Baldur's Gate 3 Is Proof That We're In a Golden Age for RPGs | Asmongold Reacts | Asmongold
August 16, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readBaldur's Gate 3 and the Unexpected RPG Renaissance
In early August, Larian Studios released Baldur's Gate 3 after years in early access, and it quickly became one of 2023's breakout successes—hundreds of thousands of concurrent players on Steam, rave reviews, and even non-gamers asking what the fuss was about. To some observers, this looked like proof that we're in a golden age for role-playing games. But the conversation around why Baldur's Gate 3 succeeded reveals something more interesting: the game's breakout isn't really about the RPG genre at all. It's about scope, freedom, and the particular cultural moment we're in.
What Actually Makes Baldur's Gate 3 Work
The core argument from the discussion is that Baldur's Gate 3's success has less to do with it being an RPG and more to do with the sheer breadth of what players can do. As one participant put it bluntly: "The reason why Baldur's Gate 3 is compelling for people is because you can fuck the characters, kick squirrels, and fuck bears. You can do whatever you want in the game." The game's appeal is its reactive, consequence-rich world where player choices produce genuinely varied outcomes—not just dialogue trees but real mechanical and narrative divergence.
Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.
Read Full Summary →Free • No credit card required
Never miss an episode of Asmongold TV
Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
What you'll learn
- 1 (02:02) **Baldur's Gate 3 as Proof of an RPG Golden Age** - The host introduces the thesis that Baldur's Gate 3 proves we're in a golden age for RPGs, framing it as a breakout success for a dense, old-school genre.
- 2 (04:09) **Streaming as a Primary Driver of Genre Success** - The discussion shifts to why RPGs are thriving, with streaming identified as a key factor in making games like Baldur's Gate 3 mainstream hits.
- 3 (05:33) **The Historical Decline and Revival of Isometric RPGs** - The host traces the near-death of isometric RPGs in the mid-2000s and their revival through Kickstarter and dedicated fan backing.
- 4 (07:09) **The Witcher 3 as a Major Turning Point** - The host and Asmongold agree that the Witcher 3's massive success in 2015 was a pivotal moment that shifted perceptions and broadened the RPG audience.
- 5 (11:13) **Skyrim's Lasting Influence and Cultural Impact** - The conversation compares the influence of Skyrim and The Witcher 3, with Asmongold arguing Skyrim may be even more impactful due to its longevity and broad reach.
- 6 (12:09) **The Modern Explosion of Diverse RPGs** - The host and Asmongold catalog the recent variety of RPGs, from avant-garde titles to turn-based tactics games, driven by broader cultural trends.
- 7 (13:46) **Why RPGs Feel Worthwhile in the Modern Era** - The host argues that modern RPGs feel "meaty" and shareable in a world of $70 games, filled with secrets and lore that drive social engagement.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from this podcast
Asmongold TV →