Like the Baldur's Gate series for the PC, the Dark Alliance games are set along the Sword Coast, a location from Dungeons & Dragons's popular Forgotten Realms campaign setting. However, the Dark Alliance series and the PC Baldur's Gate series are often not seen as part of the same universe, as they differ in storyline and gameplay.

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance

The game starts when the player character arrives in the city of Baldur's Gate, after a dangerous journey. Shortly after arrival the player is attacked and robbed, and is brought to an inn by guards to recover. There, the first hints about a great evil hiding in Baldur's Gate are revealed, and the player can choose to discover more.

The player must choose between one of three (or four)characters:

Vahn, human arcane archer: archer with magical abilities
Adrianna, elven sorceress: spell caster
Kromlech, dwarven fighter: strong melee fighter
Drizzt Do'Urden, drow ranger: fights with two scimitars (unlockable)

Gameplay is quite different for all three characters: the human relies on ranged attacks and stealth, the elf character can cast magic spells, and the dwarf is an all-round fighter for those who prefer a head-on approach. Additionally, each character has unique side-quests, allowing for replayability.