Summary
- BioWare games offer memorable protagonists with established backstories, but players have the freedom to shape these characters.
- Players can embody heroes like the Spirit Monk, Hawke, the Inquisitor, the Warden, and Commander Shepard in fantastic adventures.
- From defeating world-threatening enemies to rising from underdog status, BioWare protagonists are strong, brave, and relatable figures.
BioWare has given fans plenty of memorable protagonists over the years, placing them in the shoes of an established hero or an underdog who soars to incredible heights throughout the journey of the game. All BioWare games and protagonists are fantastic in their own right, with some established parts of the character, but the players are ultimately given rein over the type of character they are.
Best Stories In BioWare's Games, Ranked
BioWare has created some of the best franchises over the years, and with it some amazing stories, like these great examples.
From BioWare's iconic star-faring sci-fi title Mass Effect to the ever-popular fantasy RPG Dragon Age, players have embarked on many fantastic, world-threatening adventures with an amazing protagonist to accompany players for the ride that awaits.
5 Spirit Monk
One of the Bravest Heroes In Jade Empire
Jade Empire
- Released
- April 12, 2005
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Platform(s)
- Xbox (Original), PC, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
In this Chinese-inspired action RPG, players assume the role of the Spirit Monk, someone with prowess in martial arts who must team up with people they meet throughout their journey to rescue their mentor, Master Li.
Players get to choose from one of six presets that determine their stats and what role they should assume during combat, and the dialogue choices allow players to play the Monk how they see fit, with a closed fist, open palm system similar to Mass Effect's paragon and renegade mechanic, and multiple endings depending on players choice. With one ending being that the Spirit Monk makes the ultimate sacrifice, there is no denying that even without player input, they are brave and noble of heart.
4 Hawke
An Underdog Who Rises to the Rank of Champion In Dragon Age 2
Dragon Age 2
- Released
- March 8, 2011
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Dragon Age: Origins introduced players to the Warden, who would go on to be an epic hero who thwarted the Blight. Dragon Age 2 introduces players to Hawke, the eldest sibling in a family that is seeking to escape the blight with their family, fleeing to the safety of Kirkwall.
As the elder sibling, Hawke is saddled with the protection and safety of their family and bears the brunt of their mother's blame when one of their siblings dies during their escape, instantly making players sympathetic to their blight. Yet they never grow bitter, defending and loving their family to the end. Also, they become the Champion Kirkwall, saving the city from the grip of the mad Knight-Commander Meredith. Not bad for an underdog.
3 The Inquisitor
A Heroic Character From Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition
With a foe as powerful and legendary as Corypheus, a hero is needed to match. Enter the Inquisitor, the protagonist of Dragon Age: Inquisition, and the only one capable of stopping his evil machinations. With a breach tearing open between the world of Thedas and the Fade, the home of spirits and demons, the safety and balance of the world is threatened, and a plucky band of heroes led by the player must seal it.
Like previous Dragon Age games, the class, gender, and race of their character can be customized, and dialogue choices determine the 'morality' of the character. But whether they are 'good' or 'bad', one thing is for certain: the Inquisitor is a strong-willed and heroic protagonist that players cannot help but enjoy playing as.
2 The Warden
Multiple Choices of Origins Ensure a Wholly Unique Character In Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age Origins immediately introduces characters to the world of Thedas, and the plight of its denizens when a Blight begins--the awakening of an archdemon and thousands of darkspawn spill over the lands, slaughtering indiscriminately or taking unwitting victims to create more of their ilk. Only the Grey Wardens can stop them, with the player character being one of the few survivors of this now-lost order.
Best Games With Almost Infinite Replayability
Some games are meant to be played once, others are meant to be played forever. These titles are infinitely replayable.
Before they undertake the Joining, players get to choose their race and class which directly impacts the opening hour of gameplay. This makes Origins one of the most replayable games of all time, and having a customizable origin for their character means that players have even more control over what character they want to play, which instantly makes the Warden one of the most likable protagonists of all time.
1 Commander Shepard
The Renown and Battle-Hardened Military Commander Who is the Galaxy's Only Hope In Mass Effect
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Although players get to customize their appearance to their background, Shepard is already an established figure in the Earth's military, with players choosing their backstory and a defining moment in their career that marks them a plucky sole survivor, a noble hero, or a ruthless butcher that can get the job done no matter the cost.
The galaxy's only hope against the unstoppable Reapers, Shepard is everything a sci-fi space opera's main character should be. Skilled, strong, brave but not totally without flaws. After all, Shepard is still human, and the ruthless nature of the war against the Reapers wears even on them. This adds a touch of realism to their character and makes them more relatable, as anyone would struggle in their position.