Baldur’s Gate 3 vs Elden Ring: which RPG goes further?
For RPG fans, few questions matter more than depth and endurance. This Baldur’s Gate 3 vs Elden Ring comparison looks at two of the most acclaimed modern RPGs: Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios, released August 2023) and Elden Ring (FromSoftware, released February 2022). Though both are massive successes, they deliver very different types of experiences. This article explores their strengths through data — sales figures, playtime, critical reception — and examines which game might “take you further,” depending on how you like to play.
Baldur’s Gate 3 vs Elden Ring sales and popularity
- Elden Ring has sold 30 million copies worldwide, according to an announcement from FromSoftware and Bandai Namco. Gadgets 360
- For Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios hasn’t published a confirmed number of total sales recently, but the game’s popularity remains very high, shown by its active player base and long playtimes.
For Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios has not published a recent confirmed total sales figure, but engagement remains high. Larian revealed that players have spent over 51,000 years in Baldur’s Gate 3 across platforms. TechRadar
On Steam Deck alone, Baldur’s Gate 3 players have logged more than 17 million hours, about 1,965 years if played continuously. Tech4Gamers
Average playtime and engagement
One of the most striking metrics in the Baldur’s Gate 3 vs Elden Ring comparison is how much time players spend in each game.
- Baldur’s Gate 3: According to Larian’s publishing director, Michael Douse, Steam players average over 100 hours of playtime. GamesRadar+1
- Several sources point to a median playtime of ~62 hours and 55 minutes for BG3 on Steam. The Gamer
- GameSpot also reported that players average 5+ hours per day during active periods. GameSpot
For Elden Ring, a report from Alinea Analytics reveals very deep engagement:
- About 45% of Elden Ring players on PC Steam have logged over 100 hours in the game. ungeek.ph
- According to Gamepressure (citing that same report), 44.7% of Steam players spent more than 100 hours in Elden Ring, which shows strong retention. Gamepressure.com
Gameplay style
Baldur’s Gate 3
- Turn-based tactical combat, following D&D 5th Edition rules.
- Encourages strategic planning, use of terrain, spells, and party synergy.
- Strong narrative emphasis: branching dialog, moral choices, companion relationships.
- Co-op mode up to 4 players.
- Deep character customization: multiple classes, subclass options, and builds.
Elden Ring
- Real-time action-RPG with difficulty à la Soulsborne.
- Large open-world exploration (“The Lands Between”) with horseback traversal.
- Challenging boss fights demanding skill, timing, and pattern recognition.
- Flexible build system: many stats, weapons, spells to mix.
- Multiplayer: online co-op and PvP via summoning.
Difficulty and replayability
- BG3 offers difficulty scaling, making it accessible or more challenging depending on player choice.
- Elden Ring is known for its high difficulty; failure is common, and risk is constant.
Replayability:
- Baldur’s Gate 3: Multiple endings, high class/build variety, and deep story paths.
- Elden Ring: New Game+ mode, build experimentation, and many hidden areas or secrets make replays rewarding.
| Metric | Baldur’s Gate 3 | Elden Ring |
|---|---|---|
| Average Playtime | ~100+ hours (Steam). Source: GamesRadar | ~45% of players >100 hours. Source: ungeek.ph |
| Median Playtime (Steam) | ~62h 55m. Source: The Gamer | – |
| Daily Engagement | ~5 hours/day for active users. Source: GameSpot | – |
| Total Cumulative Playtime | ≈ 51,000 years across all players. Source: TechRadar | – |
| Steam Deck Playtime | 17 million+ hours played on the Deck. Source: Tech4Gamers | – |
| Sales | – | 30 million units sold. Source: Gadgets 360 |
Which RPG will take you further?
Pick baldur’s gate 3 if you:
- Love deep, choice-driven narratives
- Enjoy tactical, turn-based combat
- Want to build complex party strategies
- Prefer a highly replayable story with different outcomes
Pick Elden Ring if you:
- Crave open-world freedom and exploration
- Enjoy high-difficulty combat and boss challenges
- Want to experiment with many builds
- Like to discover lore through the world, not just through dialog
In the Baldur’s Gate 3 vs Elden Ring comparison, both games are exceptional RPGs, but they cater to different tastes:
- BG3 leans into storytelling, character depth, and strategy.
- Elden Ring emphasizes challenge, exploration, and action.
If you want an immersive, narrative journey, Baldur’s Gate 3 might take you further in terms of emotional and strategic depth. If you want a sprawling, tough open-world challenge, Elden Ring will likely take you further in terms of exploration and endurance. The related Spider-Man 2 vs Alan Wake 2 comparison applies a similar contrast to action and horror storytelling.
Sources
- GamesRadar+: Average playtime over 100 hours for Baldur’s Gate 3. GamesRadar
- TheGamer: Median playtime for BG3 (~62h 55m). The Gamer
- Ensigame: Confirmation that BG3 average exceeds 100 hours on Steam. https://ensigame.com
- GameSpot: BG3 players average 5+ hours per day. GameSpot
- TechRadar: Total cumulative BG3 playtime > 51 000 years. TechRadar
- Tech4Gamers: BG3 17+ million hours on Steam Deck. Tech4Gamers
- Gadgets360: Elden Ring has sold 30 million copies. Gadgets 360
- Ungeek / Alinea Analytics: ~45% of PC Elden Ring players have 100+ hours. ungeek.ph
- Gamepressure: More engagement stats from Alinea Analytics. Gamepressure.com
