Classic Games

Icewind Dale

Combat-focused dungeon crawl

Icewind Dale used the Baldur's Gate engine for a different purpose—a combat-heavy dungeon crawler where players created their entire party and fought through the frozen north.

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Overview

Your party, your way. Where Baldur’s Gate provided companions with personalities, Icewind Dale let players create all six party members from scratch. Black Isle Studios used the Infinity Engine for a more combat-focused experience—less dialogue, more dungeon crawling through the Spine of the World. The result was a purer tactical RPG that rewarded careful party composition.

Fast facts

  • Developer: Black Isle Studios.
  • Year: 2000.
  • Engine: Infinity Engine.
  • D&D Edition: 2nd Edition AD&D.

Party creation

AspectFlexibility
Six charactersFull customisation
Race choicesStandard D&D races
Class optionsAll core classes
MulticlassingDual/multi-class

Combat emphasis

ElementFocus
Encounter designTactical challenges
Spell managementResource planning
PositioningFormation matters
DifficultyDemanding encounters

Setting

LocationDescription
Spine of the WorldFrozen mountains
EasthavenStarting village
KuldaharDruid sanctuary
Lower Dorn’s DeepDwarven ruins

Expansion

TitleYearContent
Heart of Winter2001High-level content
Trials of the Luremaster2001Free expansion

Sequel

TitleYearChanges
Icewind Dale II20023rd Edition rules
Enhanced Edition2014Modern platforms

See also