Dragon Age: The Veilguard

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 9,706 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 9,706 reviews
story1,773 positive mentions
grinding79 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning graphics and beautiful environments that enhance the overall experience.
  • Combat is engaging and fun, with a fluid system that allows for dynamic gameplay and interesting combos.
  • The character creator offers extensive customization options, allowing players to create unique characters.
  • The writing and dialogue are often cringeworthy and lack depth, making characters feel one-dimensional.
  • The game fails to incorporate meaningful choices from previous Dragon Age titles, leading to a disconnection from the established lore.
  • The overall tone of the game feels lighter and less serious than previous entries, which may disappoint long-time fans.
  • story5,787 mentions

    The story of "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment in its depth and writing quality compared to previous entries in the series. While some appreciate the engaging combat and character interactions, others criticize the linearity of the narrative, lack of meaningful choices, and a tone that feels overly simplistic or juvenile. Overall, the game is seen as a visually stunning action RPG that may appeal to newcomers but may not satisfy long-time fans seeking the rich storytelling and complexity characteristic of earlier Dragon Age titles.

    • “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 story is incredibly basic.”
    • “The writing is paint-by-numbers, story by committee, phoning in the Disneyfication of Thedas.”
  • graphics2,350 mentions

    The graphics of "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" have received a mixed reception, with many praising the stunning environments and vibrant visuals, while others criticize the cartoonish art style that diverges from the darker tones of previous entries in the series. Players have noted that the game runs smoothly on various hardware setups, showcasing impressive detail and hair physics, but some feel that the character designs lack the depth and realism expected from a Dragon Age title. Overall, while the graphics are technically advanced and visually appealing, the shift in art style has left some long-time fans feeling disconnected from the franchise's roots.

    • “The graphics and environments are beautiful, and the game is very impressive on a technical level.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, and the optimization is really well made; there is a form of diversity in this game that should be encouraged, not shunned.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely stunning; the game runs smoothly on high settings on my PC, which is already 4 years old.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay1,833 mentions

    The gameplay of "Dragon Age: Veilguard" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant shift from the series' traditional mechanics towards a more action-oriented style reminiscent of games like "Mass Effect" and "God of War." While some appreciate the fluid combat and engaging mechanics, others criticize the linearity, lack of tactical depth, and repetitive nature of encounters, feeling it strays too far from the franchise's roots. Overall, the gameplay is seen as fun and polished, but opinions vary widely on its alignment with the expectations set by previous 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.”
    • “For the action RPG crowd, Veilguard nails it with engaging, fluid mechanics that feel satisfying across different builds.”
    • “I could excuse bad writing, even in a story-centric RPG, I could cut the game some slack and give the writing a chance for a few more hours, if the gameplay was actually gameplay.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization778 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received a mixed but generally positive reception. Many players report smooth performance with minimal bugs and crashes, particularly on high-end systems, while others have experienced stuttering and frame drops, especially on mid-range setups. The game is praised for its graphical fidelity and the ability to tailor settings for various hardware, making it one of the better-optimized AAA releases in recent memory.

    • “The game runs smoothly, no stutter, no crashes, no lag or frame drops (i9 RTX 4090).”
    • “It's incredibly well optimized; if it's not running well for you, then you probably need to adjust your graphics settings, update your drivers, or maybe the GPU in your laptop has inhaled too much dust and vape juice particulates and is ready to shed its mortal coil.”
    • “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.”
  • music365 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack for its beauty and emotional impact, particularly during key scenes, while others criticize it for being generic or not fitting the game's fantasy setting. Notable contributions from composers like Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe are acknowledged, but some players feel the music lacks the memorable themes of previous installments in the Dragon Age series. Overall, while the sound design and voice acting are generally well-received, the music's effectiveness varies, with some finding it immersive and others deeming it forgettable.

    • “The music is beautiful and epic.”
    • “The music, art direction, and combat all really fit well into Dragon Age; it feels like a very natural progression for the series and has a lot of charm.”
    • “The music is incredible and such a delight to listen to, creating an amazing atmosphere while exploring and making combat feel even more tense.”
    • “The soundtrack leaves a lot to be desired and feels bland so far across the board.”
    • “The music is nothing to write home about, especially comparing it to Inquisition.”
    • “The weakest aspect of this game is the music.”
  • stability238 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 the game runs well for a substantial number of players, there are notable stability concerns that may affect the experience for others.

    • “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.”
    • “Can't really recommend a game with unplayable bugs and glitches.”
    • “Game gets stuck on the loading screen after character creation, spent nearly 2 hours trying to fix it and can't, refunding now before the 'playtime' counter from troubleshooting locks me out from being able to refund at all.”
  • humor233 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 feeling forced, childish, or out of place in a dark fantasy setting. Many fans of the series feel that the humor lacks the depth and cleverness of previous installments, often comparing it unfavorably to modern Disney or Marvel styles. Overall, while there are moments of genuine humor, the dialogue often falls flat, leading to a sense of disappointment among long-time fans.

