Baldur's Gate 3 vs The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Two huge RPGs with different combat philosophies — one turn-based and branching, the other action-packed and open.
Updated 11d ago
Larian called Patch 8 the final one, then quietly shipped eight more — including the work that eased Act 3's framerate. Still $59.99, still worth every cent.
Still the best-value RPG on Steam — Complete is $10 over base for $25 of expansions. Check your OS first: the next patch drops Windows 10 and DirectX 11.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.
| Measure | Baldur's Gate 3 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt |
|---|---|---|
| Value The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt wins on value | ||
| Price now | $59.99 Steam | $7.99 −80% · Steam |
| All-time low | $41.99 | $3.99 |
| Cost / hour | $0.82/hr $59.99 · 73 h main story | $0.15/hr $7.99 · 52 h main story |
| Off its low | +43% low was Jul 2026 | +100% low was Jun 2024 |
| Main story | 73 h | 52 h |
| Health | ||
| Steam reviews | 97% 851k reviews | 97% 880k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 94% 5k votes · vs 97% lifetime | 95% 5k votes · vs 97% lifetime |
| Peak players | 78,225 Jul 2026 · ↑ 14% MoM | 36,591 Jul 2026 · ↑ 4% MoM |
| Launch peak | 9% of Aug 2023 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | 40% of May 2015 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | 875,343 Aug 2023 | 103,329 Jan 2020 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 5 months ago | 26 months ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 0 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Gold | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Baldur's Gate 3
Still being surprised years in. Players a thousand hours deep report scenes and outcomes they had never triggered before.
Act 3. The complaint is strikingly consistent among people who loved the first two acts — that the city is disjointed and tedious by comparison.
from our July 2026 verdict
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
That an eleven-year-old game still reads as current, and Blood and Wine in particular — long-haul players name the expansion as the high point.
The incoming Windows 11 and SSD floor on an eleven-year-old game, the enhanced build's frame drops in cities, and quests that lean on witcher-sense tracking.
from our July 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Baldur's Gate 3 if
- You enjoy turn-based tactical combat and deep character building.
- You want a 100+ hour RPG where choices truly matter.
- You have a modern PC and don't mind waiting for discounts.
Pick The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt if
- You prefer real-time action combat with narrative-focused open worlds.
- You want all content in one package at a great value.
- You already have Windows 11 and an SSD, and dislike turn-based systems.
Bottom line
If you value tactical depth and reactive storytelling, buy Baldur's Gate 3. If you want a complete open-world action RPG with excellent expansions, get The Witcher 3.