Start with combat, because it is the one thing you can’t tune later. Decide whether you want to plan every move in turns or act in real time. Then check how much the story reacts to your choices, which difficulty settings exist and what they change, and whether the co-op mode fits your group’s platform and size. This guide walks through those four checks and uses two Larian Studios games, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2, as worked examples.
Step 1: Choose your combat feel
Ask one question: do you want time to think, or do you want to react? Turn-based tactical combat gives you room to plan positioning, abilities and how they interact. Real-time action RPGs reward reflexes instead. Neither is better, but a mismatch is the most common reason people drop an RPG early.
Both examples here are turn-based. Larian’s official Baldur’s Gate 3 page presents it as a Dungeons & Dragons RPG. The Steam listing for Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition describes deep tactical turn-based combat. If you want reflex-driven action, look for that description in a game’s own official materials before buying.
Step 2: Decide how much story and agency you want
“Story-rich” can mean different things. Check which of these a game actually describes:
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- An authored narrative. Baldur’s Gate 3 is described by Larian as having an expansive original story.
- Character-driven arcs. The Divinity: Original Sin 2 listing says its origin characters have their own backgrounds and quests.
- Choices with consequences. The same listing says your choices have consequences.
If story is your priority, shortlist games that name these features instead of relying on a generic “great story” label.
Step 3: Check difficulty options and what they change
Look for named difficulty modes and read what each one does. Don’t assume every game has an easy setting, or that an easy mode removes all challenge.
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Larian says Baldur’s Gate 3 has “three difficulty settings” that let you customize the challenge of combat (official about page). Its Community Update #20 says that in Story mode combat has been made more forgiving so players can immerse themselves in the narrative. That makes it a reasonable fit if you care about the story more than the tactics. The Divinity: Original Sin 2 listing doesn’t give comparable difficulty detail, so check its current game-specific page.
Step 4: Confirm the co-op setup
Settle the practical questions before you compare games: couch or online, how many players, and which platform. Co-op details vary by edition, so confirm them on the exact listing you plan to buy.
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- Baldur’s Gate 3 on PlayStation: the PlayStation Store listing describes local split-screen for two players, or online play for up to four.
- Divinity: Original Sin 2 on Steam: the listing describes up to four players, online or in split-screen.
Don’t carry these details over to other platforms. Check the player cap, local versus online play, and platform on the listing you’re buying.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Putting it together
| Game | Combat and story | Difficulty | Co-op | Good match for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | D&D RPG with an expansive original story (Larian) | Three settings; Story mode is more forgiving in combat | PlayStation: 2-player local split-screen or up to 4 online | Story-focused tactical players who want adjustable challenge |
| Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition | Deep tactical turn-based combat, origin characters with quests, consequential choices (Steam) | Not stated on the cited listing | Steam: up to 4, online or split-screen | Tactical players who want character origins and group play |
These are feature descriptions from official pages, not hands-on tests or comparative reviews. They don’t establish which game is easiest or has the best story, and they cover only two examples, not the whole genre.
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Quick decision path
- Pick turn-based tactical or real-time action. If turn-based, start with games like the two above.
- Shortlist games that explicitly describe choices, companions or origin stories if narrative matters most.
- If you want a gentler experience, confirm a lower difficulty setting exists and read what it changes.
- For groups, filter by platform, local or online play, and player count first. Then compare games that meet those needs.
- Before buying, recheck the exact edition’s store page for platform, co-op mode, player cap and language.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
