As a fan of Dragon Age myself, I am being completely honest while saying that there are no games that truly replicate the experience of Origins and Inquisition. Well… the 2nd game was more of a Mass Effect clone with swords, but let’s not go down that road. This list of games is what I came up with when I thought about games like dragon age.
Bioware doesn’t have the same crew it did back when the first Dragon Age was made, and that’s a game that follows in the footsteps of great RPGs like Baldur’s Gate. The original Dragon Age is still an extremely enjoyable experience, despite its dated graphics.
However, nothing has been announced about the 4th Dragon Age other than the fact that it’s in development. So, while you wait patiently till the 4th game in the series is released (which may be a year or more away), how about playing some similar games to scratch that Dragon Age itch? Here’s a list of 15 games like Dragon Age that you can play in 2021.
1. Baldur’s Gate
| Developer | Bioware |
| Release Date | December 21, 1998 |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac OS |
This is widely considered as one of the best RPGs ever, inspired by tabletop greats such as Dungeons & Dragons. Baldur’s Gate is what brought Bioware into the spotlight, and the first Dragon Age game intended to recreate that experience.
From the top-down isometric 3rd person viewpoint to the combat system, a lot of elements in Dragon Age Origins are inspired by Baldur’s Gate. Now is as good a time as any to get yourself immersed with the game that started many a child’s love for the RPG genre.
There are many Baldur’s Gate games, but I recommend you start with the first even if it is a bit dated. If you want a more modern experience, try out Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance.
2. Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance
| Developer | Tuque Games |
| Release Date | June 22, 2021 |
| Platforms | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/ S |
While it isn’t a mainline Baldur’s Gate game, the Dark Alliance series is a spinoff of sorts. In terms of lore, it’s based in the same universe as Baldur’s Gate. And while Baldur’s Gate based its ruleset on the 2nd edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Dark Alliance started off using a ruleset derived from the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.
It isn’t as deep of an RPG experience as some other classics since Dark Alliance is more of a real-time brawler. Still, if you want a modern Dungeons & Dragons game, this is it.
3. Mass Effect 1
| Developer | Bioware |
| Release Date | November 20, 2007 |
| Platforms | PC, Xbox 360, PS3 |
While Dragon Age is based in a fantasy world with elves and dwarves, Mass Effect is more akin to sci-fi. In fact, it is a futuristic Sci-Fi set in space. Think Star Trek in video game form, that’s the closest way to describe the first Mass Effect game.
It certainly takes a lot of inspiration from classic space exploration TV shows and movies. And the roleplaying while not on par with Dragon Age is a fun mix between an RPG and 3rd person shooter. I highly recommend trying out the first Mass Effect, it holds up well even today.
4. Mass Effect 2
| Developer | Bioware |
| Release Date | January 26, 2010 |
| Platforms | PC, PS3, Xbox 360 |
Bioware took some liberties with the roleplaying aspect of Mass Effect in this game, and it shows when you boot it up for the first time. They also introduced “thermal clips” which is totally not ammo.
The game is still fun to play, don’t get me wrong. However, the skill system has been casualized. And for some reason, you can’t crouch anymore. Original characters from the first game make a return, and you’re introduced to some new ones as well.
Planet exploration got revamped, and you can now do loyalty quests for the party members. Bioware took out a few mechanics and introduced a few new ones. Was the trade worth it? You be the judge.
5. Mass Effect 3
| Developer | Bioware |
| Release Date | March 6, 2012 |
| Platforms | PC, Xbox 360, PS3 |
Gears Effect 3, I mean Mass Effect 3 is the final installment in the famous space RPG trilogy from Bioware. It is the climax, taking everything from the previous 2 games and giving you the conclusion.
The endgame however isn’t the worst part about Mass Effect 3 as many would lead you to believe. Sure, Bioware fixed the endings but they didn’t fix the gameplay. This game feels like a shoddy Gears of War clone instead of a proper sci-fi RPG.
And for some reason, the storytelling doesn’t feel right. But hey, if you want to finish the story of Mass Effect, then you need to play all 3 games- including the 3rd.
6. The Outer Worlds
| Developer | Obsidian Entertainment |
| Release Date | October 25, 2019 |
| Platforms | PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Granted, it’s not a Bioware game. But it’s the next best thing- an Obsidian Entertainment game, following in the footsteps of Fallout: New Vegas. But in Space! With fun gameplay, a character-driven story, and plenty of entertaining quests, The Outer Worlds is a must-play if you’re a Dragon Age fan. Or an RPG fan for that matter.
It’s one of the best games to be released in the last decade. The gameplay is of course very different from Dragon Age, this is a first-person shooter. And if you ask me, it’s plenty of fun.
7. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
| Developer | Bioware |
| Release Date | July 15, 2003 |
| Platforms | PC, Xbox, Mac |
Many critics consider this one of the best games of the 2000s, and for good reason. It is considered by many to be the best game Bioware has ever made, right next to Dragon Age: Origins.
And if you look at the level of roleplaying and storytelling in this game, you will understand why. Not only is the plot masterfully written, but the choices you make actually affect how everything plays out. And the dialogue is just brilliant.
8. Divinity: Original Sin
| Developer | Larian Studios |
| Release Date | June 30, 2014 |
| Platforms | Windows, PS4, Xbox One, OS X, Linux |
Divinity: Original Sin has been proclaimed to be one of the best RPGs of the 2010s by many a gamer, and it certainly deserves every bit of praise it gets. This is a turn-based RPG, which means you get plenty of time to think out your moves beforehand.
