On another level, you don't have clear imbalances like in 3.5E where some weapons simply have way better crit-ranges than others. Weapon profiicienies, choices and statistics have been simplified (though Larian is bringing some extra diversity back in BG3). The multiclassing system, however, is very similar to 3.5E where each level is like a lego block and you can basically configure however you wanted (as long as you meet requirements). Because of this, player stats don't bloat as much in 5E as it did in 3.5E.
But like in 3.5E, once in a while, you're given a Feat or Attribute increase (unlike 3.5E, you have to choose between the two, you're not given both). The progression level-by-level is closer to 2E with a touch of 3.5E - you're not fidgeting with skill points and other things every level like in 3.5E. BG1/2) and 3.5E, with a bit of its own innovations.
5e is somewhat of a merge between 2E (i.e.