Dragon Age: The Veilguard

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 24,642 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Game Cover
Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the perfect follow-up to this amazing series!
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"Dragon Age: The Veilguard Deluxe Edition offers an array of cosmetic weapons and armor sets for your character and companions. Explore the rich world of Thedas, where ancient gods, conflict, and secret magics abound. This edition specifically focuses on aesthetics, allowing you to customize and save Thedas in style."

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 24,642 reviews
story6,129 positive mentions
stability309 negative mentions
  • story22,278 mentions

    The story of "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet lacking the depth and complexity of previous entries in the series. While some appreciate the character-driven narratives and emotional arcs, particularly in companion quests, others criticize the linearity and predictability of the main plot, feeling that choices made throughout the game have minimal impact on the overall story. The game is noted for its stunning visuals and improved combat mechanics, but many long-time fans express disappointment over the perceived dilution of the franchise's signature storytelling and character development.

    • “The story is captivating, filled with twists and emotionally charged moments, and the quests are both engaging and rewarding.”
    • “The story, while on a high level is decent, is presented in such a childish and shallow way that it was impossible for me to care.”
    • “The story is good, not the best, but memorable.”
    • “The story feels forced; Rook makes the choices, not us.”
    • “The writing is shallow and uninspired, and the game constantly felt like it was treating me like a child by pointing out basic story beats and foreshadowing through a narrator that rehashed exactly what was said in the previous cinematic scenes.”
    • “The story is a complete letdown after a long ten-year wait, and I can honestly say I was happier not knowing the fate of Thedas than I am after 'saving' it.”
  • graphics5,683 mentions

    The graphics of *Dragon Age: Veilguard* have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and detailed environments, showcasing a significant upgrade from previous titles in the series. However, the game's cartoonish art style has sparked mixed reactions, with some players appreciating its vibrant aesthetic while others feel it detracts from the darker themes traditionally associated with the franchise. Overall, while the graphics are often praised for their beauty and technical performance, the shift in art style has left some long-time fans feeling disconnected from the series' roots.

    • “The graphics are stunning, with breathtaking environments that bring the lore-rich universe of Thedas to life.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely beautiful, the models, the environment, and the cutscenes are amazing.”
    • “The graphics are really well done, and the new art style goes well with how the story is told.”
    • “The character art style and colors clash with the franchise's core identity.”
    • “The graphics look like a kid's game unlike the previous games.”
    • “The graphics are a major disappointment.”
  • gameplay5,327 mentions

    The gameplay of "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its fast-paced, action-oriented combat mechanics that feel reminiscent of titles like "God of War" and "Mass Effect." However, some players have criticized the gameplay for becoming repetitive and lacking depth, particularly after the initial hours, as enemy variety and strategic elements seem limited. Overall, while the game offers engaging mechanics and visually stunning environments, it diverges significantly from the tactical roots of previous entries in the series, leading to a polarized reception among long-time fans.

    • “I recommend it because I really enjoyed the gameplay and found myself completely addicted to trying out different skill combinations, using everything the game offered while always keeping in mind the concept of the character I wanted to play (warrior focused on a 2h weapon).”
    • “Gameplay is great, story and characters are engaging.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, if a bit repetitive, with puzzles that are overused, again... back to not trusting the audience.”
    • “The gameplay, for how I appreciate Bioware’s attempt to make this a fun action RPG, is incredibly bland too.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious, and the art style looks like something that Disney Dreamlight threw up.”
    • “The gameplay loop becomes repetitive, the combat feels pointless, and the story becomes uninteresting and disengaging.”
  • optimization1,531 mentions

    The optimization of "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews from players. While many praise its solid performance and lack of major bugs, with some experiencing smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems, others report significant issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly in densely populated areas. Overall, the game is noted for its impressive graphics and generally good optimization, but performance can vary widely depending on individual hardware setups.

    • “The game is surprisingly well optimized and largely bug-free.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, and the performance is generally smooth.”
    • “The optimization is solid—except for three random crashes I encountered during the whole game, it runs smoothly.”
    • “The game is actually great, but the problem is that there are severe performance bugs that make the game almost unplayable.”
    • “Adding to the frustration were constant performance problems, including stuttering, severe frame drops, and delayed inputs, making it feel like I was fighting the game itself just to play.”
    • “The game just doesn't seem optimized for PC at all (or at least for mine and many others), which is a shame considering every positive review touts how smoothly it runs.”
  • music1,381 mentions

    The music in "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it often feels generic and lacks the memorable quality of previous entries in the series. While some tracks composed by Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe are praised for their orchestral quality and emotional impact, others feel out of place or reminiscent of sci-fi rather than fantasy, leading to a disconnect with the game's setting. Overall, while the soundtrack has its moments, it is generally considered a step down from the iconic scores of earlier titles like "Inquisition."