And it gives the game a more “tactical” feel over real-time RPGs, although some might say it’s slower-paced as a result. Nevertheless, Divinity: Original Sin is a fun experience whether you’re playing it in single-player mode or with a friend in co-op. You also get an editor which lets you create your own levels.
9. Divinity: Original Sin II
| Developer | Larian Studios |
| Release Date | September 14, 2017 |
| Platforms | Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iPadOS |
Building on the success of its predecessor, Divinity: Original Sin II brings a new cast of protagonists while retaining the same turn-based RPG mechanics. It is fun, with a competently written story that builds on the lore of the first game while also introducing you to new factions and characters.
Thanks to the wild variety of choices you can make, each playthrough is guaranteed to be different. This is not a casualized RPG, so don’t expect it to be easy. The game will challenge you and present you with uncomfortable choices at times. But that’s also what makes it so unique and amazing.
10. Neverwinter Nights
| Developer | Bioware |
| Release Date | June 18, 2002 |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, Mac |
Just like Dark Alliance and Baldur’s Gate, this is an RPG based on the ruleset of Dungeons & Dragons. The 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons, to be specific. From the start of development, Bioware intended to make this game a faithful recreation of the AD&D tabletop experience.
Like any classic RPG, your job is to create a new character from scratch and gradually level it up as you explore the world in your quest to overthrow a powerful foe and save the world.
Neverwinter Nights is similar to Baldur’s Gate with one exception- it introduces multiplayer in online servers, with one player taking upon the role of dungeon master. Modding has kept the game alive to this day, and a new “Enhanced Edition” was released in March of 2018.
11. Neverwinter Nights 2 (And its expansions)
| Developer | Obsidian Entertainment |
| Release Date | October 31, 2006 |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac |
This game has a rough history, and that’s mainly because of its unplayable state during release. Filled with glitches and bugs, it suffered in the reviews and less people purchased it as a result. Still, it remains faithful to the D&D 3.5 ruleset and makes for a very interesting character-focused RPG with tons of stuff to do.
The expansion “Mask of the Betrayer” is highly recommended because it has an exceptional story- much better than the vanilla game with interesting characters. This game is set in the Forgotten Realms, just like the first one.
You can also try out the Complete Edition which comes with Mask of the Betrayer, Storm of Zehir, and Mysteries of Westgate. The expansions add a lot to the base story and make this game much more fun.
12. Pillars of Eternity
| Developer | Obsidian Entertainment |
| Release Date | March 26, 2015 |
| Platforms | Windows, OS X, PS4, Linus, Xbox One |
Lost treasures, ancient monsters, and new realms to explore- every classical RPG trope is present in Pillars of Eternity. Yet it feels refreshing and innovative instead of boring. That’s because Obsidian is one of the few developers who know how to make a good RPG, their goal with Pillars of Eternity was to make a spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate.
And I say they’ve succeeded with that goal. Released in an era where people seem to have forgotten what a true RPG is, this game with its high fantasy setting hits the spot for Dragon Age and Baldur’s Gate fans.
13. Vampire: The Masquerade- Bloodlines
| Developer | Troika Games |
| Release Date | November 16, 2004 |
| Platforms | Windows |
VTM Bloodlines is an RPG in which you play as a vampire (duh?), and there’s plenty of vampire stuff to do. From stealthily stalking humans so you can drain their bodies of blood to beating up enemies using your superior strength and speed- VTM Bloodlines is an RPG experience unlike anything else.
You also get a glimpse into the world of vampires and their culture. There are several vampire clans to choose from, and each clan has its own specialties. Some are deformed monsters, while the others look just like regular humans. All the abilities are derived from the pen and paper RPG of the same name.
Upon release, the game didn’t see much success due to technical issues and missing content. In retrospect though, many consider it a flawed masterpiece.
14. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
| Developer | 38 Studios |
| Release Date | February 7, 2012 |
| Platforms | Windows, PS3, Xbox 360 |
This feels like a very underrated RPG to me, and it’s quite unfortunate that the game never became popular. The developer, 38 Studios, filed for bankruptcy shortly after this game’s release which is a shame because it executes the classic RPG mechanics so well.
What caused its downfall? The story is decent, and visually it is very attractive for its generation. Gameplay is similar to classic RPGs, what with the skill trees, experience bar, hack and slash combat, etc.
However, the story and characters feel a bit too generic. Combine this with the technical issues at launch and you end up with a game that underperformed despite having all the ingredients for success.
15. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
| Developer | Warhorse Studios |
| Release Date | February 13, 2018 |
| Platforms | Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
A lot of RPGs either go for high fantasy settings (dwarves, elves, ogres, and mages) or the sci-fi route (space colonies and aliens). However few feel as grounded as Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
With its humble budget and crowdfunded origins, this game has no right being as good as it is. I dare say it blows most AAA RPGs from Obsidian and Bethesda out of the water with the level of detail present in both its gameplay and story.
The game isn’t set in space or some fantasy world, it’s set in 15th century Bohemia and has actual historical figures. You do everything from farming to sword fighting (and drinking in pubs).
There are no dragons or orcs to be found here, but if you want an excellent RPG with a combat system that is engaging and innovative- this is a must-try.
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