If there’s one thingBaldur’s Gate 3is incredibly successful at, it’s making you feel connected to the characters you come across during your journey.BG3’sability to connect players with each companion and NPC in the game through unique and authentic dialogue is what keeps players coming back for another playthrough. It’s also not afraid to bring back beloved characters from previousBaldur’s Gateinstallments, which longtime fans of the franchise can greatly appreciate.
This penchant for returning characters is exactly why I hope we don’t see some of our favorite characters brought back inBaldur’s Gate 4. Bringing characters fromBaldur’s Gate 3back for a sequel could potentially ruin a good thing, especially for extremely well-written characters, characters with perfect arcs that likely won’t be one-upped, and even characters that the franchise has beaten us over the head with. For the most part, a sequel should showcase new characters with unique stories of their own and shouldn’t need to rely on recycledBG3assets.
10Minsc & Boo: Cute, But I Think It’s Time To Move On
Minsc and Boo are probably the most memorable characters from previousBaldur’s Gategames that showed up inBaldur’s Gate 3, and they are certainly fan favorites. The dynamic between a large hulking oaf like Minsc and his adorable pet hamster Boo hits all the right notes and makes for a hilarious (and possibly tragic) time. Minsc and Boo aren’t justBaldur’s Gatelegends, they’re an iconic Forgotten Realms duo who haveloads of content dedicated to their adventures.
This is exactly why I’m not sure seeing Minsc and Boo in yet anotherBaldur’s Gateentry is really necessary, and at some point, it’s going to start to feel like paying lip service to fans or beating them over the head with “deep cuts” and callbacks from previous games. Outside role-playing elements and occasional hilarity,Minsc isn’t that great as a companion from a gameplay perspective, and I’m not sure future iterations of his character would have the same appeal as he’s had so far.
If We’re Nixing Minsc & Boo, Jaheira Has To Go Too
Jaheira is another character who falls in the same category as Minsc and Boo in that she’s been given a great deal of screen-time throughout theBaldur’s Gatefranchise.She’s been a companion in all threeBaldur’s Gateentriesat this point, and while she’s one of the most popular characters among fans, I think it’s time to start exploring some new options when it comes to Harpers.
“Jaheira has been given ample attention across the series, and maybe it’s best not to press our luck.”
Beyond that, I thinkJaheira’s character arcinBG3is really well done, and I’m not sure if it could be topped or even done justice in a sequel. Also, without Minsc and Boo involved in a future entry,it doesn’t make sense to include Jaheira eitherconsidering how intricately tied these three are. Ultimately, Jaheira has been given ample attention across the series, and maybe it’s best not to press our luck.
8Sarevok: No Need To Impress The Murder Tribunal Again
This Murderous Cult Of Bhaal Fanatic Needs To Be Put To Rest Once And For All
I thought we got rid of theevil and murderous Sarevokat the end of the originalBaldur’s Gate,as he was the main antagonist who suffered a befitting end at the hand of his brother, Abdel Adrian. However,he was conveniently revived forBaldur’s Gate 3thanks to a Cult of Bhaal loophole that allowed him to strike a deal in exchange for coming back from the dead.
If you play as Dark Urge and work your way through the Murder Tribunal questline, you’ll eventually have the chance to see just how evil and conniving Sarevok is, and there’s a good chance you ended up killing him or died trying. Defeating Sarevok inBaldur’s Gate 3as the Dark Urge isone of the most satisfying evil choices you may make, and I’d hate to see him return inBaldur’s Gate 4using the same gimmick.
7Karlach: They’ll Never Top Her BG3 Character Arc
Karlach’s Storyline Is A Master Class In Character Development
Karlach is easily one of the most beloved characters and companions inBaldur’s Gate 3, and she has one of the best character arcs in the game. Karlach’s storyline is an exceptional example of character development, andshe is one of the most complex charactersfrom a moral perspective. Most players will feel conflicted over how to handle her quest decisions at some point.
Especially after Patch 5’shappy Karlach endingthat got added to the epilogue, I think Karlach has some of the best content, dialogue, and overall character development from the beginning to the end of the game. I truly don’t see how any futureBaldur’s Gateentries would be able to bring back her character and do her justice, andI’d hate to see her relegated to the sidelinesas an NPC or side character. Karlach deserves to be aBG3 legend, and a sequel would need to do serious work to justify her being included.
6Elminster: Is The Old Wizard Getting Old?
Elminster Is A Forgotten Realms Legend, & I Think We Get The Point
Elminster might very well be the most overly utilized character in the Forgotten Realms universe, with appearances in all threeBaldur’s Gategames andtwenty different Forgotten Realms novels. His pointed wizard hat, long white beard, and penchant for consuming delicious food are truly iconic and emblematic symbols, and there’s almost no question that he’s going to meander his way intoBaldur’s Gate 4.
