Playing a Role: What RPGs Dragon Age fans will love

BioWare studio is going through hard times - scandals and not the most successful releases are pouring down on it like from a cornucopia. But many fans continue to support the developers, hoping for the return of former glory. Recently, a new, long-awaited part of the Dragon Age franchise was released and even before the release caused a storm of discussion. While the whole world is immersed in the continuation of the epic fantasy, we can remember other games similar to DA thematically, conceptually or gameplay-wise. Many of them are time-tested, recognized hits, which simply must be played at least once by any keen gamer. Details - in the material of "Izvestia".

Pillars Of Eternity

When released: 2015
What to play on: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, GeForce Now

Pillars of Eternity is a Baldur's Gate-inspired RPG that is sure to appeal to those who enjoyed BioWare's early work. Prior to Microsoft's purchase, developer Obsidian had to find funding by any means necessary. Funds for Pillars of Eternity were raised on Kickstarter. The campaign ended with the sum of more than $4 million, and the game was awarded as the best in the genre and is very much appreciated by the genre connoisseurs.

Tyranny

When released: 2016
What to play on: PC

This is the next Obsidian Studios game after Pillars of Eternity, where even more attention is paid to the decision-making aspect. Every action and word of a character plays a role in the story, changing the world structure and how certain characters interact with the user. The only disadvantage of Tyranny is its inaccessibility on consoles, you can play it only on PC.

GreedFall

When released: 2019
What to play on: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, GeForce Now

Before 2019, developer studio Spiders was known for The Technomancer games and several projects based on the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. GreedFall was a surprise - its design feels influenced by the work of BioWare and Obsidian. The unique setting draws inspiration from the colonial era and includes supernatural monsters and magic. In the role of the protagonist you can join different factions and make decisions that affect the development of the plot.

Jade Empire

When released: 2005
What to play on: PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360

Although Jade Empire is considered an action game, it can't be left out of this selection. It's an early project by BioWare Studios and its first RPG with a real-time combat system. Two years after its release, Mass Effect will be released, which will further change the idea of RPG-gameplay. The plot in Jade Empire has an important role, the user's actions also influence the development of the story. The game unfolds in a fictional magical world, which combines the features and traditions of the culture of all real Asian countries. The protagonist, an excellent student of a famous martial arts school, turns out to be the Chosen One, and he is destined to rule the destiny.

Wasteland 3

When released: 2020
What to play on: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Wasteland 3 features deep combat mechanics, as well as a complex system of choices and consequences. The franchise has a proven track record of challenging battles, but for those more interested in story than challenge, there are simple modes available. The main game itself is hefty, and the developers have released two add-ons that further enhance the playthrough time.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

When released: 2004
What to play on: PC

The cult project from Troika Studios received mixed reviews at release due to technical issues. However, those who were able to turn a blind eye found an incredibly deep RPG that was well ahead of its time. The game perfectly conveyed the world of the tabletop RPG Vampire: The Masquerade and allowed you to dive into the shadowy intricacies of vampire clans. The project has received the announcement of a modern sequel, although its release date remains unknown and the release has already been postponed several times.

Fable

When released: 2004
What to play on: PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360

Fable series from Lionhead Studios once disappointed some players by the fact that the developers gave too generous promises. Although everything could not be realized, the first part wrote itself into the history of video games. Long before moral systems began to appear in every project, Fable allowed you to choose between good and evil during quests, and it affected the development of the main character. Fans are eagerly awaiting the new installment of Fable from developer Playground Games, a teaser of which was shown earlier this year.

Mass Effect Trilogy

When released: 2021 (remaster)
What to play on: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

In BioWare's famous space opera, decisions made in previous installments carry over into the following games, creating thousands of variables that slightly alter the story and make it unique to each user. The final trilogy disappointed some fans, but the franchise is worth playing for the story, interesting gameplay finds, and to touch the history of good RPGs. The future of the series is murky, unless you consider a remaster of the original trilogy. A new project is in development, but its release date is still unknown.

Baldur's Gateseries

When released: The first game was released in 1998, the last one in 2023.
What to play on: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, GeForce Now

To some extent, every PC RPG owes its existence to the Dungeons & Dragons board game, but few projects have attempted to accurately capture its experience in a video game format. The degree of freedom of choice in Baldur's Gate - in both the earliest and latest installments - is very high. BioWare's first RPG, Baldur's Gate, helped the studio gain a reputation for developing large-scale and deeply crafted RPGs where users' decisions have a significant impact on the world.

Neverwinter Nightsseries

When released: 2002
What to play on: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights is based on the rules of Dungeons & Dragons. The project developed the popular concept by adding multiplayer mode - DnD is always played in a group. The variety of features on different servers is impressive, including custom campaigns, where one of the users acts as a host. The modding community still supports Neverwinter Nights and keeps it up to date, and hundreds of author's modules with plots no less interesting and deep than those of the original series can be found on the Internet.