Summary
- New Dragon Age companions provide fresh dynamics, like with Neve and Bellara's endearing friendship.
- The bond between Alistair and Wynne showcases a maternal figure guiding a soldier with a heart of gold.
- Unlikely friendships, such as Sera and Blackwall's banter, add depth and enjoyment to Dragon Age games.
The Dragon Age series is another famed and beloved franchise from BioWare, who gamers might know as the developers behind Mass Effect, and other RPGs. They are no strangers to the world of fantasy, as they handled the development of the first two Baldur's Gate games, so expectations were high for Dragon Age.
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Fortunately, they succeeded, creating what is for the most part a highly successful franchise, each game populated by a colorful cast of characters. Adventuring and saving the world together, these parties often result in strong friendships that are guaranteed to last a lifetime for both the characters, and indeed the player.
7 Bellara Lutare and Neve Gallus (Dragon Age: The Veilguard)
Bellara Might Just Be Neve's Biggest Fan
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
- Released
- October 31, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
A new Dragon Age game means new companions, and Veilguard treated fans to some truly fascinating and intriguing companions very different to what they have seen from BioWare in the past. Normally, the companions they pick up along the way aren't really known, but this changed with Neve, who has a bit of fame around her, something which Bellara fan-girls about when they first have a proper chat.
Their dynamic does change and strengthen throughout the game. Although Bellara continues to idolize Neve, a friendship does grow, which is quite endearing to see. There is a bit of chemistry between the two, but they never enter a romance, which isn't a bad thing, as now players get to witness a heart-warming platonic bond instead.
6 Alistair Theirin and Wynne (Dragon Age: Origins)
Wynne is Something of a Maternal Figure to Alistair
Dragon Age: Origins
- Released
- November 3, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
Dragon Age: Origins was the first and perhaps the most popular game in the franchise, which involves the newest Grey Warden assembling a team and gathering an army to face the looming threat of the Blight head-on. They are joined by another Grey Warden by the name of Alistair, a wise-cracking soldier with a heart of gold. His nature does grind against other characters in the party, such as Morrigan, but he gets along famously with senior mage Wynne.
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The age difference doesn't stop the two from engaging in conversations which almost seem akin to a mother gently chiding her son who never cleans his room properly. Considering how complex Alistair's family life is, a stable figure like Wynne might just be what he needs in life, and she seems all too content to play mother hen to the Warden and to Alistair.
5 Isabela and Merrill (Dragon Age 2)
Isabela is like a Caring Big Sister to Merrill
Dragon Age 2
- Released
- March 8, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Content, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, macOS
Poor Merrill seems like a fish out of water when she moves from the Dalish camp to the alienage inside Kirkwall, but fortunately for Merrill, she is not completely alone, as she has a friend in the charming rogue Isabela. It is an unlikely friendship as both girls are basically polar opposites, but this might be why their dynamic work so well.
Isabela fondly refers to her as kitten whenever a conversation seems to strike up between the two, and is somewhat of a bad influence by doing things such as teaching her to gamble, but Isabela's heart is in the right place, and Merill is more than willing to spend time with her, and pick up a trick or two.
4 Dorian Pavus and Iron Bull (Dragon Age: Inquisition)
Friends or Potentially Even More
Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Released
- November 18, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
Inquisition brought in some truly fantastic and interesting characters, some of which could form bonds outside of those with the main character, just like the previous games. Two of these characters in Inquisition are Dorian Pavus and Iron Bull. Like other companions, they will engage in some light-hearted banter which is honestly one of the highlights of Dragon Age games, helping to fill in the time between fights and story progression.
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What's more, if the Inquisitor romances neither Iron Bull nor Dorian, the two will eventually develop a more romantic bond, but this does take time to come to fruition, so until that time, players can enjoy the light-hearted friendship between the two.
3 Blackwall and Sera (Dragon Age: Inquisition)
An Unlikely but Likable Friendship
Sera is one of the most unique companions players will ever encounter in the entire franchise, as she does have an odd outlook on the world, and is very much unabashedly her eccentric humorous self, and then there is Blackwall, a character far more grounded and even brooding. It would seem like these two would butt heads, or barely acknowledge each other's existences just because of how different they are.
Instead, it would seem the two enjoy a bit of banter and even a casual workplace friendship, unlikely as it would seem. Blackwall never quite understands Sera, which he himself admits, and yet the two get on famously, resulting in some of the best bits of banter in Inquisition. It is strange, yet their friendship works so well, and makes players want to drag them on every quest just to see what they might talk about next.
2 The Warden and Morrigan
Morrigan Can Eventually Open up to the Possibility of Friendship
Morrigan is one of the most instrumental characters in Dragon Age: Origins, as without her intervention the Warden can potentially die in the final fight against the Archdemon. She is recruited fairly early into the game at her mothers behest, which is something she clearly isn't all too happy about. She is also quite unhappy about Alistair's mere presence, and if the player chooses to do any good deeds, but that isn't to say Morrigan is completely cold.
With enough gifts given and correct dialogue options, the player can eventually worm their way into Morrigan's heart and become what might just be her first and only friend. She can even go on to say she thinks of the Warden as family, showing just how much she cares for them, and how deep their bond runs. Morrigan makes the player work for it, but this makes the friendship even more rewarding when it comes to fruition.
1 Varric Tethras and Hawke (Dragon Age 2)
Varric Immediately Becomes an Important Figure to Hawke
Varric is just one of those people that one can't help but love, and that seems to be a sentiment Hawke agrees with, as they two have a strong bond of friendship. Captured by the Seeker by the name of Cassandra, Varric does indeed decide to tell the entire sordid tale of Hawke's exploits in the city of Kirkwall, albeit a little reluctantly, and does occasionally sew in embellishments and little mistruths which is not only in his character to do so, but likely also an attempt to cover for his friend.
Throughout the entire time the two knew each other. Varric does indeed show he cares about Hawke by warning them about certain characters they may be showing a romantic interest in, and is always ready to travel with Hawke, armed with his trusty crossbow Bianca. The first time they ever meet, Varric saves Hawke from a pickpocket with finesse, so players immediately know this is a guy who will always have their back.
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