Dragon Age: The Veilguard

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 19,412 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Game Cover
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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.

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

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 19,412 reviews
story3,546 positive mentions
grinding158 negative mentions
  • story11,574 mentions

    The story of "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the depth and complexity of previous entries in the series. While some appreciate the engaging combat and beautiful visuals, others criticize the writing as simplistic and the narrative as overly linear, lacking the moral ambiguity and character-driven storytelling that defined earlier games. The game attempts to introduce new characters and storylines but often feels disconnected from the established lore, leading to disappointment among long-time fans. Overall, the story is seen as serviceable but not groundbreaking, with many players expressing a desire for a return to the franchise's roots in storytelling.

    • “The story is captivating, with enough twists and stakes to keep me hooked.”
    • “The story has me chomping at the bit to find out more and more lore.”
    • “The main story is good so far, and the companions are 'okay'.”
    • “The main feature of the Dragon Age series is the story, quests, and characters, and in Veilguard it is horrifically bad.”
    • “The writing is paint-by-numbers, story by committee, phoning in the Disneyfication of Thedas.”
    • “The story is incredibly basic.”
  • graphics4,700 mentions

    The graphics in "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" have received widespread praise for their stunning visuals and impressive detail, particularly in environments and character animations. However, the game's art style has sparked mixed reactions, with some players finding it too cartoonish or reminiscent of mobile games, which detracts from the darker fantasy themes traditionally associated with the series. Overall, while the graphics are technically advanced and well-optimized, opinions on the aesthetic direction vary significantly among players.

    • “Art style: while stylized, the character models fit well with the game’s strikingly beautiful environments.”
    • “The graphics and environments are beautiful and the game is very impressive on a technical level.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely stunning and the gameplay, although different from its CRPG roots, is really fun and engaging.”
    • “The disparity between the grim-dark plot and the almost cartoonishly-bright graphics makes me feel a little off-kilter.”
    • “The art style is a huge difference from previous installments as well, and takes away from the idea of being set in a dark fantasy world.”
    • “The graphics are fine but heavily stylized in a way that is painfully not Dragon Age.”
  • gameplay3,666 mentions

    The gameplay of "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant shift towards action-oriented mechanics reminiscent of titles like "Mass Effect" and "God of War." While some appreciate the fast-paced combat and fluid mechanics, others criticize the lack of depth, linearity, and the absence of traditional RPG elements such as tactical party control and meaningful choices. Overall, the gameplay is seen as engaging and fun by some, but disappointing for those expecting the strategic complexity of earlier entries in the series.

    • “The gameplay is outstanding too!”
    • “As an action RPG, it thrives, nailing a genre shift that may not satisfy purists but opens doors to engaging new gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, the combat is satisfying, the characters are engaging and the graphics are superb.”
    • “Maybe if the gameplay would be better I could live with the rest but there is really nothing to come back to in this game.”
    • “The gameplay is a slog with unresponsive movements and sadly underwhelming fighting.”
    • “The gameplay is very repetitive and at least for me not fun at all.”
  • optimization1,556 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its overall performance and stability, especially on high-end systems, where it runs smoothly with minimal issues. However, some users have reported significant performance problems, including stuttering and crashes, particularly on mid-range setups or the Steam Deck, suggesting that while the game is well-optimized for many, it may require adjustments or patches for others to achieve a consistent experience. Overall, the game is noted for its impressive graphics and solid optimization, but individual experiences may vary widely based on hardware configurations.

    • “World is beautiful and the game runs smoothly, no stutter, no crashes, no lag or frame drops (i9 rtx 4090)”
    • “The game was actually optimized pretty well and it didn't take much fiddling at all to get a stable framerate even in the more graphically dense areas.”
    • “This game is by far the best optimized game in the series and arguably the best optimized game I have played in the last five years outside of Elden Ring.”
    • “The game's performance has been shockingly poor.”
    • “The performance problems prevent players from experiencing the game as the developers intended.”
    • “This game is not optimized at all.”
  • music730 mentions

    The music in "Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack's beauty and emotional impact, particularly during key moments, while others criticize it for being generic or not fitting the game's fantasy setting. Notably, Hans Zimmer's involvement has been highlighted, but some fans feel the music lacks the iconic themes of previous entries in the series. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its quality, it often fails to evoke the same memorable experience as earlier "Dragon Age" titles.

