Baldur's Gate 3: 8 Things Only Players of the Previous Games in the Series Noticed

The games that make up the Baldur's Gate series have been around for over 20 years, and there was a full two decades between the second and third installments. However, that doesn't mean you have to play the first games and their expansions to enjoy Baldur's Gate 3.

It's easy to immerse yourself in the backstory of the game even if you haven't experienced the series before. However, there are also hidden surprises awaiting those who have played the other older titles. This adds to the immersion in the world and is something that only players of the previous games would notice.

8 The Party Members

When Karlach had a fangirl outburst at the Last Light Inn because of Jaheira, she spoke for those of us who knew this character from Baldur's Gate 1 and 2. When an NPC, a book, or a map mentions an era called the "Time of Troubles," where the Bhaalspawn appeared on the Sword Coast, they are referring to the events of the previous games. Jaheira is the first one we encounter, but not the last.

Minsc is another famous character, and Jaheira's claim that he couldn't possibly be the leader of a brutal gang is not only based on her knowledge of him. A barbarian was known for his physical strength rather than his intelligence, and all players who remember him from Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 will laugh at the idea of him managing anything more complex than a chessboard. Other familiar characters include a cleric named Viconia, who is connected to Shadowheart's quest, and the rival Bhaalspawn Sarevok.

7 Khalid's Gift

In the original game, Jaheira was a playable character alongside her husband, a half-elven fighter named Khalid. Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn starts in a dungeon, and the protagonist can rescue and recruit Imoen, Minsc, and Jaheira, but Khalid is suspiciously absent.

Astarion has an identical dialogue snippet. When you click on him, there are different things he could say, and one of them is exactly this line. As you get to know him better, he reveals that he used to be a judge and belonged to the upper class about a hundred years ago before he was transformed. It's possible that he was one of those nobles from times past.

4 Vampires And Doppelgangers

Speaking of vampires, those who have experienced the older Baldur's Gate titles know that this is not the first time these menacing undead and their doppelganger minions play a role in the story. The same occurs as the first game progresses, with the villains pursuing immortality in various ways, and vampirism being one of them.

To progress through a significant part of the story in Baldur's Gate 2, one must fight their way through a vampire named Bodhi and her shape-shifters. The same happens in BG3, but this time due to the Cult of the Absolute and Cazador, the vampire lord at the center of Astarion's storyline.

3 Shanties For The Bitch Queen

The second installment of Baldur's Gate included a journey into the Underdark through a seafaring voyage. This leads to an unexpected stop in an underwater city ruled by the amphibious race of Sahuagin, who worship the unforgiving ocean, and there are references to their deity everywhere.

There is a book in the game that references this scene and is titled "Shanties for the Bitch Queen." It is a simple work found on one of the partially destroyed docks in the devastated beach area, south of the back entrance to the gloomy crypt. This is also a good place to search for supplies if you need an excuse to look for them.

2 The Grave Of Eldoth Kron

When we talk about the companions from the previous games, some of them are missing because the timeline for this one is about a hundred years ago, and it's not surprising that some of them have passed away. You can find one of them in the graveyard of the Undercity if you have the patience to look for a tombstone with the name Eldoth Kron.

The grave is located on the same small hill as the Dortmell grave, where the young Nina tries to revive her brother Garret. The tombstone simply asks the reader to "raise a glass to the poor soul."

1 Missives Of Candlekeep

Take a little stroll through the Druid Grove, the gloomy crypt, or Gorion's Mausoleum, and you'll come across a dusty old book titled "Writings of Candlekeep." It mentions the character Elminster, a famous figure of the Sword Coast, who appears in BG3 as a messenger between the goddess Mystra and Gale.

The book is a collection of letters and records that have little or nothing to do with the current story or even the events of the other games. However, for those who have played the originals, this is a great trail of background knowledge that contributes to the immersion and history of the entire series.