Elden Ring or Baldur's Gate 3 for your next long game
Two of the best games of the decade, both finished and both Verified on Steam Deck. The kit narrows it down; the style of play decides it.
01 · the short answerBoth suit a Deck or a mid-range PC; Switch 2 and Mac pick for you
Both need a class B graphics card on PC and both are Verified on Steam Deck. Elden Ring also runs on Switch 2 and needs far less space; Baldur's Gate 3 runs natively on Mac and plays co-op across PC, Mac, PS5 and Xbox. Beyond the kit, it is real-time challenge against turn-based choices.
02 · the kitWhere each one plays
| Kit | Elden Ring | Baldur's Gate 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop PC | Plays | Plays |
| Everyday laptop | Not available | Not available |
| Steam Deck | Plays · Verified | Plays · Verified |
| PlayStation 5 | Plays | Plays |
| Xbox Series X|S | Plays | Plays |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Plays · Tarnished Edition | Not available |
| Phone & tablet | Not available | Not available |
| Mac | Not available | Plays · Apple silicon |
| Cloud streaming | With caveats · PS Plus Premium only | With caveats · Needs a service |
03 · the factsSide by side
| Point | Elden Ring | Baldur's Gate 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Kit List score | 8.2 / 10 | 8.9 / 10 |
| Entry price | £49.99 on Steam, PlayStation and Xbox | £49.99 on Steam · £57.99 on consoles |
| PEGI | 16 | 18 |
| PC storage | 60 GB | 150 GB |
| Minimum graphics class | B | B |
| Crossplay | No crossplay | Yes: PC, Mac, PS5 and Xbox Series |
| Combat | Real time and demanding | Turn based and tactical |
| Co-op | Online summons within one platform family | Up to four, with crossplay |
| Switch 2 | Tarnished Edition, expansion included | Not released |
| Mac | No | Native on Apple silicon |
04 · the verdictWhich one to start
If you own a Switch 2, Elden Ring's Tarnished Edition is the only one of the two you can play, and it includes the expansion. On a Mac, it is Baldur's Gate 3. Everywhere else, pick by temperament: Elden Ring rewards persistence and reflexes, Baldur's Gate 3 rewards curiosity and planning, and both will fill months.
Pick Elden Ring if…
you enjoy mastering hard fights, want to explore without a map marker, or play on Switch 2.
Full reviewPick Baldur's Gate 3 if…
you prefer choices, conversation and turn-based tactics, want co-op with friends on other kit, or play on a Mac.
Full review