We Love It's Guide to…
A captured heir to a dark legacy escapes a wizard's prison, gathers companions, and battles through a choice-driven fantasy saga.
Released 15 Nov 2013
Escape a Wizard's Prison
Break Enemy Spell Wards
Shape Companion Stories
Return to a timeless RPG masterpiece. Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition brings the classic 2000 adventure back to life with thoughtful modern refinements, letting you gather your party and dive once more into a rich, choice‑driven fantasy epic.
Developed by Beamdog · Published by Beamdog
The protagonist is captured and imprisoned by the wizard Irenicus, then escapes to seek answers about their inherited powers. The story continues a hero's earlier journey or begins with a newly created character, with choices that shape the adventure.
Explore cities, dungeons, and other locations; take on main and optional quests; and build a party from a cast of companions. Companions have personal stories and relationships, and their interactions and quests add to the choices players encounter along the way.
Combat uses an isometric view and real-time action that can be paused to issue orders, following rules inspired by second-edition AD&D. Choose from a range of classes and spells, develop the party through battles and quests, and set the difficulty. The Enhanced Edition includes Shadows of Amn, Throne of Bhaal, and the Black Pits II arena.
Players often praise the story, memorable companions, and abundance of quests, alongside tactical combat that rewards learning its rules and planning party actions. Some also enjoy revisiting the game or discovering it for the first time. Common reservations include the dated interface and a learning curve around the AD&D systems; some reviews also describe difficulty spikes, particularly in the expansion.
Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition brings one of the most celebrated RPGs of all time back for modern adventurers, preserving the depth, atmosphere, and storytelling that defined the golden age of cRPGs.
Continue the journey you began in Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition, carrying your hero forward into a darker, more ambitious chapter—or forge a new protagonist to shape your own path through the Forgotten Realms.
The Enhanced Edition includes the full original experience—Shadows of Amn and Throne of Bhaal—along with a refined arena mode for players who enjoy tactical challenges.
Classic Campaign: The original Shadows of Amn adventure, faithfully restored
Expansion: Throne of Bhaal, the epic conclusion to the Bhaalspawn saga
Arena Challenges: The Black Pits II: Gladiators of Thay, a gauntlet of strategic battles
Refined Difficulty Options: Story Mode for relaxed exploration and narrative focus; Legacy of Bhaal for veterans seeking a punishing, old‑school test of skill
Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition carries forward the rich character depth of the classic cRPG era, offering a wide range of classes and a cast of unforgettable companions whose stories reach their defining moments in this chapter of the saga.
Classic Class Variety: 11 playable classes and dozens of subclasses, capturing the breadth of old‑school AD&D character building
Legendary Companions: Journey alongside icons like Minsc (and Boo!) and Jaheira—perfect for players who met them in Baldur’s Gate 3 and want to experience these heroes at the height of their original adventures
New Allies to Discover: Neera the Wild Mage, Dorn Il‑Khan the Blackguard, Rasaad yn Bashir the Monk, Hexxat the Thief, and even Wilson the Bear join the roster
Hero Customization: New voice sets let you shape your protagonist with even more personality
Continue Your Saga: Import your character from Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition to carry your story forward, or begin anew with a fresh hero
2D Isometric Graphics: The classic perspective that shaped a generation of RPGs
Real‑Time‑with‑Pause Combat: Tactical battles with the familiar rhythm longtime fans remember
2nd Edition AD&D Rules: Faithfully adapted for an authentic tabletop‑inspired experience
The classic returns with thoughtful refinements that make it smoother to play today while keeping its soul untouched.
Thousands of Improvements: Bug fixes and enhancements that polish the original experience
Modern Display Support: Native widescreen and high‑resolution options
Cross‑Play Multiplayer: Adventure together across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
Kidnapped. Imprisoned. Tortured. The wizard Irenicus holds you captive in his stronghold, attempting to strip you of the powers that are your birthright.
As you escape and step back into the wider world, the question at the heart of the Bhaalspawn saga becomes impossible to ignore. Can you resist the evil in your blood and forsake the dark destiny that awaits you? Or will you embrace your monstrous nature within and ascend to godhood as the new Lord of Murder?
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 93 |
| Age ratings |
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| Players | 1–6 |
| Play modes |
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| Other modes |
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| Multiplayer | The store page explicitly lists Cross-Platform Multiplayer and states cross-play multiplayer support for Windows, Linux, and macOS. Steam tags include Online Co-Op and Multiplayer. The provided text does not explicitly state the supported player count for networked play, but it repeatedly references playing with friends and party-based play; one review says multiplayer mode lets a player create all six party members and the game otherwise uses a party of up to six. |
| Multiplayer & mods | One review states this version is compatible with many, but not all, older mods. The provided text does not state whether mods are supported in multiplayer or how they affect compatibility. |
| Controller required | No |
| DLC / extras | 2 listed on Steam |
| Content notices |
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| Metacritic | 78/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |
