Best Games Like Dragon Age

Dragon Age fans have been waiting for the next game in the series for a long time. After the release of Origins, Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition were released fairly quickly in the grand scheme of things. However, BioWare’s franchise has been dormant since the mid-2010s. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is expected to drop at the end of October 2024, finally bringing BioWare’s franchise back into the spotlight.

Despite the lack of content over the last decade, fans remained steadfast and hungry for more interesting characters, fantasy-world building, and accessible but fun RPGs. Until the new game becomes a reality, there are plenty of games similar to Dragon Age that can fill the void.

Updated on September 23, 2024 by Mark Sammut: In roughly a month, Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be a reality. Considering Inquisition debuted nearly a decade ago, the fact that a release is right around the corner feels almost surreal. So far, the reaction to the project has been somewhat mixed, although there is hope that the franchise is about to embark on an exciting and bold new era. In the meantime, fans can always check out some games like Dragon Age.

1 Baldur’s Gate 3

Companions, Tactical Combat, & Impeccable Writing

Expansions and spin-offs notwithstanding, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the first mainline entry in the D&D series since 2000’s Shadows of Amn, which is hailed as one of the greatest RPGs of all time alongside its predecessor. BioWare developed those classics, and while they reveal their ages in several ways, they are still worth revisiting all these years later. However, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a different beast entirely that largely does its own thing while still honoring the franchise’s legacy. Larian Studios already produced perfection with Divinity: Original Sin 2, and the developer implemented various ideas from the RPG into Baldur’s Gate 3. The game spent roughly three years in early access, and all the hard work paid off beautifully.

While sharing similarities with Dragon Age: Origins, Baldur’s Gate 3 is still overall a wildly different experience, although they overlap in a few key areas. For one, both games not only feature some of the best writing in the RPG genre but prioritize player interactivity. Larian’s title starts out with an in-depth character creator, and the choices made here impact the rest of the campaign. Baldur’s Gate 3‘s turn-based combat system is challenging but rewarding, and it emphasizes party symmetry and forward-thinking. The game’s dense world overflows with situational storytelling strengthened by player choice and world-building.

2 Pillars Of Eternity 2: Deadfire

Satisfying Combat & Enaging Pirate-Themed World

Both Pillars of Eternity games are suitable for fans of Dragon Age, although which one someone goes for will depend on what they prioritize. The first PoE has a better storyline and more enjoyable exploration than its successor, but its combat system leaves quite a lot to be desired.

On the other hand, PoE: Deadfire fine-tunes the gameplay considerably, presenting a far more accessible and satisfying experience. Like Dragon Age: Origins, Deadfire is an isometric RPG with a robust class system and a plethora of companions to unlock. This is a deep RPG that can dominate someone’s time for months on end.

Obsidian’s
Tyranny
is also a good shout.

3 Disco Elysium

A Masterclass In Dialogue

Disco Elysium is a strange case since the game has very little in common with Dragon Age. Their worlds, gameplay loops, stories, and characters are nothing alike, and if someone is specifically searching for an action RPG, then they should look elsewhere. However, Disco Elysium has two things that almost make it a must-play for most Dragon Age fans: its dialogue and character creator.

Rather than combat, the game is built around dialogue choices and skill progression, which are influenced by the choices players make when creating their detective. This extends to the entire experience, as the protagonist acts depending on their history and stats, sort of like a tabletop dice game. Disco Elysium‘s writing is about as good as they come in gaming, and that goes for both the main mystery and the characters’ dialogue trees.

4 Neverwinter Nights 2

Dated But Still Worthwhile

Obsidian has been known to create the occasional sequel to a BioWare game, and while they tend to have some rough edges, these releases are nearly always memorable in their own right. Neverwinter Nights 2 is arguably one of the most similar games to Dragon Age: Origins on the market, especially in terms of gameplay, party setup, and dialogue. It is not quite as polished as BioWare’s release, and the combat is a bit too chaotic for its own good, but NW2 works brilliantly as a fantasy romp with a light sense of humor and great characters.

Anyone looking to pick this up should only consider the complete edition since it comes with all the expansions, including the Mask of the Betrayer. The latter tells one of Obsidian’s strongest stories, and it is arguably superior to the base game. Like its predecessor, NW2 also has a robust modding scene.

5 GreedFall

Ambitious AA RPG

Spiders’ GreedFall comes across as a budget version of a BioWare game. Its combat might lack the polish of something like Dragon Age: Inquisition, but GreedFall shines in its storytelling and expansive world. Predominantly set on a strange island, players must deal with the locals while searching for medicine for their mother. Along with a direct combat system, GreedFall enables players to talk their way out of trouble, as long as they have the skill to do so.

As a mid-tier RPG, GreedFall is ambitious, visually impressive, and reasonably well-written. Just do not judge the game by its prologue as it is not representative of the campaign’s overall quality, and things do not get going until players actually arrive at the main island.

6 Mass Effect Legendary Edition

BioWare’s Space Opera

If Dragon Age is BioWare’s definitive fantasy franchise, then Mass Effect is the developer’s sci-fi masterpiece. Putting Andromeda to the side, the original Mass Effect trilogy is nearly pitch-perfect, and the Legendary Edition tweaks some of the games’ frustrating elements to craft a more consistent overall experience. The story is way too complex to summarize in a soundbite, but it essentially boils down to Commander Shepard’s quest to stop the Reapers; however, the journey matters way more than the destination.

Like Dragon Age, Mass Effect includes a companion system that allows players to develop an emotional attachment to the support characters, most of whom are memorable in one form or another. As the games are third-person shooters, Mass Effect‘s core combat is not comparable to Dragon Age, although the former does include classes that provide customization options.

BioWare’s
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
is also a good shout for any sci-fi fans, although its age shines through at times. Frankly, most of BioWare’s older RPGs are worth a shout.

7 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A Dark Fantasy Masterpiece

If fans want to stick to a fantasy setting, then The Witcher 3 is a good choice. While players do not get to create a unique protagonist, they still get to make choices that matter. This, of course, comes on top of exploring a dark fantasy world with interesting side characters and companions.

The game is very large and will take a while for any completion-driven player. The main campaign is pretty good by most metrics, but The Witcher 3 shines the brightest in its secondary content and world-building. The combat tends to be an acquired taste that takes a while to really click, especially since the game expects players to use all the tools at their disposal since they are role-playing as Geralt, a seasoned witcher.

8 Pathfinder: Kingmaker (Or Wrath Of The Righteous)

Hard-As-Nails Tabletop RPG

On paper, Pathfinder: Kingmaker and its successor, Wrath of the Righteous, should be among the most obvious recommendations for Dragon Age fans, particularly those who love Origins. Based on a classic tabletop setting, both projects offer lengthy campaigns that highlight some of the core appeals of in-person role-playing: customization, unpredictability, and team-building. Kingmaker‘s combat system is also quite similar to Origins‘, with both games blending real-time combat with the ability to pause the action.

While they share quite a few things in common, Pathfinder is considerably harder than BioWare’s franchise, and neither game goes out of its way to facilitate newcomers to its source material. Consequently, a player’s mileage is likely to come down to their pre-existing knowledge of 3.5 D&D, at least during the first hours of a playthrough. If they manage to get through the steep learning curve, they will find two ambitious RPGs with great stories, deep combat, and expansive customization.

9 Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Now, For A Different Type Of RPG

This recommendation is for people craving a deep RPG that, in many ways, is the direct opposite of Dragon Age. Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a realistic RPG set during the Middle Ages, and it casts players as the lone survivor of a town that was massacred by an invading army. Naturally, they join their kingdom’s military to try and get revenge, a process that is slow, difficult, and overly ambitious. Kingdom Come emphasizes that the protagonist is a nobody rather than some type of spectacular hero, and he is starting from scratch in a world that crushes people like him.

Warhorse had a clear vision of the type of RPG it wanted to create, and while certainly an acquired taste, Kingdom Come is nothing if not unique. Unlike Dragon Age, the game’s progression system is based on direct experience; basically, practice makes perfect. Unlike Inquisition, Kingdom Come is set in a full and huge open-world; furthermore, the first-person combat is very difficult, more so than most Dragon Age games.

10 Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

A Grand Historical Epic With A Hint Of Fantasy

Switching from a Dragon Age game to an Assassin’s Creed game would normally be like using chocolate milk instead of regular milk on cereal. But with Odyssey, the series completed its move away from stealth. Instead, Odyssey puts RPG elements at the forefront with combat that more resembles button-mashing than assassinating. Though players cannot customize their protagonist, they can play as Alexios or Kassandra and romance whomever they please.

