Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
GamesRadar
GamesRadar
Technology
Kaan Serin

A Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough with Swen Vincke and Lord of The Rings’ Elijah Wood and Sean Austin is the D&D session I didn't know I needed

Off-brand Fellow Of The Ring pose in Baldur's Gate 3.

Larian Studios’ CEO Swen Vincke was joined by none other than two Lord of the Rings alums for a hilarious Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough - and it’s the essential Christmas viewing I didn’t know I needed.

Larian shared the brief playthrough on social media, which had the developer’s big boss walk Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins) and Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee) through the D&D RPG's opening hours. Laughs erupt in no time, as Astin turns to the naked Tiefling waiting on a character creation screen and says “I’m really excited to see what is already… beautiful to look at.” Wood instead creates a halfling with the Dark Urge background, and on second thought, where else has he roleplayed as short fantasy folk tempted by overwhelming darkness?

Other fun Middle-Earth callbacks have Astin defeating the Spider Matriarch, channeling his Shelob-hunting era: “I killed the big spider… again.” And then, there’s the conclusion, which weirdly mimics the iconic trilogy. After unlocking the Necromancy of Thay book, Wood’s character is overcome with evil temptations, forcing him to kick a squirrel, chop off a wizard’s arm, and fling a gnome across the village.

Staying true to Samwise’s spirit, Astin takes his companion to a lava-filled pit. “Throw the book in the fire,” he implores. “I can’t throw the book, Sean. I’m too powerful,” Wood replies, defeated, “the possibilities with this book are myriad and endless. I can’t let it go.” Sensing that his friend is too far gone, Astin decides to kick him, along with the dark book, into the lava pit. A reverse-Gollum, if you will. 

That’s an eight-minute video that’s almost impossible not to crack a smile at, especially if you’re a fan of both properties. Should you want Baldur’s Gate 3 and Lord of the Rings to cross over more often, check out the mod that adds the entire Fellowship of the Ring to the game.

Another player accidentally recreated the Lord of the Rings’ most iconic battle in-game

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.