Few games have a more iconic opening than TheElder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. It has gone down in history not just because of its meme-filled dialogue and the failed execution scene, but because of how it throws you into its world, seamlessly introducing two warring factions in the Imperials and the Stormcloaks, and makes even miniscule choices feel like big decisions from the first few minutes alone.
I can close my eyes and replay this introduction in my mind from memory, knowing pieces of dialogue, specific moments, and the key decisions we’re expected to make as players. It’s a delight, and once you are finally set free in the open world, it feels like you’re ready to take on your epic quest or ignore it entirely to do your own thing.
However, in recent years,Larian’sBaldur’s Gate 3has managed to challenge Bethesda for the RPG opening crown.
Before The Baldur’s Gate 3 Opening, You Have The Character Creator
Like many beloved RPG experiences, Baldur’s Gate 3 begins with you waking up in a place that you have no knowledge of. The character you’ve created might, though, and there’s also a chance they grew up there and abide by societal conventions we will understand with time.
It’s the magic of the genre, and how we’re free to create a fantastical version of who we are in reality or something altogether different, knowing the finished product will live in a universe that’s nothing like our own. Larian’s fantastic character creator does lots of the legwork when you first load up the game with a wondrous orchestral score and so many things to pick from when creating your Tav.
you may figure out who they are, where they grew up, and all the things they’re capable of before awakening on the Nautiloid, or opt for a blank slate and trust that the journey to come will fill in the rest.
Whenever I start a new save in Baldur’s Gate 3I’m blown away by the character creator, which has only gotten better with frequent updates and mod support.
Few Openings Match Waking Up On The Nautiloid In Baldur’s Gate 3
Skyrim and Baldur’s Gate 3 both understand there is no better way to grab our attention than throwing us straight into the action. In Skyrim, it’s a dragon attack moments before you’re set to be executed, while Baldur’s Gate 3 has you escape from a crashing mind flayer ship that is… also under attack by dragons. I guess some things never change.
You awaken on the floor with no idea what brought you here or what you need to do, urged onward by nothing but a disturbing voice in your head and wanton curiosity. So you walk ahead, excavate a talking brain from somebody’s poor cranium and stumble into your first of many allies.
Lae’zel is spunky, angry, and just as lost as you are. But with nowhere else to turn and also eager to escape, you join forces and take on the demonic hordes before you. Moments after, you meet Shadowheart - well, if you decide to free her from the pod - and start to develop the beginnings of a found family that will last throughout your entire playthrough.
Baldur’s Gate 3 does such a wonderful job of cementing mechanics during this opening sequence despite taking place on a burning ship where urgency is paramount. You make vital decisions, choose from a selection of dialogue options, and take part in simple yet challenging battles which you’re free to approach however you like. It’s the tabletop experience in microcosm.
Then You Crash Land, And The World Is Your Oyster
While the nautiloid is a relatively linear sequence of events with only a handful of ways your narrative can progress, when you crash-land a few miles removed from The Grove, you can go anywhere and do anything. Shadowheart is lying unconscious just a few steps away, and you can choose to steal her relic before waking her up, treat her like an enemy, or start your flirting game nice and early just like I did.
The same goes for Gale, Lae’zel, Wyll, or Karlach in the first few hours as you begin to learn exactly who these people are and the role they’ll play in your adventure. It’s an extension of your first few steps on the nautiloid as you learn to play the game, appreciate its world, and exactly what role you might play in it.
Don’t be a fool and accidentally get one of the key characters killed right after you meet them. Or do exactly that. I’m not your mum…
Like Skyrim, I can close my eyes and play through this entire opening in my head as though it’s a childhood memory. But unlike Skyrim, it’s a recent game that has already earned its right to be called a classic of the genre. If the opening wasn’t so spectacular, chances are the epic adventure to follow wouldn’t be nearly as fondly remembered. It all starts with a great first impression, and few do them better than Baldur’s Gate 3.