    • “The music doesn't work.”
    • “There is some pretty stirring music in some of the zones (the necropolis theme still pops into my head, weeks later).”
    • “The music was great, especially the main theme.”
    • “The music felt painfully generic and forgettable for about 80% of the game, which is only made worse considering the rest of the games had outstanding soundtracks.”
    • “The music is entirely forgettable which is a shame, but kind of expected; I'd argue none of the DA games have ever had captivating soundtracks, alas.”
    • “The soundtrack is a disappointment honestly, I wish they'd just hire the Trevor Morris guy; his work in Inquisition was top tier.”
  • emotional1,187 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" has elicited a wide range of responses from players, with many expressing deep emotional connections to the story and characters, particularly during pivotal moments and companion quests. While some players found the game to be a heartfelt and engaging experience that made them cry multiple times, others criticized it for lacking the emotional depth and complexity of previous entries in the series, feeling that character interactions often fell flat or felt overly simplistic. Overall, the game has been described as an emotional rollercoaster, with moments of genuine heartwarming connection juxtaposed against a backdrop of disappointment regarding character development and narrative execution.

    • “I got emotionally attached to all the companions, bawled my eyes out during the last few chapters, and during some scenes I got with different companions’ backstories.”
    • “The story is captivating, filled with twists and emotionally charged moments, and the quests are both engaging and rewarding.”
    • “I cried several times during my playthrough and I wish I could go back and experience the game for the first time again.”
    • “But in the end I waited 10 years for a game with awful writing - non-funny jokes, irrelevant and repeated lines of conversation, primitive skill system, boring companions with problems that should have been left in the real world (when I heard the line 'so, I'm non-binary' I physically gagged, I came to swing a sword, ffs), banal puzzles and deceptive recommendations from IGN and others (9/10, 5/5 - nobody believes that), decision system that doesn't have any impact at all and a boring storyline.”
    • “Boring story, bland companions, immersion-breaking golden chests and pouches behind every corner to dish out meaningless loot and a few coins.”
    • “Bioware desperately needs better writers because this is a really boring story with really boring characters; gameplay fine, visuals fine, gameplay fine.”
  • humor703 mentions

    The humor in "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a shift from the series' traditional witty and dark humor to a more modern, often juvenile style. While some found moments of genuine laughter and enjoyable banter among companions, others criticized the dialogue for being flat, forced, or overly sanitized, lacking the depth and complexity of previous entries. Overall, the humor is seen as inconsistent, with some players appreciating the lighthearted moments while others feel it detracts from the game's serious themes.

    • “It's funny that this group of 'professionals' can't stab a mage correctly, even when their lifetime job is stabbing mages and I recruited them for that specific purpose, but they won't do it right until you take them on seven-hour mandated walks to talk about their basic or vague feelings while the world is full steam ahead catching on fire.”
    • “The banter between party members was near-constant, and some of it was hilarious.”
    • “The writing is good, the characters are well fleshed out, it's funny, feel-good, and deep.”
    • “The writing was flat, not funny, not serious, and not engaging.”
    • “The companions that I met so far had no discernible personality and everyone spoke as if it was their first time at an open mic night, with no charisma they stand completely still and stumble through the most unfunny slop I've ever heard.”
    • “The writing is poor, stuffed full of unfunny jokes that would be more at home in a Y7 cartoon than a dark fantasy epic.”
  • character development578 mentions

    Character development in "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over its perceived shallowness compared to previous titles in the series. While some appreciate the character design and customization options, they feel that the depth and emotional engagement typically associated with Bioware games are lacking, resulting in characters that often feel like "cardboard cutouts." Overall, the game is criticized for its simplistic storytelling and character arcs, which fail to evoke the same level of investment and connection that fans have come to expect from the franchise.

    • “The character development, both in terms of skills and within the story, is also done in a very cool way.”
    • “The character development is outstanding, reminiscent of the deep connections we formed with companions in Origins and Inquisition.”
    • “The companions have rich stories and character design, making the game even more replayable than it already is with the decisions you make and the consequences.”
    • “Lacking in just about every area, but especially character development, pacing, and story.”
    • “The character development is almost non-existent, unless you count choosing your pronoun and gender to be the pinnacle of customization.”
    • “The character development is missing.”
  • stability535 mentions

    The stability of "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its overall performance and lack of major bugs at launch. While some users report a smooth experience with minimal glitches, others have encountered significant issues such as crashes, audio problems, and graphical glitches, particularly in crowded areas or during intense combat. Overall, the game appears to be relatively well-optimized compared to other recent AAA releases, but individual experiences vary widely.

