Dragon Age: Origins

 PC
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4891 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,221 out of 4891
  2. Mixed: 414 out of 4891
  3. Negative: 256 out of 4891
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  1. hazsch
    Jan 6, 2021
    9
    Note: if your game keeps crashing, try turning your texture/graphic settings down to medium instead of high! DA:O was designed for older hardware so treat it that way.

    I played Dragon Age: Origins for the first time this year as a big fan of BioWare's other works in Mass Effect and Baldur's Gate. I put off playing it for a long time, but I'm pleased to say that - no surprises here - the    Note: if your game keeps crashing, try turning your texture/graphic settings down to medium instead of high! DA:O was designed for older hardware so treat it that way.

    I played Dragon Age: Origins for the first time this year as a big fan of BioWare's other works in Mass Effect and Baldur's Gate. I put off playing it for a long time, but I'm pleased to say that - no surprises here - the game is fantastic, and holds up well. The combat system is fun and tactical and it'll make you feel incredibly powerful when you get the hang of it. The characters are engaging and deep, and have established friendship or romance paths.

    DA:O shares a lot of similarities with Neverwinter Nights, also developed by BioWare. Especially when you go into the tactical isometric view. I found myself switching to isometric view in just about every battle while I explored in the third person view.

    My first run was with a female city elf warrior, and I've got to say - this origin story has aged incredibly poorly. If it released today then it would most likely get slammed for being insensitive and pointless. Luckily, the beginning area is over quickly enough and then its on to the main adventure. Here is when my game started breaking from all the quality of life mods I had installed at the behest of a friend of mine. In the end I ended up just using some cosmetic mods, extra dog slot, some restoration mods as well as "equal love" so I could, naturally, see what the romance for the game's poster child, Morrigan. This led to some amusing scenes where I was occasionally referred to as both a man and a woman in just about the same breath.

    I beat the game and then started playing again as the female human noble, this time on the hardest difficulty. "How hard could it be?" I had asked. Turns out, extremely hard. I actually enjoyed it more than normal difficulty, but maybe I'm just a masochist.

    I found that the friendship with Morrigan was much more rewarding than the romance, and once I convinced Alistair to stop being such a pushover, he was better in the romance. Speaking of Alistair, though... he's definitely the best character in this game. BioWare games have tended to have this thing where you say one mean thing and the NPC will hate you forever, but with Alistair you can actually joke around and make fun of each other. I think his character is just endearing in a lot of ways.

    I then went on to play Leliana's Song (on normal!) which I really enjoyed. It's a fun adventure, and the writing is excellent.    … Expand
  2. GraysonUA
    Mar 31, 2020
    8
    Класний епічний сюжет, класні персонажі компаньйони, цікава рольова система, битви з тактичною паузою мені сподобались.
  3. kabskannar12
    Apr 19, 2020
    10
    "The world's greatest role-playing game"

    There is no need for too many words or a deep examination. This game is the best role game in the world.

      Bioware is the most perfect game ever made. It is even more wonderful than the Mass Effect series.
  4. VincentValen
    May 17, 2021
    10
    Not a Perfect game but it's close, one of the best games I've ever played. If you love RPGs you have to play this game. I've replayed it many times over the years and I still love it. great story, great characters, good combat system, a lot of content to play. One of the very few games i'd consider a Masterpiece
  5. shadow326
    Jun 22, 2020
    10
    My first RPG) still playing it in 2020) Best story and characters) grey warden is forever in our hearts, it's a pity that he was not in the next games in the series
  6. AntiqueOne
    Sep 20, 2020
    10
    Exciting story with great lore. Having alternative routes nearly every quest and seeing their consequences reminds me that I'm a part of this world and my choices are matter. Even your background changes nearly everthing. While the story tends to be cliche these RGP elements make it compelling, so the atmosphere quickly draws you in. Probably the best part of this game is companions andExciting story with great lore. Having alternative routes nearly every quest and seeing their consequences reminds me that I'm a part of this world and my choices are matter. Even your background changes nearly everthing. While the story tends to be cliche these RGP elements make it compelling, so the atmosphere quickly draws you in. Probably the best part of this game is companions and their conversations with you and each other. They all have great stories and hillarious dialogs. One of the best RPGs ever.… Expand
  7. TudorPopescu
    Nov 1, 2020
    10
    I genuinely consider Dragon Age: Origins the best RPG ever made. It's a masterpiece. I know people can be hyperbolic at times, but I truly mean what I say.

