No, you do not. Baldur's Gate 3 takes place over 100 years after the events of the first two games. While there are recurring characters (like Jaheira and Minsc) and references that veterans will appreciate, the story is a standalone adventure designed to be accessible to new players.

Yes, specifically Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. The game mechanics—combat, skill checks, saving throws, and classes—are a faithful digital adaptation of the D&D 5e tabletop ruleset, with some modifications by Larian Studios (like the 'shove' bonus action) to better fit a video game format.

Absolutely. The game supports 4-player online co-op and 2-player split-screen local co-op (on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC). Players can create their own custom characters or choose 'Origin' characters and adventure together. In multiplayer, each player can wander off independently, though splitting the party is risky!

In the lore, a Bhaalspawn is a mortal child of Bhaal, the Lord of Murder. The original saga (BG1 and BG2) focused heavily on the protagonist's struggle with this dark heritage. While BG3 focuses more on the Mind Flayer threat, the legacy of Bhaal and the 'Dead Three' gods remains central to the plot, especially for the 'Dark Urge' origin.

A standard playthrough typically takes 75 to 100 hours. However, for completionists who want to explore every quest, find every secret, and read every book, a single run can easily exceed 150 hours. The game's massive replayability comes from its branching narrative, different class choices, and multiple endings.

Origin Characters (like Astarion, Shadowheart, Karlach) come with established backstories, unique personal quests, and specific voice lines. A Custom Character (Tav) allows you to create your own appearance, race, and class from scratch. There is also the Dark Urge, a unique customizable origin with a specific, darker storyline.

Romance is based on an approval system. Your choices and dialogue responses affect how much your companions like you. Each companion has their own preferences (e.g., Astarion likes chaos, Wyll likes heroism). Romances can be initiated at the camp and progress throughout the three acts, ranging from casual flings to deep, committed relationships.

Unlike the original games which used Real-Time with Pause (RTwP), Baldur's Gate 3 uses turn-based combat. This design choice by Larian Studios aligns closer to the actual tabletop D&D experience, allowing for more strategic depth, precise spell placement, and environmental interactions (like pushing enemies off cliffs).

Mind Flayers (Illithids) are the primary antagonists of BG3. They are tentacled, psychic aberrations that enslave other races. They reproduce by inserting a tadpole into a host's brain, which eventually consumes the host and transforms them into a new Mind Flayer (Ceremorphosis). The main characters are infected with these tadpoles but aren't turning... yet.

Yes! Early in the game, you will meet an undead NPC named Withers at your camp. For a small fee of 100 gold, he allows you to completely respec your character (change class, subclass, and ability scores) or hire hirelings. You can do this as many times as you like.