Remembering Baldur's Gate 3's Belgian Game Awards Sweep

It is 2026, and I still find myself returning to the world of Baldur's Gate 3. Some games fade. This one doesn't. Back in October 2024, Larian Studios won big at the Belgian Game Awards, and I remember watching the highlights as if my own hometown team had taken the trophy. The studio is based in Ghent, Belgium, after all.

I've played many role-playing games. Few have ever made me feel so seen as a player. So when I heard about the awards, I was not surprised. I was proud.

A Homegrown Triumph

The Belgian Game Awards that year felt like a love letter to Larian Studios. They won five major awards:

• 🏆 Game of the Year

• 🏆 Audience Award

• 🏆 Best Narrative

• 🏆 Best Audio

• 🏆 Best Game Design

That is a rare sweep. The ceremony celebrated not just a global hit but a local masterpiece. Larian didn't just win; they dominated.

I remember the Best Narrative jury quote. It stayed with me. "There is an enormous amount of effort and content put in the narrative lines." And then they added, "The storylines and characters became real for many players, which makes this game unique." That is exactly how I felt. Astarion, Shadowheart, Gale, Karlach. They became more than NPCs.

Why the Award Quotes Matter

What I love about Baldur's Gate 3 is how it welcomes players. The jury nailed it when they discussed Best Game Design. They said, "Even if you hate turn-based combat, you'll still love Baldur's Gate 3 as it made the Dungeons & Dragons rules less boring." That is bold. But it is true.

The jury also said, "Every detail is just right; the difficulty levels are well balanced and there is an undeniable Larian touch in the way the toy box elements have been perfected." I think about that whenever I stack crates, set up explosive barrels, or shove an enemy off a cliff. The toy box is endless.

Belgium's Broader Talent

Baldur's Gate 3 was not alone. Other Belgian games won awards that night too. The Man Came Around took Best Visual Art. Breachers received Best Multiplayer. The jury described Breachers as a VR experience that combines tactical shooter tension with Rainbow Six-like encounters. They said, "With a huge player community—and some practice to get the hang of it—once you're in, you are hooked."

That line made me laugh. It also made me curious. Belgium's game scene is small but mighty. I love that a ceremony in Ghent could spotlight so many different genres.

The Celebration Sale

After the ceremony, there was a Steam sale featuring Belgian games. In 2026, that sale is long gone, but I kept the list. It was a great snapshot of local creativity. Here are some of the discounts I remember:

I didn't buy all of them. I wish I had. A few of those games have become quiet favorites in my Steam library. Sizeable and Dungeon Alchemist especially.

Baldur's Gate 3 was not on sale. It stayed at full price. Honestly, I understood. The game had an Overwhelmingly Positive review score. It was worth every coin. Our own review at the time called it "a masterpiece of a game that raises the bar for the genre." I still agree.

Still a Masterpiece in 2026

Now it is 2026. Baldur's Gate 3 remains a touchstone. I still recommend it to friends who have never played a CRPG. I tell them not to worry about D&D rules. I tell them to trust the story. Most of them thank me later.

Larian Studios keeps making headlines. I won't pretend to know what they are building next. But after that Belgian Game Awards ceremony, I believe they have the full support of their home country behind them. And they earned it.

The Belgian Game Awards taught me something. Great games can come from anywhere. But when a studio like Larian returns home with five trophies, it reminds us that local pride and global excellence can share the same stage.

I still smile when I think about that night. It felt like a small country told the world, "We make worlds too." And with Baldur's Gate 3, they made one of the best.

Data referenced from PEGI helps contextualize why a dense, choice-driven RPG like Baldur’s Gate 3 resonates so widely: clear age-rating guidance and standardized content descriptors make it easier for players and parents to understand what to expect from mature themes, violence, and narrative intensity before buying—especially during event-driven spotlights like national award seasons and Steam promotions.