Baldur's Gate 3 vs Metaphor: ReFantazio
One offers boundless choice in a D&D sandbox; the other tight calendar-driven social sim fantasy.
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.
Surpasses most modern JRPGs — Metaphor takes Persona 5's social-sim-plus-turn-based formula into high fantasy with 46 archetypes and a tighter calendar.
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 | Metaphor: ReFantazio |
|---|---|---|
| Value Metaphor: ReFantazio wins on value | ||
| Price now | $59.99 Steam | $25.54 −64% · Fanatical |
| All-time low | $41.99 | $24.95 |
| Cost / hour | $0.82/hr $59.99 · 73 h main story | $0.39/hr $25.54 · 65 h main story |
| Off its low | +43% low was Jul 2026 | +2% low was Jun 2026 |
| Main story | 73 h | 65 h |
| Health Baldur's Gate 3 wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 97% 851k reviews | 90% 42k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 94% 5k votes · vs 97% lifetime | 86% 445 votes · vs 90% lifetime |
| Peak players | 78,225 Jul 2026 · ↑ 14% MoM | 4,131 Jul 2026 · ↑ 24% MoM |
| Launch peak | 9% of Aug 2023 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | 5% of Oct 2024 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | 875,343 Aug 2023 | 85,194 Oct 2024 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 5 months ago | 10 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
Metaphor: ReFantazio
The archetype system's flexible team-building and challenging turn-based combat are the loops 100-hour fans keep returning to.
Late-game grinding for types and abilities, alongside pacing that falls apart after a strong start, is the wall many long-time players hit.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Baldur's Gate 3 if
- You want a 100+ hour sandbox where almost every action has a consequence.
- You enjoy tactical combat with physics and environmental shenanigans.
- You love creating unique characters with D&D race/class combos.
Pick Metaphor: ReFantazio if
- You loved Persona 5 and want a fantasy version with a calendar and social sim.
- You prefer a tighter, director's-cut story over open-ended freedom.
- You enjoy job systems and experimenting with 46 Archetypes.
Bottom line
If you crave freedom and systemic chaos, Baldur's Gate 3 is unmatched. If you want a polished, character-driven fantasy with Persona-like density, Metaphor: ReFantazio wins.