The game puts players in a beautifully recreated Ancient Greece and lets them sail all around the Mediterranean. That’s something Dragon Age has not let its fans do yet: take to the seas to perhaps sail from the Storm Coast to Kirkwall or beyond. Fans can live vicariously through Kassandra and her crew in Odyssey. There are also numerous mythological beasts to face, as well.

11 Alpha Protocol

A Spy Thriller Where Choices Matter

Frankly, every Obsidian game is an easy recommendation for not only Dragon Age fans but also RPG aficionados in general. The developer’s reputation has grown exponentially over the last decade thanks to releases like The Outer Worlds and Pentiment, and while their modern releases are generally more accessible, Obsidian was hitting home runs right out of the gate. Alpha Protocol warrants a special mention as it is arguably the company’s most underrated project, largely thanks to its messy launch state and rough gameplay.

For all its flaws, Alpha Protocol absolutely nails player choice. The game encourages players to make their own decisions when approaching missions, and then to face the consequences as they arise. Even if the story largely remains the same, two playthroughs can feel entirely different depending on how someone portrays their super spy.

12 God Of War (2018) & Ragnarok

Battle Destiny In An Emotion-Driven Tale About Family (And Killing Gods)

• 	God of War (2018)	God of War: Ragnarok
  Platform(s)	PlayStation 4, PC	PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC
  Released	2018-04-20	2022-11-09
  Developer(s)	Santa Monica Studio	Santa Monica Studio
  Genre(s)	Action, Adventure	Action, Adventure

OK, God of War as a franchise cannot be recommended to Dragon Age fans as the older entries are completely different (that said, they are awesome). However, Santa Monica’s two recent releases have the potential to scratch a similar itch, as long as a player is craving an action and story-heavy experience. Inspired by Nordic Mythology, 2018’s God of War and its sequel, Ragnarok, follow Kratos and his son, Atreus, as they battle the tides of fate, trying to change a predestined outcome that spells doom for thousands of people (and themselves). Along with a lot of soul-searching, Kratos gets to kill all sorts of fantastical creatures, plus a few gods. Compared to the older entries, these games tell far more nuanced tales that dissect Kratos’s character, legacy, and relationships.

Now, the core combat loop is not that similar to any of the Dragon Age entries, except for maybe the second one (and perhaps The Veilguard, going by the available footage). Still, God of War uses companions consistently, allowing players to give orders to the likes of Atreus in the middle of fights. Beyond that, both games feature semi-open areas that allow for exploration, particularly Ragnarok. While not as expansive as Dragon Age Inquisition‘s regions, God of War‘s realms are not far removed either.

13 Fable 2

Charming & Comedic

Fable has been gone for a while, and while not perfect, Lionhead’s trilogy produced some great stuff throughout its run. All three games are reasonably choice-driven, but Fable 2 is often regarded as the best in the series. Like Dragon Age, there are different fantasy races and monsters (though you have to play as a human).

Fable 2 was released in 2008 and takes place 500 years after the first game’s events. What is unique about the game is how the character’s appearance morphs based on the decisions they make and the actions they take. Playing Fable 2 on PC takes a bit of a workaround, but Xbox owners can access it fairly easily with Game Pass.

14 Fallout: New Vegas

Player Choice

Most people who have played Dragon Age have also played Bethesda games. While they are not as intimate with their characters as Dragon Age, the Fallout series still offers important choices and a unique world. It may not be in a fantasy setting, but there are some pretty fantastical creatures and post-apocalyptic races such as ghouls and supermutants. However, Fallout: New Vegas puts the focus on how choices have consequences.

Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, New Vegas veers from the typical setup of following a Vault dweller. Instead, people play as a courier in the American Southwest including Zion National Park in a DLC. The studio put a serious focus on player choice, and the decision made culminated in four unique endings for the game.

Obsidian’s
The Outer Worlds
is also similar to
New Vegas
.

15 Citizen Sleeper

Seeking A New Life

An impressive indie RPG, Citizen Sleeper takes inspiration from tabletop games as it crafts an immersive cyberpunk experience. Unlike Dragon Age, combat is not part of this package and the story is not driven by world-saving ambitions; instead, Citizen Sleeper tells a personal tale filled to the brim with emotion and nuance.

