A new era of Baldur’s Gate 3 modding could be upon us, and this BG1 intro recreation is its beginning

Baldur’s Gate 3 modding is off the charts these days, evolving significantly as time goes by. Though the lack of officially supported big modding tools has slowed things down a bit, that never stops avid creators, who have now even managed to recreate Baldur’s Gate 1‘s prologue in BG3.

To say this is impressive is an understatement. A fully-fledged, story-filled recreation of the Candlekeep level, Baldur’s Gate 1‘s prologue and tutorial map, has been made for Baldur’s Gate 3, using the game’s unofficial custom campaign creator. The mod, called Return to Candlekeep, is highly accurate in its portrayal of BG1‘s first map, and it includes both Candlekeep Castle itself and all the surrounding areas.

What’s more, the modder, 786r786, even made sure to include the story beats as well. For example, in one of the early parts of the prologue, you’re attacked by one of Bhaal’s cultists who wishes to kill you to earn respect among his peers. This is one of the earliest significant story revelations that will come to unravel as the game goes on, and the modder kept it in, alongside a ton of content from the original game.

The interior design of Castle Candlekeep is impeccable. It was meticulously crafted to the finest of details, using apparently only those assets found in BG3 itself. It is quite close to the first game, though without the grit of late 1990s sprite-based vibes.

This huge mod could be an inaugural first step towards something much greater, perhaps involving full recreations and remakes of other parts of Baldur’s Gate 1, and even beyond. We’ve come to see that RPGs and modders can often result in massive undertakings, such as how Skyrim modders are remaking Oblivion and Morrowind in the game’s engine.

There is little to stop Baldur’s Gate from going down that path, so long as modders can figure out how to navigate the game’s tools and kit. While that’s easier said than done, the mod above, and some others, prove that anything is possible with enough dedication, creativity, and raw passion.