Baldur’s Gate 3

Play it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows (Steam Deck OK)
Current goal: Sleep with Karlach

It took me getting an absolutely awful cold and being sidelined for a week to finally start Baldur’s Gate 3, but man, I’m hooked. In the week since I caught the gamer cold at The Game Awards, I’ve sunk nearly two days’ worth of time into Larian Studios’ wildly popular RPG, commiserating with iridescent mushroom folk, yeeting goblins into massive chasms, and shamelessly flirting with a fiery hot barbarian named Karlach. She hasn’t tried to get with me just yet, but I’m persistent, and I’m hoping that the next time we make camp she cuddles up next to me by the fire.

Until then, I can safely say that I finally get it—I get why BG3 won GotY at The Game Awards, why everyone at Kotaku and beyond keeps talking about it, why Astarion became the focus of my TikTok algorithm long before I even downloaded the game. This is truly a masterpiece, and I’m not even all that mad that I’ve been sick for seven days’ straight—just gives me more time to roam Faerûn. I’ll be playing this until the moment I have to leave my apartment and trek to Long Island for Christmas Eve, and I’ll be thinking about it over dinner, too. — Alyssa Mercante

Baldur’s Gate 3 | is finally on Xbox! (Now roll for initiative)

In case you missed the news, Baldur’s Gate 3 made it to Xbox . Playable on Xbox Series X and S (though split-screen co-op is not available on the less powerful S model), it’s team green’s turn to see what all the fuss is about.