2023 might be the best year for sequels and worst for new IPs
It's a really weird, happy and sad state of affairs.
You had Elden Ring, bunch of great indie games in 2022.
Then in 2023. Capcom hits it out of the park with SF6 and Remake4. Tears of the Kingdom came out. Then Baldur's Gate 3, a sequel 20+ years later. Metroid Prime remastered. Dead Space remake. Diablo 4
This was following Forsaken, Redfall, Gollum. Then you have Atlas Fallen recently with bad reviews
I'm having fun, but it seems indie Devs are having more success with original IPs and smaller scopes
Baldur's gate 3 I have a hard time seeing it as a sequel. It's as different from bg2 than any neverwinter nights for example. The only common thing is the name and the universe, but many games take place in the forgotten realms. And many games took on the legacy of BG (all bioware and obsidian games for example).
It's not even real time with pause. It's not the same dnd edition. I have yet to discover the scenario link with the bhaalspawns.
I just installed BG3 and I'll probably start playing today. This was my concern - that it will feel like a Divinity Original Sin game and not a Baldur's Gate game. Not that I have anything against DOS, I just really love BG2.
Your concern is well placed. Better to enjoy it for what it is, essentially the next Larian/Divinity game. If you want a successor to Baldur’s Gate, it’s in the Pillars of Eternity and Pathfinder series.
I actually just finished PoE2 yesterday, but I haven't given any of the Pathfinder games a shot. I played a few hours of DOS1 and it didn't really grab me.