    • “The game was fully functional and, to my experience, bug-free on launch, so that is also a massive plus.”
    • “Performance-wise, it runs great and is clearly polished, which seems a rarity for this type of game.”
    • “The game runs exceptionally well on a wide range of systems and is relatively bug-free.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess, full of obnoxious loading times and immersion-breaking bugs that make it impossible to finish a quest without being forced to reset the game.”
    • “Frequent bugs and glitches pull you out of the experience, and the frame rate drops in busy areas make navigating the world a chore rather than a joy.”
    • “I have clocked in over 80 hours now, and probably over half of that time was spent trying to fix the infuriating bugs and glitches that make the game literally unplayable.”
  • grinding408 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a significant point of contention, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive. Combat often devolves into a slog due to spongy enemies and a lack of variety, leading to frustration, especially in later stages. While some appreciate the streamlined mechanics and reduced grinding compared to previous titles, others feel that the game still suffers from excessive side quests and companion interactions that detract from the overall experience.

    • “No annoying minigames, no grinding, and missions that might be classed as 'fetch quests' are limited enough to remain fun without falling over into tediousness.”
    • “No grinding, tedious crafting, fetch quests or other padding that so many games pawn off as content, just a visually stunning adventure with likable NPCs, fluid combat and great voice actors.”
    • “The sceneries are beautiful, the side missions are really fun and not tedious.”
    • “After about 10 hours, you have all of your spells, and the gameplay loop is the same, which gets really tedious quite quickly.”
    • “The combat system starts off interesting but quickly becomes tedious and tiresome as enemies feel like spongy obstacles rather than engaging challenges.”
    • “Combat is sluggish and tedious, with spellcasting animations so drawn-out that I found myself able to take bites out of my mac and cheese in between the point of starting the casting of the short-range spell and it actually hitting the target.”
  • atmosphere320 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the dark, gritty tone of previous entries in the series. While the game features stunning visuals and beautifully crafted environments that evoke a sense of wonder, it often feels overly bright and whimsical, undermining the serious themes and emotional weight that fans expect. Overall, the atmosphere is described as vibrant and immersive, yet lacking the depth and complexity that characterized earlier titles, leading to a sense of disconnection for long-time fans.

    • “The visuals are breathtaking, with detailed character models, atmospheric environments, and spell effects that are truly magical.”
    • “The locations are stunning and the details capture so much of the atmosphere and history of the locale - I kept stopping just to pan the camera around.”
    • “The atmosphere and worlds were beautifully crafted, and I loved the opportunity to explore the art and culture in each.”
    • “It lacks the gritty, dark atmosphere filled with blood and gore.”
    • “The old Dragon Age games had a dark fantasy mood, an atmosphere that feels mostly missing in Veilguard.”
    • “The dark atmosphere is mostly gone, writing is horrible, combat is weak, the LGBT propaganda is way too obvious and most importantly, I wasn’t able to immerse myself in the game like I was with previous games, mainly because the main character and the other NPCs, including companions, just feel cheap.”
  • replayability275 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising the diverse character classes and branching storylines that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others criticize the limited impact of choices and linear progression that diminish the incentive to replay. Many feel that while there are elements that can enhance replay value, such as different factions and romance options, the overall experience lacks the depth and variability found in previous entries of the series. Overall, opinions range from high replayability due to class diversity to a significant lack of replay value due to repetitive gameplay and minimal story changes across playthroughs.

    • “With its branching storylines and diverse character options, the game offers decent replay value.”
    • “The companions are endearing and there's so much replay value in this for me, that I know I will be spending a great deal of time in here with different backgrounds, classes, and other choices to choose from.”
    • “The game has tons of issues but gameplay, stability, price, length, and replayability are not any of them.”
    • “The game has no replay value at all, and most of my time was spent rushing through boring side quests while playing music in the background just to get through the main story.”
    • “I see no replay value since the choices don't really change the story significantly, other than the choice at the end of the game.”
    • “The limited impact of the choices and story also undermines the veilguard's replayability.”
  • monetization104 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players expressing relief at the absence of microtransactions, DLC, and other monetization practices commonly found in modern titles. While some reviewers appreciate the game's straightforward purchase model and lack of exploitative monetization, others criticize it as a cash grab that feels soulless and lacking in depth. Overall, the consensus leans towards a positive reception for its lack of intrusive monetization, which is seen as a refreshing change in the current gaming landscape.

    • “It's a single-player game with no microtransactions, no day-one DLC, no season passes, or online requirements.”
    • “No microtransactions from what I've seen after 10+ hours.”
    • “In a time where everything is battle passes and microtransactions, it's a fresh breath of air.”
    • “This game will be used as a cash grab for mediocre DLC and will kill the series as a whole.”
    • “Lastly, the game's reliance on microtransactions feels exploitative.”
    • “Instead of offering a complete experience, it often feels like a cash grab, pushing players to spend more to unlock content that should have been included from the start.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

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Play time

31hMedian play time
49hAverage play time
10-65hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 381 analyzed playthroughs

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