Cast as an android, players escape from their corporate overlords and settle down on a space station. While trying to avoid being caught and sent back to the grind, players must also try to create a life for themselves here, which means working and socializing. Citizen Sleeper uses dice to determine the outcome of actions, but players have quite a bit of control over the system.

16 Red Dead Redemption 2

Deep World & Complex Protagonist

This duo might not seem like a match, but when it comes to the essence of the game, it is. Though set in the Old West instead of a fantasy setting, Red Dead Redemption 2 still follows a single protagonist whose choices matter. While the player cannot create a unique character, they can change Arthur Morgan’s appearance and determine whether he makes good choices or is a total outlaw.

But more than that, the world in RDR2 is sweeping, lush, and vibrant with hundreds of NPCs who have their own stories. The plot is just as engaging as that of a Dragon Age game where players find themselves endeared and attached to these characters. The game is also insanely gorgeous and available on console and PC for increased accessibility.

17 Wartales

Right out of the gate, it needs to be said that Wartales is a very different type of RPG than Dragon Age, including Origins; however, Shiro’s game delivers intense turn-based combat and a well-done open-world setup. Unlike BioWare’s epic stories, Wartales is far more mundane in its narrative scope, in the sense the game does not have a story.

Put in charge of a mercenary group, players must travel along a fairly large map in search of contracts, opportunities, and resources. The ultimate goal is to simply survive and succeed, two things that are easier said than done when leading a group of demanding mercenaries in a cutthroat fantasy setting. With challenging combat and heavy replayability, Wartales is a striking option in the RPG market.

18 Divinity: Original Sin 2

Larian’s Other Turn-Based RPG Masterpiece

While Dragon Age once set the standard for RPGs, Divinity: Original Sin 2 arguably took that mantle in 2017. Larian Studios has more than earned its reputation for crafting immersive, fully realized dark fantasy worlds with deep character creators, intricate writing, and challenging battle systems, and that goes beyond Baldur’s Gate 3.

While its main story is nothing particularly special, Divinity: Original Sin 2 shines in its smaller-scale moments that are driven by its unbeatable roster of NPCs. Boasting a fantastic dialogue system, an expansive but consistent world, and a player-freedom mentality, this RPG is a modern classic.

19 Xenoblade Chronicles Series

Ambitious RPGs With Great Stories & Deep Combat

• 	Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition	Xenoblade Chronicles 2	Xenoblade Chronicles 3	Xenoblade Chronicles X
  Platform(s)	Switch	Switch	Switch	Nintendo Wii U
  Released	2020-05-29	2017-12-01	2022-07-29	2015-12-04
  Developer(s)	Monolith Soft	Monolith Soft	Monolith	Nintendo SPD, Monolith Soft
  Genre(s)	RPG	RPG	RPG	Open-World, Action RPG
  Metascore	89	83	89	84

Monolith Soft’s Xenoblade Chronicles has almost single-handedly satisfied Nintendo’s JRPG quota for the last decade, with each entry delivering quality and quantity. Now, the games are not all that similar to any of the Dragon Age projects, although their battle systems are not too far removed from Inquisition‘s combat; nevertheless, both series are defined by intelligent storytelling, expansive worlds, and a fair amount of customization.

Newcomers who are not sure where to start should either pick up Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition or Xenoblade Chronicles 3, both of which are available on the Switch. The latter does a pretty good job of explaining its combat mechanics to ensure players can make the most of these systems, while it also tells a stellar story that compares favorably to most other RPGs.

20 Final Fantasy 12

The Closest Final Fantasy Game To Dragon Age

Often regarded as the “red-headed stepchild” of the Final Fantasy universe, FF12 gradually garnered a more positive reputation and is now considered among the franchise’s best entries. The game was remastered as The Zodiac Age for modern consoles, and this version is the one newcomers should look to pick up. Final Fantasy 12 was forward-thinking in terms of its graphical capabilities, and it also tells a great politically-driven tale that has stood the test of time well.

The game is about imperialists, crystal magic, bloodlines, and Captain Bosch from Dalmasca. There’s also the effortlessly cool airship-owning couple Balthier and Fran who might also be Ivalice influencers.