    • “The music is beautiful and epic.”
    • “The music and environments are beautiful, the story and characters are engaging, and the combat is the best in the series.”
    • “The music is incredible and such a delight to listen to and really creates an amazing atmosphere while exploring and makes combat feel even more tense.”
    • “I felt like I was in a discotheque with the theme... I'm so disappointed about the music.”
    • “The soundtrack leaves a lot to be desired and feels bland so far across the board.”
    • “The weakest aspect of this game is the music.”
  • stability476 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its overall performance and lack of major bugs or crashes, especially in comparison to other recent releases. However, some users have reported significant issues, including freezing, lag, and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly during combat or loading screens. Overall, while many find the game well-optimized and enjoyable, others caution potential players about persistent technical problems that may require troubleshooting.

    • “The game runs great, it isn't buggy, it's a solid release and it isn't some broken live service thing.”
    • “I have never had a game at launch that runs as smoothly or as bug free as this one.”
    • “Veilguard plays amazingly well, the combat system is one of the best I have ever experienced in any game in the genre, visually it is a feast, technically it is virtually bug free, which is also unheard of in this day and age.”
    • “Game barely runs, triple v-sync buffering made it unplayable, there's 5 minutes for my loading screens, completely freezes during combat, I could go on and on.”
    • “Would love to play the game but unless it's fixed I can't recommend it as it just freezes my whole PC.”
    • “The game itself is fine when it works, the problem is after playing for 4 hours it crashed, so I rebooted tried again, it then refused to load into any save and any new game freezes right after you make your character.”
  • humor466 mentions

    The humor in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its lighthearted moments and witty banter, while others criticize it for being overly childish and lacking the depth of previous installments. Many feel that the dialogue often falls flat, resembling forced quips reminiscent of modern Disney or Marvel styles, which detracts from the darker themes of the narrative. Overall, while there are moments of genuine humor, the tonal shift has left some fans longing for the cleverness and emotional weight found in earlier entries of the series.

    • “As a long-time fan who fell in love with Dragon Age: Origins and has loved both DA2 and Inquisition, I'll say this: this game had me snort-laughing out loud in one scene, and bawling my eyes out in another, and experienced probably every emotion in between over the 60ish hours I've spent with it so far.”
    • “The combat is fast-paced and fun, graphics are stunning, dialogue is hilarious.”
    • “I love Dragon Age and when I play a DA game, I think of hard choices with consequences, a great inner circle of characters, the feeling of having the world’s weight on your virtual shoulders, and humor, lots of humor.”
    • “The writing is poor, stuffed full of unfunny jokes that would be more at home in a Y7 cartoon than a dark fantasy epic.”
    • “Everything is cringy and shallow, even the parts that are supposed to be funny.”
    • “Why does the dialogue have to be Marvel-level endless unfunny quips?”
  • emotional370 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" has garnered mixed reactions from players. While some praise the game for its heartfelt storytelling and the emotional depth of its characters, others criticize it for lacking the complexity and emotional resonance of previous installments in the series. Many players report experiencing a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, but also note issues with dialogue delivery and character development that hinder deeper emotional connections. Overall, the game offers moments of genuine emotional engagement, but it struggles to consistently evoke the profound feelings that fans have come to expect from the franchise.

    • “The tale might lack the narrative complexity of its predecessors, but it more than compensates with emotional depth.”
    • “You really feel their stories, become conflicted by the morally grey paths they take you down, and are emotionally invested in their journey.”
    • “The emotional rollercoaster this game puts me through is unreal.”
    • “Bioware desperately needs better writers because this is a really boring story with really boring characters.”
    • “Boring story line with garbage dialog.”
    • “Poor performance, boring story, terrible characters.”
  • character development354 mentions

    Character development in "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over its lack of depth and meaningful growth. Critics note that character arcs often focus excessively on gender identity rather than broader narrative complexities, leading to a perception of flat and uninspired characters. While some appreciate the potential for development through companion quests, the overall consensus is that the game falls short of the rich storytelling and character engagement expected from the franchise.