    The writing and the story, the pacing, the diverse settings, the choices you can make, the consequences, the companions, your relationship with them and the way they change and evolve over time, their banter, their reactions to your    I genuinely consider Dragon Age: Origins the best RPG ever made. It's a masterpiece. I know people can be hyperbolic at times, but I truly mean what I say.

    The writing and the story, the pacing, the diverse settings, the choices you can make, the consequences, the companions, your relationship with them and the way they change and evolve over time, their banter, their reactions to your love interest, the tactical combat, the way you can customize what and how your companions use abilities, the voice actors, the soundtrack, even the graphics have aged well and still hold up in 2020.

    If you like RPGs, then you MUST play this game. Get the Ultimate Edition, it's worth every penny.    … Expand
  8. Jakard
    Sep 20, 2020
    9
    Baldurs gate on 3d. Nothing else to say if you know anything about gaming. A classic legenrady that we all come back to play again and again. Bioware should slap themselves and realize that to make an rpg it has to be more hardcore. Bring back the ai tactics and the myriad spells and maybe you cab redeem yourselves from the abysmal 10 year failures under EA
  9. NNNPavelB
    Feb 12, 2021
    10
    Best RPG game - The Witcher 3? No. Skyrim ? No. DAO ? YES.

    For me personally, this game is one of the best games of all time, the only game to which it is inferior is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
  10. Pentakill
    Sep 13, 2020
    9
    My introduction to RPGs with real time pause and it was a great experience. The amount of options you can pick when talking with someone and the repercussions of the things you choose when answering to someone are truly impressive. it couldn't be a 10 for me just because I began to get bored of the same Darkspwan enemies over and over again though out my 100 hour playthrough.
  11. GVB
    Oct 30, 2020
    10
    Interesting and very well written characters, original stories, very fun to play, moral dilemmas... 10/10
  12. Dom007
    Mar 13, 2021
    9
    The best out of the dragon age games. Origins has an amazing story that I still remember to this day and the characters are just fantastic.
    As for the gameplay. I had the occasional issue with the AI and I also had some trouble getting use to the combat, however once I got use to it it was very good.
    The level design however is hit and miss. There are some great levels and some bad ones.    The best out of the dragon age games. Origins has an amazing story that I still remember to this day and the characters are just fantastic.
    As for the gameplay. I had the occasional issue with the AI and I also had some trouble getting use to the combat, however once I got use to it it was very good.
    The level design however is hit and miss. There are some great levels and some bad ones. The fade for example is one of the worst areas I've ever experienced in gaming, it was literally a 3hr slog with frustrating puzzles and enemies. I also hated the deep roads for similar reasons.
    And that's why it's not a 10/10 for me although I can definitely see why it is for so many.    … Expand
  13. snootchie
    Jan 8, 2021
    10
    One of the greatest RPG’s of all time. Up there with Witcher 3, Dragon Quest 11, and the rest of em. If you haven’t played this one yet, go out and pick it up. You won’t regret it.
  14. Torgall
    Dec 12, 2020
    10
    For me it's one of THE BEST game of it's kind. The plot, memorable characters, meaningful decisions combined into perfect game experience that I remember fondly.
  15. Dudowski
    May 10, 2021
    10
    My all time favourite of all games I've ever played the last 30 years. Damn good character writing and improvement. good implemented story into the scenery and nice RPG elements. You feel mighty and more important the further the story goes on. High Fantasy without to many misshapen creatures, political issues connected to the real world and the typical Bioware romancing system. Thanks toMy all time favourite of all games I've ever played the last 30 years. Damn good character writing and improvement. good implemented story into the scenery and nice RPG elements. You feel mighty and more important the further the story goes on. High Fantasy without to many misshapen creatures, political issues connected to the real world and the typical Bioware romancing system. Thanks to many different background stories for characters i could easily do 14 playthroughs and always had a feeling of another experience.… Expand
  16. TastieToasty
    Mar 8, 2023
    10
    One of the best cRPG games of all time, maybe even the best.
    it is still very hard so if you are new to these games try the Easy difficulty.
    - Amazing Characters - Good Combat / kinda like WoW - Really cool armor and weapons - Great dialogue - Really cool for roleplaying - 6 movie worthy starts with three races (each of them could be its own game) The Awakening DLC was really    One of the best cRPG games of all time, maybe even the best.
    it is still very hard so if you are new to these games try the Easy difficulty.

