If you happen to hadn’t already heard, there’s a bizarre, spiky monolith within the Mojave Desert. Adorned with an enormous eye-like orb and a legion of demonic creatures, it’s a touch at one thing resulting from be revealed as a part of The Sport Awards 2025. And, following the registration of some new logos, it looks as if we have already got the reply as to what it’s: a model new sport from Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian Studios referred to as “Divinity”.
If you’re one of many hundreds of thousands of gamers who first discovered of Larian by means of the gargantuan success of Baldur’s Gate 3, then the phrase Divinity could not imply a lot to you. Followers of the studio, nevertheless, will inform you that BG3’s success is rooted in Divinity, a sequence of six video games that Larian labored on virtually completely between 2002 and 2017. If this monolith and trademark leak actually do level in direction of Divinity, then the Belgian studio is returning to its authentic fantasy universe… and sure bringing an entire new fanbase together with it.
If such a currently-very-much-hypothetical sport would mark your first foray into the Divinity universe, then it’s your decision a fast primer on what to anticipate. Allow us to be your information to Divinity, and be the primary to (very pre-emptively) say…
Welcome to Rivellon
Very similar to how Baldur’s Gate takes place within the Dungeons & Dragons setting of the Forgotten Realms, Divinity has its personal wealthy, authentic setting: the world of Rivellon. There are broad similarities between the 2; each are rooted in Tolkienesque fantasy tropes, with classically styled medieval landscapes and areas. There are a number of races; like in D&D, you possibly can anticipate to fulfill people, elves, dwarves, lizard-like beings, and the dwelling lifeless. Magic is commonplace in Rivellon, though sorcery is taken into account extra harmful and is extra closely regulated there than it’s on D&D’s Sword Coast.
Like Baldur’s Gate, Divinity additionally options numerous extra esoteric components, from steampunk to sci-fi and past, that make its world just a little quirkier than the lands explored in additional conventional fantasy like The Lord of the Rings. Rivellon may also typically be a really foolish place, and the affect of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels has incessantly been felt in Divinity’s writing. Actually, Terry’s daughter, Rhianna Pratchett, even wrote a tie-in novella for the second sport. However that’s to not say Rivellon is frivolous – there’s a deep vein of fascinating lore that has been mined over the sequence’ six installments.
In brief, Rivellon is the stage for tales much like these you loved in Baldur’s Gate 3, however is beholden solely to Larian’s guidelines, quite than these set by the homeowners of Dungeons & Dragons, Wizards of the Coast.
What’s Divinity?
Divinity is an RPG sequence, however its evolution has been removed from regular. Take a fast have a look at every of the six video games, and also you’ll discover not less than 4 totally different approaches. Divine Divinity, the very first sport within the sequence, and its sequel, Past Divinity, are Diablo-influenced motion RPGs. Divinity 2: Ego Draconis, in the meantime, is a third-person RPG that feels a little nearer to the likes of Dragon Age and The Witcher. Divinity: Dragon Commander is a barely Complete Conflict-flavoured technique sport, and the Authentic Sin duology – the newest video games within the sequence – are classic-style RPGs that bear essentially the most resemblance to Baldur’s Gate 3. Larian has experimented wildly over time, and so there’s no clear indication as to what format the subsequent sport within the sequence will use (though contemplating the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, the smart wager can be on one thing related).
One other uncommon aspect is its method to the timeline. Whereas Rivellon does have a coherent historical past and storylines which can be threaded throughout the sequence, every sport is ready years (typically even centuries) aside, that means each is one thing of a standalone expertise. Just like how Baldur’s Gate 3 calls for no expertise of the sequence however has loads of nods to the 2 earlier video games, you possibly can play Divinity: Authentic Sin 2 with none expertise of its predecessors. I believe any future sport within the sequence would proceed this custom, particularly since Larian now has a legion of recent followers who’re unfamiliar with the studio’s earlier work. If the leaked trademark is to be believed, this new mission is solely referred to as “Divinity” – a reputation that has possible been chosen because it comes with no suggestion that you have to have performed a number of different video games.