    • “The character development is outstanding, reminiscent of the deep connections we formed with companions in Origins and Inquisition.”
    • “I can say with 100% certainty that so far this game was absolutely worth the wait for me, I've been waiting for a long while, a good decade to see where the story of Dragon Age would go next and so far I'm enjoying both the overall story, combat, and character development.”
    • “While the writing may feel somewhat generic and caters more to newcomers, the game shines in its character development, stellar companions, and a robust character creator.”
    • “Conversational options in general are incredibly lacking, in nuance as well as substance, definitely in any sort of meaningful confrontation or believable character development and growth.”
    • “All character development, moral grey areas, and meaningful writing is nowhere to be found.”
    • “The character development is simple and boring, with far too much time focused on ham-fisting the particular character's gender identity instead of interesting development relating to the world.”
  • atmosphere314 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the darker, grittier tones of previous installments in the Dragon Age series. While some appreciate the vibrant and beautiful environments enhanced by stunning graphics and orchestral music, others feel that the lighthearted and cartoonish art style undermines the serious themes and emotional depth that fans expect. Overall, the game presents a visually captivating world, but opinions vary on whether it successfully captures the immersive and complex atmosphere that defined earlier titles.

    • “The game itself is very beautiful, thanks to the RTX lighting, very skillfully used here; everything shines simply magically, really creating the atmosphere of a magical world.”
    • “Great storytelling, fantastic atmosphere, and stunning graphics!”
    • “The atmosphere of each of the massive zones you can travel to is top tier; it surpasses anything that Bioware has done in the past 15 years.”
    • “The atmosphere of the previous games has evidently set an impossibly high standard that Veilguard was just unable to reach.”
    • “One of the most disappointing aspects is the absence of the dark, gritty atmosphere that has defined the series.”
    • “The dark atmosphere is mostly gone, writing is horrible, combat is weak, and most importantly, I wasn’t able to immerse myself in the game like I was with previous games.”
  • grinding170 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players finding the combat and questing to be tedious and repetitive. Players report that combat becomes monotonous after a few hours, often feeling like a slog against damage-sponging enemies, while side quests and companion interactions can feel like filler rather than engaging content. Overall, the game is perceived as overly grindy, detracting from the enjoyment of exploration and story progression.

    • “Companion quests are actually fun, and not tedious.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “Outside the main quests, the game is an incredibly grindy series of running through the same dungeons over and over.”
    • “The combat is flashy but simple which would be okay if this were not a 50+ hour video game; by the time you reach the 10 hour mark, you will have seen everything this game has to offer combat-wise. From that point on, there's no new enemies or mechanics, and the fact that you will learn a new combo every 15 or so hours doesn't do anything to stave off the monotony that is this game's combat.”
    • “Every fight is tedious and boring, and as gorgeous as the world is, it feels empty because of how little you interact with it and how very linear the game is.”
  • monetization84 mentions

    The game has been praised for its lack of microtransactions, maintaining a standard $59.99 price without any additional monetization schemes, which is a refreshing change in the current gaming landscape, especially for an EA title. Players appreciate the absence of predatory practices such as loot boxes, season passes, and forced online services, highlighting the game's focus on delivering a complete experience without additional costs. Overall, the monetization model has been well-received, contributing to a more enjoyable and straightforward gaming experience.

    • “It has no microtransactions and retains the $59.99 AAA price on PC.”
    • “There is no cash shop, no monetization other than buying the base game.”
    • “In a time where everything is battle passes and microtransactions, it's a fresh breath of air.”
    • “We waited 10 years for a quick cash grab.”
    • “This... feels like a cash grab from a dying Bioware.”
    • “This is my first time leaving a review for a game on Steam and it's honestly because this game was so misleading in its advertising.”
  • replayability76 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding significant value in experimenting with different character builds and choices, while others feel that the linear structure and limited mechanics reduce the incentive for multiple playthroughs. Many appreciate the branching choices and character interactions that can lead to varied experiences, but some express a desire for more RPG elements to enhance replay value. Overall, while there is potential for replayability, it may not reach the heights of previous titles in the series.

    • “So far, almost 50 hours in, it feels like I'm halfway through the game, and I'm already thinking about a second playthrough because I can't decide if I prefer the flashiness of a mage or the fluid combat of a rogue. Good thing the game has branching choices to allow for some degree of replayability.”
    • “Your choices during pivotal moments matter once again, and there are a lot of them, which is great for replayability and makes it so you have to actually think about your next steps, which feels great in an RPG game.”
    • “I particularly enjoy the new specialization and skill tree system, which allows for more customization and unique character builds as well as a ton of replayability in the future.”
    • “Replayability feels limited.”
    • “The mechanics are a bit slim, even by comparison to the last two Dragon Age games, and given just how linear it is, I'm not thinking this is going to have a whole lot of replayability.”
    • “Because of the linearity of the game and the way it's structured, subsequent playthroughs feel less unique and rewarding.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

10hMedian play time
34hAverage play time
5-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 298 analyzed playthroughs

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