    - Amazing Characters
    - Good Combat / kinda like WoW
    - Really cool armor and weapons
    - Great dialogue
    - Really cool for roleplaying
    - 6 movie worthy starts with three races (each of them could be its own game)

    The Awakening DLC was really relaxing at the beginning but became pretty rough at the end.
    the characters of the dlc were amazing but it was way too short. (and the epilogue for most companions were really really bad)

    I love this game    … Expand
  17. Muzketin
    May 24, 2023
    10
    This game is extremely EPIC, one of the best RPGs you can play, the story is just wonderful and the characters are well written and fun aswell. Also the world is very beautiful too. One other wonderful thing about this game is the level up system, as you can unlock epic abilities, you can even become a giant spider or bear and maul the enemies. It also offers the possibility of having aThis game is extremely EPIC, one of the best RPGs you can play, the story is just wonderful and the characters are well written and fun aswell. Also the world is very beautiful too. One other wonderful thing about this game is the level up system, as you can unlock epic abilities, you can even become a giant spider or bear and maul the enemies. It also offers the possibility of having a love story with Leliana, which is perfect aswell.… Expand
  18. MrMurdock69
    Dec 11, 2022
    10
    The best RPG game ever created. Top Story, Top universe, Top multi choices, Top Characters, Top combat. No other game will ever be as great as this game.
  19. woohoosims
    Jan 30, 2023
    10
    In my opinion this game is still one of the best western RPG's around and deserves the same remaster treatment given to the Mass Effect trilogy. Combat and Graphics have definitely aged but the engrossing story and endearing characters you can help becoming attached to more than make up for it. Hoping BioWare can being back some of the magic for Dreadwolf.
  20. nejnej55
    Feb 3, 2023
    8
    I really like the characters and main story, but the combat and level design is just not good in my opinion. There were times where I just wanted to finish as fast as possible because I got so impatient of fighting 50 of the same enemies with really boring combat. Because of this I finished the game pretty fast, but the amount of choices you can make in this game is simply astonishing andI really like the characters and main story, but the combat and level design is just not good in my opinion. There were times where I just wanted to finish as fast as possible because I got so impatient of fighting 50 of the same enemies with really boring combat. Because of this I finished the game pretty fast, but the amount of choices you can make in this game is simply astonishing and removes all the bad and makes it more positive.… Expand
  21. TianLong1
    Mar 31, 2023
    10
    I still have great childhood memories of this game and i wish i could go back in time and play it for the first time, that is how good it is. From the background story to the decisions you make, each playthrough can be very unique. The story, the maps, everything is gorgeous and make you feel immersed. This is one of the greatest, most immersive RPG of all times. The best thing about theI still have great childhood memories of this game and i wish i could go back in time and play it for the first time, that is how good it is. From the background story to the decisions you make, each playthrough can be very unique. The story, the maps, everything is gorgeous and make you feel immersed. This is one of the greatest, most immersive RPG of all times. The best thing about the game is the interaction with your party members, the way their relationship with you can be affected by lines of dialogue, the fact you can romance some of them or piss them off until they leave our party.. This was completely new to me and made me want more games like this.… Expand
  22. PavelHr
    Mar 31, 2023
    10
    One of Bioware's top 4 games I've played - ME Trilogy and DA: Origins. Everything after that is not bad but they haven't been able to get the same great writers for their games.
  23. RobinBooze
    May 4, 2023
    9
    My favourite RGP of all time. Worth playing in 2023 still. If you like classic RPG where you control and micro manage a party of fantasy heroes this game is a must play
  24. Shaitan87
    Nov 2, 2010
    10
    This is one of my favorite games. Extremely interesting story, with a lot of replayability. I ripped through it, and then instantly started again, one of the only times I have done that on any game.
  25. DanielF
    Nov 3, 2009
    10
    Having played many RPG games over the last 20 years or so (yes I know... dating myself :)) I have to admit this game threw me a little askew at first. Very little concentration on traditional magic in a fantasy game.. hmm... A bit odd there... but then I remember stories like George R.R. Martin and some of the later works by Raymond Feist and I remember the most intriguing parts of any Having played many RPG games over the last 20 years or so (yes I know... dating myself :)) I have to admit this game threw me a little askew at first. Very little concentration on traditional magic in a fantasy game.. hmm... A bit odd there... but then I remember stories like George R.R. Martin and some of the later works by Raymond Feist and I remember the most intriguing parts of any story isn't the powerful magic, but all the plots and subplots.. the twists and turns behind every quest and subquest. Delving a bit deeper into the storyline I really had a difficult time remembering that I was playing a game and not witnessing a rich story unfold from a fictional text. The story is immense, the combat challenging, and the replayablility makes me wonder why more games can't be like this. Kudos go to the Bioware team that developed this game and Kudos to anyone who takes the time to pick up this fantastic game. I can't wait to see all the additional content that will be developed for this game by the community.… Expand