    • “The humor and quippiness: the game’s humor aligns with the series’ tradition of mixing dark fantasy with a few lighthearted moments.”
    • “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.”
    • “My biggest gripe with the game is the lack of anything other than the noble, funny (but actually unfunny), and stoic dialogue options. The good choice has no weight or very little when there's no visual and audio representation of what you're losing by not going the evil, selfish, or greedy route, which translates to the player feeling like they have less control over their character than they should.”
    • “The characters are too nice, and the entire time I'm playing it feels like my character is tiptoeing around buzzwords, so I can't be mean if I wanted to. When I see 'who are you?' in a mean context, I want to say 'who in the world are you to talk to me like that!!!' but instead, it comes out as basic dialogue options. The 'joking' dialogue sounds exactly like the regular everyday response; it's not funny other than a few rare moments.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional185 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Dragon Age: The Veilguard" elicits a wide range of responses from players, with many expressing deep emotional engagement through heartfelt character arcs and impactful story moments. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and complexity of the characters, others criticize the writing and dialogue for lacking the nuance and gravitas of previous installments, leading to a disconnect in emotional investment. Overall, the game offers a mix of touching moments and frustrating shortcomings, resulting in a varied emotional experience for players.

    • “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. Gameplay is fine, visuals are fine, but the emotional aspect is lacking.”
    • “Boring storyline with garbage dialogue that fails to evoke any emotional response.”
    • “Poor performance, boring story, terrible characters, and combat that feels uninspired.”
  • character development177 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over its lack of depth and meaningful growth. Critics note that character arcs often focus narrowly on themes like gender identity, overshadowing more complex storytelling and relationship dynamics that fans expect from the franchise. While some appreciate the character creator and visual design, the overall consensus is that the game fails to deliver the rich, nuanced character development that has historically defined the series.

    • “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.”
    • “The storytelling is top-notch, weaving rich narratives with deep character development that fans have come to expect.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “For many games, Bioware removed more and more to the point character development became near non-existent.”
  • atmosphere157 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its stunning visuals, vibrant environments, and engaging world-building, while others lament the loss of the dark, gritty tone characteristic of earlier installments in the series. Many players appreciate the beautiful graphics and immersive sound design, but feel that the lighthearted dialogue and cartoonish art style detract from the overall atmosphere, making it feel less serious and mature. Overall, while the game offers a visually captivating experience, it struggles to capture the depth and intensity of the atmosphere that fans have come to expect from the Dragon Age franchise.

    • “The game definitely has its atmosphere, which did not disappoint me at all but made me love the series even more.”
    • “The atmosphere in the game (so far) is more vibrant and lively than the previous installments, save for some heavily blighted areas which do have an ominous tone and spare no expense in ensuring you feel somewhat horrified.”
    • “The atmosphere, the companions, the story, everything.”
    • “The atmosphere of the previous games has evidently set an impossibly high standard that Veilguard was just unable to reach.”
    • “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.”
    • “Unfortunately, this creates an atmosphere reminiscent of an American action movie, which may detract from the immersive experience that fans expect from such a rich universe.”
  • grinding85 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly in combat and questing. Many reviews highlight the lack of variety in enemy encounters and mechanics, leading to a monotonous experience, especially after several hours of gameplay. While some appreciate the character interactions and story elements, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grind detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “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.”
  • monetization42 mentions

    The game has been praised for its lack of monetization practices, notably the absence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and additional paid content, which is a refreshing change for an EA title. It maintains a standard AAA price of $59.99 without any hidden costs or DRM, allowing players to enjoy a complete experience without the pressure of in-game purchases. Overall, the game's straightforward monetization approach has been well-received, highlighting a shift towards respecting player preferences in the current gaming landscape.

    • “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.”
    • “I hope some modder out there with true love for the DA universe fixes this absolute cash grab garbage.”
    • “We waited 10 years for a quick cash grab.”
    • “This... feels like a cash grab from a dying Bioware.”
  • replayability38 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag among reviewers. While some players appreciate the potential for varied builds and impactful choices that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find the linearity and limited mechanics diminish the uniqueness of subsequent runs. The presence of branching storylines and character customization offers some replay value, but opinions vary on whether it matches the depth seen in previous titles like Dragon Age: Origins.

    • “I see the replayability in this game being centered around finding new builds for future playthroughs and choosing different key choices.”
    • “So far, almost 50 hours here, feels like halfway through the game, and already thinking on 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.”
    • “The combat is not only good for a Bioware game - it's fantastic for an RPG hands down, while the tactical legacy of Dragon Age certainly still remains. This is certainly an action game and you will have to play it as such; dodge, block, parry, etc. - all vital especially on higher difficulties. However, Veilguard is separated by the sheer vast amount of items and build variety the game offers - you can be a necromancer using dark and deathly magic, a big hulking warrior, a keen bowman, a skillful spellblade, and each class feels pretty distinct. Replayability in this game is huge.”
    • “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/rewarding.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
34hAverage play time
5-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 149 analyzed playthroughs

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