many veteran developers, such as Chris Avellone (famous for,, and many more), were determined to keep the genre alive with sequels of classics such as in 2014, and other companies such as Owlcat Games releasing in 2018. Both games originated with Kickstarter campaigns and were based on table-top role-playing systems, with their funding goals quickly met and exceeded. This proved that there is still a market for such games, and the public was even willing to help fund development.

was a breath of fresh air for CRPG fans. With decades of games being set in the universe,fans of the TTRPG were finally getting their time in the limelight. It allowed players to choose between turn-based combat or real-time with pause, paying homage to the games that inspired it, such as and . While received good reviews, Owlcat’s next game in the series,, was released to a throng of excited fans and rave reviews.

Many CRPG fans hoped would revitalize the genre and bring more interest to CRPGs. However,