Baldur’s Gate 3 Mod ‘Versus Mode’ Brings the Closest Experience Yet to a Game Master Mode

While Baldur’s Gate 3 surpasses Larian Studios’ previous title Divinity: Original Sin 2 in almost every way, one feature from its predecessor has been notably absent: the beloved Game Master mode. In Divinity: Original Sin 2, Game Masters (or Dungeon Masters in tabletop RPG terms) could recreate the atmosphere of a pen-and-paper adventure, crafting custom quests and controlling the flow of the story for a party of players. It was the closest video game equivalent to a Dungeons & Dragons session something many fans hoped would carry over to Baldur’s Gate 3.

However, as Larian Studios CEO and Game Director Swen Vincke explained years ago, implementing such a feature would have required enormous time and resources. Considering the already massive scale of Baldur’s Gate 3, even larger than Divinity: Original Sin 2, the mode never came to fruition.

That gap is now partially addressed by the modding community. Modder 786r786 has released a Versus Mode on both Nexus Mods and mod.io, offering the closest experience yet to a PvP-driven Game Master system. While not as comprehensive as the original Game Master mode, it allows the host of an online multiplayer session to take direct control of enemies during combat.

The mod functions as follows:

When an enemy’s turn starts, control is given to the host player, allowing them to manually play as that enemy against the party. Hosts must click the blue enemy portraits at the start of their turn to take control.

The feature is designed for multiplayer with two or more players. To use it effectively, the host should spectate other players until combat begins, at which point they can assume control of the enemy forces.

Though still limited compared to Divinity: Original Sin 2’s fully-fledged Game Master tools, this Versus Mode mod is a significant step toward recreating that dynamic tabletop feel within Baldur’s Gate 3. Future expansions or modding updates could bring it even closer to the dream of a full Game Master experience.

 
Would you use Versus Mode to create your own custom battles in Baldur’s Gate 3, or do you prefer the classic cooperative approach?