Why You Might Want to Skip the Older Divinity Games

Welcome to the World of Divinity!

So, Swen Vincke, the mastermind behind Larian Studios, has some pearls of wisdom for those brand new to the Divinity series: just skip the old stuff, would ya? His reasoning? Well, they’re a bit outdated. And honestly, that might be putting it kindly.

At The Game Awards, Larian surprised everyone with a juicy announcement about their “biggest game ever.” Now, this is a hefty claim considering Baldur’s Gate 3 was the giant that everyone was fawning over not too long ago. For some of us (definitely not me, of course), the excitement was palpable. With the announcement, we could play the retro card and flaunt just how long we’ve been riding the Larian hype train.

A Trip Down Memory Lane… or Not?

Let’s be real—Larian was beloved by the hardcore RPG nerds well before the rest of the gaming world caught up. Just a few years ago, they were scraping by with crowdfunding campaigns for Divinity: Original Sin 2, long before the massive success of BG3 took off. If you’re just diving into this universe thanks to Baldur’s Gate, here’s a heads up: Swen Vincke suggests you might want to start with the newer games (like Original Sin) and forget about the relics of the past.

Now, don’t get me wrong; if you’re a lore enthusiast or just enjoy a healthy dose of game nostalgia, the older titles have their charms. However, Vincke made it clear that if you’re hoping for clarity regarding the overarching story, diving into the early games won’t reveal the mysteries of the universe anytime soon. The story connections are about as tight as a pair of old gym shorts—definitely present, but don’t expect them to fit well.

The chronology of the Divinity series could give mathematicians a run for their money. Did you know the very first game to release was Divinity: Dragon Commander? It hit the shelves after the ironically titled Divine, Beyond, and Ego Draconis. So, if you decide to embark on this timeline piecing adventure, I salute you! Just brace yourself for a puzzling journey.

To Play or Not to Play the Originals?

If you adored the combat mechanics or multiplayer madness in Baldur’s Gate 3, then yes, you might enjoy checking out Divinity: Original Sin 2, and maybe even the first Original Sin. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—if you’re all about that rich narrative experience that BG3 offers, you might just want to take a rain check on the older titles unless you really crave that lore dive.

Swen Vincke himself stated, “If you want to know everything, sure, dive into the games that came before Original Sin. But they are a bit behind the times. Trust me on this one.” After all, the first installment, Divine Divinity, made its grand entrance in 2002, and yeah, it shows. They might set you back less than a dollar each during GOG’s seasonal sales, which is a steal, especially for those one-of-a-kind soundtracks. Seriously, Kirill Pokrovsky’s music is a treasure in its own right!

So, here’s my advice: take the words of Divinity aficionado Ted Litchfield to heart. The early Divinity games are for the true hardcore fans—those “sickos” who adore the music and thrive on lore. You might want to listen to the soundtracks and just peek at a timeline instead.