![A screenshot of Baldur's Gate 3 shows a dark elf warrior.](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/a117999724bb14ae3bd2828e11f221a2.jpg?w=790&ssl=1)
You’d expect a new Bethesda game would be the biggest RPG of the year, but nope. Instead, it was Baldur’s Gate 3, which officially launched earlier this year to rave reviews. We’ve written a lot about the game already on the site and you should check out those posts, too.
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What I wanted to talk about here is how incredible it was to see a turn-based, PC-focused, Dungeons & Dragons game developed by an independent studio and released via early access explode like the latest Call of Duty or GTA.
Everyone I knew was playing it. Everyone online was sharing screenshots. Everyone was talking about all the people they were digitally fucking in the game.
It was wild to watch and a reminder successful games don’t always need flashy years-long marketing campaigns featuring big stars and Super Bowl ads. Instead, sometimes, you can just make a really good game that people want and you’ll sell millions of copies. And maybe end up inspiring a lot of erotic fan fiction.
Any big 2023 video game surprises we missed? What unexpected developments got you all excited this year?
![](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_80,w_636/fda74de9b3af560d4d745c22060f9dc3.jpg?w=790&ssl=1)