Looking for a Dungeons & Dragons video game experience but don't want to pay $60 for the unfinished Baldur's Gate 3? You might be interested in Solasta: Crown of the Magister. While also an Early Access game still in its early stages, Solasta offers more affordable tabletop-style gameplay. It also offers some different takes on D&D combat by allowing players to use verticality and build a whole party from scratch.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister can now be found on Steam: Early Access at the discounted price of $29.75. For that, you'll get a ten hour campaign and a look at how developer Tactical Adventures is playing with established D&D ideas. The base rules are the same (in fact Wizards of the Coast is allowing the game to use the SRD 5.1 rules), so you'll still roll for initiative, cast magic missile, and try to get those rogue sneak attacks. Things change once you hit level three, as Tactical Adventures is introducing its own subclasses and magic items.
Another way Solasta differs from Baldur's Gate 3 is in how it emphasizes tactics. Baldur's Gate 3 has gotten a lot of attention for its freedom of choice and character creation (especially the boring things people are making with it). Solasta also offers choice, but more in how you build out and use your characters. You construct the whole party of four from level one and not just a main character.
From there, you quickly learn that verticality and lighting are big aspects of Solasta's gameplay. Climbing to get away from an enemy's reach or snipe arrows from above is a common occurrence. Environmental hazards, something many tabletop DMs forget, appear right from the tutorial. Resource management is also important, as for once you'll actually have to keep track of your torches and rations.
Essentially, if you prefer your D&D with more combat and survival, Solasta may just be up your ally. It is Early Access, so be prepared for some stiff animations and so-so voice acting. Still, with in-person D&D off the table for a while, this might be the best way to get back to adventuring.
Solasta: Crown of the Magister is now available on Steam as an Early Access title.