Dragon Age: The Veilguard

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Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by BioWare and was released on November 27, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Discover Dragon Age: The Veilguard on the official PlayStation website, with trailers and screenshots, gameplay details for this new single-player BioWare role-playing game, purchase options and more.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

+10

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69%

Audience ScoreBased on 29,939 reviews

story7.6k positive mentions

stability377 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and detailed environments that enhance the fantasy experience.
The character interactions and banter are charming and often genuinely funny, adding to the overall enjoyment.
The absence of microtransactions and the complete package at launch have been well-received by players.

The game lacks the dark, gritty atmosphere characteristic of earlier titles, leading to disappointment among long-time fans.
Many players criticize the writing and story for being shallow, predictable, and lacking meaningful choices.
The gameplay has been described as repetitive and lacking the strategic depth that defined previous entries in the series.

story
27,736 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
The story of "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its engaging moments and emotional depth, particularly in the final act. However, criticisms abound regarding its linearity, lack of meaningful choices, and a perceived disconnect from the rich lore established in previous entries. While some players appreciated the character arcs and the integration of modern themes, others felt that the writing was shallow and the overall narrative lacked the complexity and nuance that fans have come to expect from the series.
- “The story was the best quality though.”
- “I really enjoyed how this game took the bits of lore throughout the series and made it work with this story.”
- “The story follows quickly on from the previous game (Inquisition) and does an amazing job fitting in characters and factions, new and old alike, into this story.”
- “The writing is god awful and the storyline is terrible.”
- “The story is predictable and on top of that, Bioware adds politics into it.”
- “The story is shallow.”
graphics
6,846 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The graphics in "Dragon Age: Veilguard" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and detailed environments, showcasing a significant improvement over previous entries in the series. However, the game's cartoonish art style has polarized fans, with some feeling it detracts from the darker themes traditionally associated with the franchise. Overall, while the graphics are often praised as a highlight, opinions vary on how well they align with the game's narrative and aesthetic expectations.
- “The graphics look fantastic, the music is great, voice acting equally superb, and the story is very good.”
- “Graphically, this is probably one of the best looking fantasy games I've played.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the characters are easy to connect with, and the combat system feels modern and responsive.”
- “The graphics are a significant step up from previous entries, showcasing a brilliant level of detail in every location.”
- “The cartoonish graphics, light-hearted trailer, and Marvel-like jokes didn't really help either.”
- “The graphics feel cluttered and both too detailed and bland at the same time, as if someone on the dev team put 'fantasy' into an AI, blended the idea, then spat out the final product.”
gameplay
6,645 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
The gameplay of "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant shift from the tactical mechanics of previous titles to a more action-oriented style reminiscent of games like "God of War." While some appreciate the fast-paced combat and engaging mechanics, others criticize the repetitive nature of gameplay, lack of depth, and the absence of strategic elements that defined earlier entries in the series. Overall, the game is seen as fun and visually impressive, but it may disappoint long-time fans seeking the rich RPG experience of its predecessors.
- “The minute-to-minute gameplay is enjoyable and the environments are designed well.”
- “The gameplay is a massive improvement from some previous installments, with very strong combat and a lot of different play styles.”
- “The gameplay is fun, very intense but lacks a lot of strategy previous games enforced upon the player.”
- “Gameplay/combat is joyless, progression is dated; just buy Baldur's Gate 3.”
- “The gameplay is so different from the original games.”
- “The gameplay is a far cry from what origins was and that makes me sad because BG3 did so well with a slow-paced combat system.”
optimization
1,702 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
43%
12%
The optimization of "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews from players. While many commend its impressive graphics and smooth performance on high-end systems, others report significant issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game is noted for being well-optimized compared to other recent AAA titles, but performance can vary widely depending on individual setups and settings adjustments.
- “The game runs smoothly, looks good and everything works.”
- “The performance is incredible and the visuals are absolutely fantastic.”
- “The optimization is excellent: the game never crashed or froze.”
- “The frostbite engine combined with the atrocious optimization causes a known issue of your CPU having a sudden spike upon launching the game, potentially shutting off fans in your PC (worst case scenario a CPU fan) and resulting in your PC reaching upwards of 90-100 degrees Celsius even on a water-cooled system.”
- “This is, genuinely, the worst optimized game I have ever played in my life.”
- “The game is also horrifically optimized.”
music
1,608 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
56%
6%