What Does “Divinity” Imply?
Divinity’s title is drawn from its foundational lore. 1000’s of years earlier than the occasions of Divine Divinity, the primary sport within the sequence, Rivellon’s ruling physique, the Council of Seven, sacrificed themselves to defend the realm from evil wizards. The “Divine Order” was established in remembrance and assigned to go on their information to the subsequent generations.
By the occasions of Divine Divinity, a prophecy tells of a messiah who will shield Rivellon from the subsequent existential risk, a demon referred to as Chaos. That messiah, it seems, is you, and also you ascend to turn into Lucian the Divine – a personality that goes on to make appearances in Divinity 2: Ego Draconis and Divinity: Authentic Sin 2. The idea of the Divine is incessantly explored within the tales, though it’s not the central focus of every sport.
How Related is Divinity to Baldur’s Gate 3?
For the reason that sequence has modified a lot over its lifetime, a lot of the Divinity sequence is definitely fairly totally different from what Larian created with Baldur’s Gate 3. Nevertheless, the Authentic Sin duology could be very clearly the blueprint for BG3. These are isometric RPGs set throughout a number of areas, with tactical turn-based fight and an analogous “hands-off” method to quest design.
Whereas each are value enjoying, Authentic Sin 2 is by far essentially the most completed, each when it comes to gameplay depth and narrative power. It’s the place Larian pioneered the “origin story” characters that may later turn into the heroes of Baldur’s Gate 3, and Rivellon’s reply to the likes of Astarion, Gale, and Shadowheart are simply as brilliantly written. It’s additionally the sport wherein the studio established “tags”, the system that gives character-specific dialogue choices that will help you higher roleplay your particular race or class.
Maybe the Authentic Sin duology’s most lauded system is its elemental results – solid a rain spell to make one thing moist, after which use a lightning capacity to conduct electrical energy by means of that sodden floor. Tip over an oil barrel to create a puddle, after which shoot a flaming arrow into it to create a blaze. Stab an enemy, freeze their blood, and watch them slip on their very own icy innards. A lot of this elemental interaction made it into Baldur’s Gate 3, nevertheless it’s rather more pronounced in Authentic Sin. Anticipate not less than 1 / 4 of your battles to lead to arena-wide bonfires.
The best way to Play the Divinity Video games in Order
As beforehand talked about, the timeline gaps that separate the Divinity video games imply there are not any strictly direct sequels, and you may kind of play them in any order you select. If you happen to’ve performed Baldur’s Gate 3 and need to be taught extra about Divinity, I’d solely actually suggest enjoying Authentic Sin 2, which is broadly thought to be the most effective within the sequence. Initially a PC unique, it’s now obtainable on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Swap, and even iPad. However if you happen to actually do need to delve into the lore and discover the complete timeline, that is the way you’d have to sort out the sequence:
Divinity: Dragon Commander (2013)
- A grand technique sport set 1000’s of years previous to the occasions of the RPGs.
Divinity: Authentic Sin (2014)
- A CRPG with turn-based fight, set 1000 years earlier than the unique sport, targeted on a pair of “Supply Hunters” monitoring down harmful magic customers.
Divine Divinity (2002)
- A Diablo-like ARPG that chronicles the ascension of Lucian the Divine.
Past Divinity (2004)
- The ARPG sequel to Divine Divinity, set 20 years later, tells the story of certainly one of Lucian’s servants, who has been soulbound to an evil Loss of life Knight.
Divinity: Authentic Sin 2 (2017)
- A CRPG that’s a sequel to Authentic Sin when it comes to sport design, however takes place after the unique two video games and offers with an outbreak of “Voidwoken” monsters in Rivellon.
Divinity 2: Ego Draconis (2009)
- A 3D motion RPG set a long time after Lucian’s ascension, throughout an period when the Divine’s adoptive son has turn into a tyrant, wherein you play as a knight who can rework right into a dragon.
Matt Purslow is IGN’s Government Editor of Options.
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