HBO’s upcoming adaptation of Baldur’s Gate 3 is an exciting idea, but it will inevitably be compared to one of the best fantasy TV shows of all time, the excellent The Legend of Vox Machina. With its perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, most other fantasy shows could fall short, but this does not mean that the Baldur’s Gate 3 adaptation is destined to fail.

Many fantasy shows have tried to emulate Game of Thrones‘s success, but most are unremarkable. Copying a groundbreaking show that revolutionized TV is rarely a good starting point, and Baldur’s Gate 3 should lean into its own unique tone if it is to be HBO’s Game of Thrones replacement. With its compelling characters and genre-blending story, Baldur’s Gate 3 has the potential to outshine it.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Could Be HBO’s Next Game Of Thrones

Except for His Dark Materials, HBO has generally stayed within the Game of Thrones universe when creating epic fantasy TV shows. Both Game of Thrones spinoffs are popular, but it is time the platform showed viewers a new world with another story to tell. Baldur’s Gate 3 could easily be HBO’s next Game of Thrones, as the worldbuilding and story are ambitious works of fantasy.

Video game adaptations can be difficult to make, but several streaming platforms have proven that they can be done. Netflix’s League of Legends-based Arcane is a fantasy masterpiece, Prime Video’s Fallout was a hit, and HBO has The Last of Us, the harrowing post-apocalyptic horror. The best video game adaptations prioritize characters over spectacle, and Baldur’s Gate 3 does this well.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is part of the enormously popular Dungeons & Dragons franchise, the story is character-driven, and the show is set to be helmed by Craig Mazin, co-creator of The Last of Us. This sets the TV show up for success, and if the budget is high enough, the Baldur’s Gate 3 adaptation has the potential to be HBO’s next big fantasy series.

The Legend Of Vox Machina Is Already The Perfect RPG Show

No show is a guaranteed success, no matter how good its source material is. While Baldur’s Gate 3 could become HBO’s Game of Thrones replacement, HBO is not the only streaming platform with an excellent epic fantasy series. Prime Video has its own perfect RPG show in The Legend of Vox Machina, which is based on a Dungeons & Dragons campaign by Critical Role.

The Legend of Vox Machina began as a Kickstarter campaign, proving that fans were already behind it, and the story follows a group of antiheroes on a mission. It mixes comedy, action, and fantasy in a way that captures the camaraderie of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, and the show has a rare 100% positive critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience rating of 94%.

The Legend of Vox Machina takes stereotypical characters and allows them to grow, just as they would in a long-running tabletop game. There is always room for new fantasy TV shows and creative adaptations, but it is difficult to see how Baldur’s Gate 3 could surpass The Legend of Vox Machina, which has been described as “the best fantasy series on TV.“

Why Baldur’s Gate 3 Will Struggle To Get The Source Material Right

Baldur’s Gate 3 is likely to face the same problems that many other adaptations have, and that is the existing fanbase. Baldur’s Gate 3 has a very passionate fanbase, many of whom are likely to see any major deviation from the game as a negative thing. However, there is very little point in making a show that is a shot-for-shot remake of the source material.

The best TV shows that are based on video games amplify the best parts of the source material, introducing new angles and character development through small details, while cutting away parts that do not translate well to the screen. Baldur’s Gate 3 is already a very rich and detailed game, so a live-action adaptation may feel unnecessary.

Part of a video game’s appeal is the way in which players can make their own decisions, and The Legend of Vox Machina translated this perfectly. However, “Choose Your Own Adventure” style TV shows have not been particularly popular, so unless Baldur’s Gate 3 takes this approach, the story, which is being described as a sequel to the game, will have a fixed path.

What Baldur’s Gate 3 Needs To Be A Success

Significantly changing a well-written and popular character can be a recipe for disaster, as The Rings of Power found when turning the wise and ethereal Galadriel into a young fighter who makes mistakes. Baldur’s Gate 3 must learn from the success of The Legend of Vox Machina and focus on developing the characters in a way that feels faithful to their respective universes.

While keeping the characters at the heart of the story, the Baldur’s Gate 3 show must avoid being tempted to explore all the possible story arcs, which could lead to the series feeling spread too thin and reliant on sequels to add context. Side quests are an essential and beloved part of the game, but a strong central storyline is essential.

While the Baldur’s Gate 3 adaptation has concerned fans, it is not a guaranteed failure. It could suffer by comparison to perfect adaptations like The Legend of Vox Machina, but that may be a testament to the animated show’s success, rather than a commentary on Baldur’s Gate 3. With the right writing team, worldbuilding, and character-centered story, Baldur’s Gate 3 could become a fantasy masterpiece.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Systems

Released

August 3, 2023

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence

Developer(s)

Larian Studios

Publisher(s)

Larian Studios

Engine

Divinity 4.0