The music in "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment compared to previous titles in the series. While some praise the soundtrack for its atmospheric qualities and emotional moments, particularly during key scenes, others criticize it as generic and forgettable, lacking the memorable themes that defined earlier games. The involvement of renowned composer Hans Zimmer has led to high expectations, but many feel the music does not capture the essence of the Dragon Age franchise, often veering into sci-fi territory rather than maintaining a fantasy vibe. Overall, while the music is generally well-produced, it fails to resonate as strongly with fans as past soundtracks.
- “The music, the atmosphere, the voice acting, it’s all amazing and terrific.”
- “Gorgeous environments, strong atmosphere, and a soundtrack that enhances the fantasy vibe.”
- “The music was done by my favorite composer - Hans Zimmer.”
- “The music is probably my least favorite part of the game, coming off of the masterpiece that is Inquisition's soundtrack. Having Hans Zimmer working on this should've elevated the game, but the overuse of synths made it feel less fantasy and more sci-fi, which is such a waste of talent.”
- “The soundtrack is serviceable but lacks emotional punch or memorable themes.”
- “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.”
emotional
1,515 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" has garnered mixed reactions from players. While some found the game to be a deeply emotional experience, with moments that made them cry and feel connected to the characters, others criticized it for lacking the emotional depth and complexity of previous entries in the series. Many players noted that while there were touching moments and heartfelt character arcs, the overall writing felt rushed or superficial, leading to a disconnect in emotional investment. The game does include representation and themes of identity that resonated with some players, but the execution often fell short of the high expectations set by earlier titles in the franchise.
- “I actually did not expect to be this emotional about this game.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters adds layers to the storyline, and players will find themselves invested in their fates.”
- “I cried so hard at the end because I understand that even if you are not saying it out loud, this is the end for dragon age.”
- “Great graphics, fun combat, and godawful dialogue complete with a flat, boring storyline!”
- “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. The decision system doesn't have any impact at all and the storyline is boring.”
- “Bioware desperately needs better writers because this is a really boring story with really boring characters; gameplay is fine, visuals are fine, but the story is just dull.”
humor
845 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a shift towards a lighter, more comedic tone compared to previous entries in the series. While some found the banter and character interactions genuinely funny and charming, others criticized the humor as forced, juvenile, or lacking the depth and wit characteristic of earlier games. Overall, the game attempts to balance humor with serious themes, but opinions vary on its effectiveness, with some players enjoying the lighthearted moments while others feel it detracts from the darker narrative elements.
- “Veilguard is at its best when you’re with your companions — laughing at banter, running their quests, or making tough calls about their futures.”
- “The ambient dialogue and party banter, though, is excellent—charming, reactive, and often laugh-out-loud funny.”
- “The companions have great chemistry, I found myself laughing out loud more than several times, and the variety of themes the game touches on is incredibly diverse.”
- “And seriously—if this is the tone Bioware continues with in the upcoming Mass Effect game, full of forced humor and cringey dialogue, nobody is going to play it.”
- “The writing is poor, stuffed full of unfunny jokes that would be more at home in a Y-7 cartoon than a dark fantasy epic.”
- “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.”
character development
726 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
60%
11%
Character development in "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over its perceived shallowness and lack of meaningful choices. While some characters exhibit interesting arcs, others feel forced or underdeveloped, leading to a disconnect between players and their companions. The dialogue often lacks depth, and the integration of contemporary themes, such as gender identity, is seen by some as clunky or agenda-driven, detracting from the immersive storytelling that fans expect from the series.
- “The lore is wonderful, the character design and aesthetics are incredibly beautiful, and most importantly, I genuinely cared about every character and their journey.”
- “The game beautifully balances intricate storytelling, vivid character development, and breathtaking visuals, creating an unforgettable experience.”
- “The character development for each character comes together very naturally at the end and feels very rewarding.”
- “While the combat and overall story are serviceable, the experience is dragged down by shallow character development and dialogue choices that ultimately feel meaningless.”
- “The game has plenty of beginnings of great ideas, great concepts or plot points that could be explored and great character design but no character development; it tries to distract you with good graphics but at the end of the day you can truly feel the loss of all the employees that were fired (especially the writers).”
- “The character development is almost non-existent, unless you count choosing your pronoun and gender to be the pinnacle of customization.”
stability
627 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
3%
60%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly on PC. While some users report a smooth and bug-free experience, others highlight frequent crashes, audio glitches, and game-breaking bugs that hinder gameplay. Overall, the game appears to be well-optimized for certain systems, but many players express frustration over its instability and the need for further patches to address ongoing issues.