It’s reached the point that Elminster’s presence is somewhat predictable, even if it’s typically only for a few fleeting scenes. But it’s become a matter ofwhenand not if you’ll end up in an exchange with the old sage. Ultimately, this is one character that I wouldn’t mind sitting out for the next one, as I’m not sure that they’ll be able to do anything with him that hasn’t already been done orwon’t feel redundant at some level.
5Volo: An Eye For An Eye
Am I The Only One Who Thinks Volo Is Incredibly Annoying?
I’m sure there’s a good argument why Volo is a popular character among fans, but I personally cannot stand this NPC. I still get upset every time hetakes my eye, which I typically let him dofor the free “see invisibility” buff.Volo and the aforementioned Elminster are comrades of a sort, and where Volo goes, Elminster is sure to pop up nearby at some point.
You only suffer a temporary debuff when you let Volo take out your eye, and the ability to see invisible objects without casting a spell comes in extremely useful.
Volo is more of a nuisance when it comes to the various tasks associated with him, starting from the very beginning, where he gets captured by goblins. I’ve had a few runs where I opted not to rescue him at all just to avoid some of his annoying dialogue. I get that his long-windedness is part of the shtick, but after my initial playthrough, I couldn’t skip past his dialogue fast enough. I’m probably in the minority here, but I really hope I don’t have to sit throughanother round of Volo shenanigansin the nextBaldur’s Gategame.
4Ketheric Thorm: One Of The Best Antagonists In RPG History
Ketheric Is One Of The Most Complex Villains I’ve Seen In A Video Game
Ketheric Thorm is one of the best villains in modern RPGs, and he might be one of the most memorable of all time. Ketheric’s story arc shows you a side to the antagonist that is incredibly complex and surprising. For an undead character, he is incredibly human, andI truly believe he is conflicted in his ultimate motivations. It’s hard to believe he’s not even the main villain of the game, and it’s incredible how much character development is packed into the few short scenes we get with him.
Ketheric Thorm was not always the evil undead cultist that we first meet and has an incredibly tragic history that led him down the path upon which we meet him.
The thing is, I don’t see how they could bring Ketheric back in a way that could stand up toBaldur’s Gate 3’streatment of him as the antagonist during Act 2. I can’t imagine Ketheric as anything but aBG3villain, andit’s unlikely a sequel would even come close to retelling or expanding on his arcin a meaningful way. Ketheric’s tragic demise is done so well, and I think it’s best to leave him to his fate.
3Lae’zel: Let This Githyanki Fighter Hang Up Her Gloves
I Want To Meet Some New Gith Characters In BG4
Lae’zel is easily one of my favorite characters, so much so that I cannot do a playthrough without her in my party without feeling bad about it. The reason I don’t want to see her in a sequel, however, has nothing to do with doing her character justice or tarnishing her name. Rather,I would really like to see new Githyanki characters exploredin the future of the franchise, as they play an essential role in the universe.
Recycling or bringing characters like Lae’zel back would be a wasted opportunity to give players more hands-on experience with new Gith warriors, and possibly even ride some dragons while they’re at it.Baldur’s Gate 3gave us a substantial amount of content with the Githyanki,and there’s a world of opportunity to expand and explore new characters of Gith origin.
2Shadowheart: A Perfect Story Arc For A Flawed Heroine
Shadowheart’s Story Is Nearly Flawless, It Doesn’t Need A Reboot
Shadowheart is easily among the top fan-favorite characters inBaldur’s Gate 3, and rightfully so. Her story arc is incredible from start to finish, and she’s one of the most sought-after romantic interests in the game as well.Every detail of her story adds a layer of depth and intrigue, and each of her possible endings provides a unique form of closure that not every character has. Shadowheart is another character that I feel doesn’t need to be brought back in a sequel due to how excellent her story is inBaldur’s Gate 3.
While I’d love to see Shadowheart in the future to some extent, I don’t think I’d appreciate a half-measure story where she only plays a minor role. Because her story is so strong, and she has such a dynamic personality, it wouldtake a lot of legwork for her to have an equally profound impactin another game that isn’tBG3. My biggest fear is that I will end up disliking a later version of Shadowheart because I’m holding her to an extremely high standard.
1Astarion: Leave This Sassy Vampire Alone
How Much Is Too Much Of A Good Thing?
I am probably in the minority when I say I don’t particularly want to see Astarion inBaldur’s Gate 4, but it shouldn’t be seen as a reflection of how much I adore him as a character. In similar ways to Shadowheart,Astarion’s story tugs at the heartstringsin ways that I simply don’t think can be paralleled in a future Baldur’s Gate adaptation. His wit and the caliber of writing for his dialogue will be the hardest features to mimic, and I wonder when it would be considered too much of a good thing.
Astarion and the other popular characters on this list are examples of characters I ultimately love for different reasons (except Volo). The overarching reason I don’t want to see them brought back is because I doubt any sequel would do them true justice, which is a testament to how incredible the storytelling and character development are inBaldur’s Gate 3.
