While enjoying the holiday break, my husband and I finally decided to play Divinity: Original Sin 2, the highly rated 2017 RPG created by Larian Studios, long before Baldur's Gate 3 was ever released.
I've been playing on my Xbox Ally X, and I've enjoyed the co-op handheld experience so much that I want people to try it for themselves.
Playing DOS2 on a gaming handheld has completely changed the co-op experience
I expected Divinity: Original Sin 2 (DOS2) to share mechanics and certain assets in common with Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3) since it's the same kind of choice-based RPG from the same developer, but I didn't realize how similar the story and characters would feel.
RELATED: Our Divinity: Original Sin 2 PC review from 2017
Without going too far into spoilers, both start on a vessel, land you on a beach, and give you the option of banding together with memorable characters who need to get something removed from their bodies. As with BG3, you have the option of playing the game solo or with other players.
Every character can be leveled up, with a class and build that best fits your preferred playstyle.
Some aspects of DOS2 feel like precursors to BG3, and that's because they are. But, while BG3 feels like a refined game with quality of life (QoL) improvements, DOS2 is still plenty enjoyable and worth playing. It certainly holds up in 2026.
Playing DOS2 has honestly satisfied my need for more BG3 content.
Some of the biggest differences are that there aren't any mocap cutscenes in DOS2, and unless I'm playing wrong, it seems you can only have four characters total in your party; there is no camp for swapping between benched origin characters.
If anything, the different mechanics make DOS2 more interesting and keep my brain engaged since I have to solve problems a little differently. As with BG3, I'm already thinking about which of the other characters I'll add to my party and what I'll do differently in my next playthrough.
Playing DOS2 has honestly satisfied my need for more BG3 content, even if it takes place in a completely different universe with different mechanics, a different magic system, and different characters. Plus, I'm more excited and prepared for the upcoming Divinity game Larian is currently working on.
It runs beautifully on handhelds, too
Playing DOS2 in the same room is more socially interactive and fun.
On top of that, DOS2 plays beautifully on Xbox Ally X without needing any tweaks. My only issue so far was with entering in-game text for my character when starting my game, since the on-screen keyboard didn't want to play nicely. But after that, the RPG has run like a dream.
In case you're wondering, DOS2 officially became Steam Deck Verified in June 2022, so it should run well on most compatible handhelds.
What I didn't expect was how playing DOS2 on my Xbox Ally X in the same room as my husband playing on our living room TV would be a night-and-day difference from when we played BG3 together, isolated in separate rooms and talking via gaming headsets.
Don't get me wrong, playing BG3 in different rooms was fun, but we both find playing DOS2 in the same room is more socially interactive and fun.
While seated on the couch next to him, I can look up from my own gaming handheld to discuss things on his screen or lean over to show what's happening on mine. That way, we can more easily decide what to do next. We're truly playing together rather than feeling like separated hermits united by Discord.
If you loved BG3 and are looking for more, or you have someone you'd like to play an in-depth RPG with, I highly recommend playing DOS2. If you can play in the same physical location, I suggest doing so via a compatible gaming handheld PC or at least in the same room where you can see each other's screens. It's a far more helpful and social experience that way.
Are you interested in playing Divinity: Original Sin 2? If you've already played it, how does it compare to Baldur's Gate 3? Have you tried playing either game on a handheld gaming PC? Tell us about it in the comments.
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