- “On a positive note, it's still a gorgeous and entertaining game, runs well and is, in my experience, bug-free.”
- “The game runs great and I have encountered very few bugs considering the amount of content and hours I put into it.”
- “It's very polished, runs great on my 3080ti and 14700kf.”
- “The game is frustrating since it stops, mutes, freezes, and delays.”
- “But it's unplayable—frequent DirectX crashes, bizarre audio glitches (all combat audio missing/truncated).”
- “The biggest problem is that it's a buggy mess on PC, full of obnoxious loading times and immersion-breaking bugs that make it impossible to finish a quest without being forced to reset the game.”
grinding
507 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
5%
92%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience, with many players finding combat and quests to become tedious and repetitive over time. While some appreciate the reduced emphasis on resource farming and grinding compared to previous titles, others express frustration with lengthy boss fights, spongy enemies, and the need for grinding faction levels or companion quests to achieve desired outcomes. Overall, while the game offers engaging elements, the grind can detract from the enjoyment, especially in the later stages.
- “No grinding or farming: I was relieved to learn that I don't have to spend countless hours farming resources or grinding just to get my hands on gear that was decent or useful.”
- “I thought the game was really dope and fun all the way through with almost no grindy parts (I really don't enjoy grindy games).”
- “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.”
- “Combat quickly becomes a tedious grind, lacking any tactical depth.”
- “The combat is tedious and gets boring around the 30-hour mark; you can't play as your party members to get a variety of play styles, and your companions literally cannot die.”
- “The gameplay is tedious, and the art style looks like something that Disney Dreamlight threw up.”
atmosphere
400 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The atmosphere in "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its stunning visuals, detailed environments, and atmospheric music that enhance the fantasy experience. However, a significant number of fans express disappointment over the game's departure from the dark, gritty atmosphere characteristic of earlier titles in the series, feeling that it leans too heavily into a lighter, more whimsical tone that undermines the narrative's gravity. Overall, while the game offers beautiful settings and immersive sound design, it struggles to capture the emotional depth and complexity of atmosphere that long-time fans expect from the Dragon Age franchise.
- “The atmosphere of all the different areas is fantastic, the characters are unique and multifaceted, making for great additions to the journey.”
- “What truly sets the Veilguard apart is its atmosphere—the hauntingly beautiful landscapes and the evocative soundtrack combine to create a sense of wonder and emotional depth that lingers long after playing.”
- “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.”
- “This game lacks a dark fantasy atmosphere.”
- “Despite the title, the game does not successfully capture the atmosphere typically associated with Dragon Age.”
- “The dark atmosphere is mostly gone; writing is horrible, combat is weak, and I wasn’t able to immerse myself in the game like I was with previous games.”
replayability
366 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
70%
13%
Overall, the replayability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment compared to previous entries in the Dragon Age series. While some appreciate the different classes and character builds that offer a degree of replay value, others criticize the linear narrative and lack of impactful choices, leading to a consensus that the game has limited replayability. Many players feel that once the story is completed, there is little incentive to return, making it less engaging for those who enjoyed the varied experiences of earlier titles.
- “The game is brilliantly written with an astonishing amount of replayability.”
- “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 replayability is high too which reminds me of Origins where I was excited to see what all the origins were like.”
- “It doesn't have as much replayability as the previous Dragon Age games.”
- “The lack of real choices in some conversations can indeed be frustrating sometimes, and I doubt the game is as replayable as the previous entries in the series.”
- “There's no real replayability here.”
monetization
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
49%
45%
The monetization aspect of the game has received largely positive feedback, with many reviewers noting the absence of microtransactions, DLC, and other predatory practices commonly seen in modern titles. Players appreciate that the game is a complete package at launch, without additional costs for content that should be included, which contrasts sharply with the expectations set by other EA releases. However, some critics still perceive the game as a cash grab, suggesting that while it lacks traditional monetization, it may still exploit the franchise's name without delivering the depth fans expect.
- “The game is DRM-free, has no microtransactions (which is rare for an EA game), is complete upon release, has barely any bugs, is optimized, and is graphically impressive.”
- “It's a single-player game with no microtransactions, no day-one DLC, no season passes, or online requirements.”
- “In a time where everything is battle passes and microtransactions, it's a breath of fresh air.”
- “This game feels like a desperate cash grab to capitalize on the Dragon Age name and is yet another example of EA's greed.”
- “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.”
- “A horrible Dragon Age game and a mediocre RPG at best, it feels like a soulless cash grab that disrespects both fans of the series and the RPG genre as a whole.”

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35h Median play time

53h Average play time

10-71h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 461 analyzed playthroughs

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