  26. anonymous
    Dec 3, 2009
    10
    best RPG i played in years, even better than never winter nights and Buldur's gate (both by Bioware).
  27. IsaacK.
    Nov 25, 2009
    10
    This game is absolutely amazing. I don't even care for the style of combat, but not only did I enjoy it I loved it. It really is depressing that a game of this caliber is outdone by a weak game like Modern Warfare 2. Playing through this game felt like being in a more brutal LotR universe, and this is not a bad thing as you get that great epic feeling. My only issue with the game is This game is absolutely amazing. I don't even care for the style of combat, but not only did I enjoy it I loved it. It really is depressing that a game of this caliber is outdone by a weak game like Modern Warfare 2. Playing through this game felt like being in a more brutal LotR universe, and this is not a bad thing as you get that great epic feeling. My only issue with the game is the lack of items, and with the game running up to 60 hours the lack of items is very noticeable. This single hole will be filled quickly by user mods I imagine, so it doesn't effect my overall score much (I'd give this a 9.5 if I could).… Expand
  28. DanD
    Jan 13, 2010
    8
    I fully enjoyed the playthrough of this and felt more like I was taking part in a movie than playing a game. The cinematics were pretty amazing and the storylines were fun and entertaining. The skill trees for the different classes were where the game was weak. The Mage class certainly had a good number of choices to customise the style of mage you wanted, but the warrior and rogue were I fully enjoyed the playthrough of this and felt more like I was taking part in a movie than playing a game. The cinematics were pretty amazing and the storylines were fun and entertaining. The skill trees for the different classes were where the game was weak. The Mage class certainly had a good number of choices to customise the style of mage you wanted, but the warrior and rogue were very limited. I found that about half of my skillpoints were useless and wished there was something better I could have put the points into. The general skills were mostly useless and disappointing. Trapmaking takes too much effort and buying all of the recipes is too expensive, then collecting all of the ingredients... Poison is even worse because if you don't have poison skill you can't apply poison - ie: can't have 1 person in the group that makes the poison and hands it out. Even then, the poisons do so little damage and last such a short time that they aren't worth it. If I had to rate just the skills, I'd give a very low score, but the graphics and storyline were quite entertaining. Oh specialisations... Also half of them are useless, but I liked how once you unlock them, you can use them in new games without re-discovering them.… Expand
  29. GregC
    Nov 20, 2009
    10
    Dragon Age: Origins is simply the most outstanding RPG in a LONG while. The combat is great, the movement is great, the story is excellent, and the freedom you have in the game is AMAZING. You are the one to decide how the story goes. You'll be finding yourself playing the game more and more! There are barely to none downsides to it!
  30. BryanR.
    Nov 3, 2009
    10
    I have found this game to be phenomenal on PC so far, it is easily the match of its predecessors, Baldur's Gate I and II as well as Neverwinter Nights I and II. It is everything a fan of single-player western RPGS could ever hope for. What it lacks in originality (and it does try to inject some here and there) it makes up for in quality and presentation. Definitely give this game your time.
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PC Game of 2009
4
#4 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
4
#4 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 67 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 67
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 67
  3. Negative: 0 out of 67
  1. Gameplayer Sweden
    100
    If you're into rpgs, or rather if you love roleplaying in general, there's really no need to waste time reading any reviews of this game. The same goes if you regard games like Planescape: Torment, Fallout 2 and the Baldurs Gate-series among the best computer games ever made. Because this game is everything a person like you look for in a game, and so much more. Be aware though, Dragon Age: Origins is not a revolution of the genre, rather it is an evolution, where Bioware has refined everything that made them into a formula as close to perfection as possible. Without a doubt one of the strongest Game of the year-candidates so far this year and a game we will remember with warm feelings many years to come.
    Read full review
  2. PC Gamer
    92
    An outstanding story-driven RPG with fantastic writing, RPG depth and tough tactical combat. It's BioWare's best RPG since Baldur's Gate 2. [Holiday 2009, p.38]
  3. GamingXP
    92
    Dragon Age Origins will keep you in front of your computer for hours! Graphics, sounds and the controls couldn’t be much better!
    Read full review
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