Baldur's Gate 3 devs originally went for a truly “cartoony” art style, but I'm glad they didn't go with it

Baldur’s Gate 3 devs originally went for a truly “cartoony” art style, but I'm glad they didn't go with it - VideoGamer

Baldur's Gate 3 originally had a more "cartoon-y" art style before Larian Studios changed their minds about the game's look.

videogamer.com

TL;DR: Larian Studios originally experimented with a highly stylized, almost cartoony art style for Baldur’s Gate 3, tearing the visuals down and restarting the look at least twice. In a recent AnsweRED podcast appearance, art director Alena Dubrovina explained they toyed with indie-book aesthetics before finally landing on a richer, grounded style reminiscent of Divinity: Original Sin.

Why it matters: The team’s rigorous “complete turnarounds” and head-sculpt reworks show just how crucial visual identity was to BG3’s success—and while that realistic approach paid off, Dubrovina hopes one of Larian’s upcoming titles will finally lean into a bolder, cartoon-y vibe.