Solasta 2 builds on the well-liked Solasta: Crown of the Magister using the familiar 5th Edition D&D rules while introducing new features. Solasta 2 plans to expand beyond just dungeon crawling and offers a large open world. Solasta 2 will keep the tactical combat that fans loved about the first game but bring free-roaming exploration. Its low-key announcement could be overlooked, especially by those who aren’t already fans of the Solasta series. Solasta 2 could become a strong player in the CRPG genre and a worthy rival to Baldur’s Gate 3.
Solasta 2 Is A D&D-Based RPG Like BG3
Solasta 2 Will Be More Similar Than You Think
Solasta 2 isn’t just a follow-up; it’s a big step forward. The gameplay still sticks closely to the rules of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, and players can expect the same strategic combat that made the first game enjoyable. The basic mechanics are very similar to Baldur’s Gate 3, as both games are built on the same 5E ruleset. Building on the success of its predecessor, Solasta: Crown of the Magister, this new game could capture the feel of Baldur’s Gate 3 but with its own twist.
The developers at Tactical Adventures can easily take notes from the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 without abandoning Solasta‘s unique strengths to create something original. The first game was a nearly perfect rendition of 5e combat, but there’s always room for improvement. While the first game focused on detailed dungeon exploration, Solasta 2 opens up a large, explorable world. This world isn’t technically the same as Baldur’s Gate 3, but the player still influences it through their choices.
This is a major change, giving players the freedom to travel through different environments, find hidden spots, and take on quests that weren’t possible in the more straightforward first game. There are choices for players to make and rolls that happen to see if the player will be successful in their adventure. Most RPGs are like D&D in some capacity, but the tactical combat and 5e ruleset really makes Solasta feel like Baldur’s Gate 3.
What Makes Solasta 2 Different From Baldur’s Gate 3
Solasta 2 Is Still A Different Game From A Different Series
Both Solasta 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3 are based on the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules, but they play quite differently. Baldur’s Gate 3 focuses on deep storytelling and character interactions, letting players make choices that significantly affect the story. On the other hand, Solasta 2 emphasizes tactics and new opportunities for exploration. This encourages a different style of play, where the excitement comes from discovering new places and facing unexpected challenges instead of focusing on dialogue and building relationships.
Both games use turn-based combat that aligns with the 5e rules but present it differently. Baldur’s Gate 3 is known for its cinematic style, while Solasta 2 aims for a more straightforward feel that closely resembles a tabletop game experience. It’s not that it’s especially noticeable at a glance, but looking at things like the developer’s logs on Steam shows that the team wants to make the game feel like a tabletop experience brought to life.
One of the biggest differences is that Solasta: Crown of the Magister is not a typical officially licensed game, relying on a more limited license to use the official rules found in D&D‘s System Reference Document. This prevented the game from focusing on stories and characters from the D&D universe, and the sequel will continue in Solasta‘s own world of Neokos. So, while Baldur’s Gate 3 took place in the Forgotten Realms and referenced plenty of pre-existing lore, Solasta 2 won’t need to follow the same guidelines.
Planned changes to D&D‘s open-game license generated backlash in recent years, leading to the addition of a Creative Commons option for licensing, but Solasta‘s basic situation shouldn’t have changed in any major way.
So, Solasta 2 is offering a new experience that is very similar to Baldur’s Gate 3 but different enough that players will feel it’s an entirely new adventure. This would come in a world with its own cultures and morality, which gives the fix many have needed without it needing a true sequel.
Solasta Has Room To Grow & Improve
There’s Opportunities Here
Solasta: Crown of the Magister was impressive for how well it adapted the rules of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition into a video game not part of the Forgotten Realms. However, its mostly linear dungeon-crawling style limited how expansive and replayable it could be, especially when compared to other role-playing games. Solasta 2 tackles these issues head-on and brings more to the table.
This sequel isn’t just about better graphics or more content; it fundamentally changes how the game is played. By focusing on a setting with more open exploration, Solasta 2 can give players more freedom to explore and face unexpected challenges, something the first game lacked. Since this game is still in development, the team working on it, Tactical Adventures, might be able to target opportunities that Baldur’s Gate 3 didn’t cover.
The other upside is that Solasta 2 doesn’t have to follow the storyline or lore established in Dungeons & Dragons, so it can grow wherever the developers need it to. While it’s often nice to be able to go into a large library of lore to pull from, the restrictions that come from not altering that lore can be overwhelming. Solasta 2 has free reign to make its story and rules without getting it checked out, giving the creative freedom needed to create a great experience.
Players who loved Baldur’s Gate 3 should like Divinity Original Sin 2, but the Solasta 2 team can carve its own niche with something new. Solasta 2 has the opportunity to grow where it wants and fill needs players have thought of since finishing other CRPGs. If anything, this could be Solasta 2‘s opportunity to become one of the top games players go to when they want a CRPG. With Larian Studios no longer making Baldur’s Gate games, there is a hole that a different team can step in to fill.
