For decades, BioWare was considered one of the top game developers on the planet. The studio, based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and founded in 1995 by a trio of med school graduates, made its name by crafting deep, well-written RPGs with branching narratives, cinematic cutscenes, consequential player decisions, and Hollywood-level voice acting. In the mid- to late-2000s, BioWare was at the pinnacle of the gaming world, but it didn't last.
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A string of lackluster releases has put a significant blemish on the studio's pedigree. Even though each of those games has offered something that fans can enjoy, it's been over a decade since BioWare released a true-blooded classic, something they were doing every other year at their peak. The recent news of EA's sale to a private investor consortium has raised questions about the potential fate of the many studios under EA's umbrella, including BioWare. With no impending release on the horizon, some feel that the writing is on the wall. However, while they're still operating and (presumably) hard at work on Mass Effect 5, let's take a look at the legacy of BioWare, one of the gaming industry's finest RPG developers, by highlighting the five games that the studio will always be remembered for.
Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows Of Amn
The Rise To Greatness
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
- Released
- September 21, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
While the original Baldur's Gate was a critical and commercial success for BioWare, it was still the studio's debut RPG and second release (following the modestly-received Shattered Steel). To surpass it, the devs at BioWare vowed to take their time, improve their Infinity Engine, and iron out the kinks of their previous D&D-inspired game, and that's exactly what they did. Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn wasn't just a successful sequel when it was released in September 2000; it was hailed as one of the greatest RPGs ever made.
To this day, Baldur's Gate 2 remains the eighth highest-scoring PC game of all time on Metacritic. Its combat was praised for its addictive and satisfying gameplay loop, and the additions of dual-wielding and character customization made each player feel like they were following their own unique story. While these systems are commonplace today, especially when compared to the magnificent Baldur's Gate 3, in 2000, they mechanics were revolutionary. Branching dialogue choices, a good-or-evil morality system, and vast, complex level designs shook the foundations of the RPG world. Baldur's Gate 2 proved that what BioWare had accomplished with Baldur's Gate was no fluke; this was a studio that knew what they were doing when it came to developing top-of-the-line RPGs.
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
Refinement And Innovation
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Released
- July 15, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
In the summer of 2000, even before the smash-hit release of Baldur's Gate 2, BioWare announced that they had partnered with LucasArts to develop a Star Wars RPG. They were given two options: make a game based on Star Wars: Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones, or make a game set 4,000 years in the past, a period that Star Wars had barely explored previously. They chose the latter, mainly because of the creative freedom offered by the setting, and so began the development of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
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To call KOTOR a success would be an understatement. It won numerous Game of the Year awards from reputable publications like IGN, G4, and PC Gamer, among many others. It was hailed as the future of the RPG genre thanks to its accessible learning curve. To this day, few RPGs are revered as highly as Knights of the Old Republic. From its gameplay to its companions, and most of all its story, it set the gaming world on fire. While its systems may have aged today (something that the announced but otherwise absent remake will hopefully address), its story remains one of the finest RPG narratives ever produced.
Mass Effect 2
Magnum Opus
Mass Effect 2
- Released
- January 26, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Third-Person Shooter
The first Mass Effect was not poorly received by any stretch, but it didn't exactly blow the doors off either. The story and character customization earned their fair share of critical praise, but the combat, side quest content, and progression systems were a mixed bag. BioWare took all of that feedback and turned its focus to improving every aspect for the sequel: a bigger story, more side content, and better combat. Game director Casey Hudson reportedly said that they were less interested in developing another game and more interested in developing "an experience." Long story short: mission accomplished.
To this day, Mass Effect 2 is considered by many to be BioWare's best work. Its story is exceptional, loaded with high-stakes action and moving character moments. The combat feels like the perfect blend of a third-person cover shooter and a mechanically deep RPG. The companion quests are stellar across the board, setting the standard not only for future BioWare games, but for future RPGs the world over. It all culminates in what many consider the greatest final level in any video game. There are very few games where everything comes together as perfectly as it did in Mass Effect 2, and it's representative of one of the industry's finest RPG developers working at the height of its power.
Dragon Age: Origins
Perfecting The Genre
Dragon Age: Origins
- Released
- November 3, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Technically speaking, Dragon Age: Origins is a spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, but from its design to its world-building, it quickly sets itself apart from BioWare's other fantasy RPG series. For one, it's no longer isometric (although the option to switch to that perspective is available), instead opting for a pseudo-third-person perspective that's pulled back from what's seen in most third-person shooters. Combat isn't quite in real time; instead, it's similar to the system used in KOTOR, but a bit more active, with players issuing orders, activating and targeting skills, and then watching it all play out. The option to pause combat at any time is also present, allowing for a more tactical approach to gameplay.
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The main draw, however, is the story. The fully-voiced cast of excellently-written characters shines in every moment, and player decisions come with tangible, long-lasting consequences that are often unforeseen and always have an impact both on the protagonist and the game world. It's not just considered by fans to be the best Dragon Age game; for many, it's one of the greatest RPGs ever made. Regardless of whether BioWare managed to hit these same highs again in future series installments or not, it's impossible to look at Dragon Age: Origins as anything other than a triumph of the RPG genre.
Anthem
The Fall From Grace
Anthem
- Released
- February 22, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
Even though BioWare had long ago established that its strength was rooted in developing single-player RPGs, EA had caught the live-service bug, and they were looking for a cure made by one of their premier in-house studios. That studio ended up being BioWare. While the mismatch was obvious to anyone with a passing knowledge of the developer and the genre it was saddled with, production on Anthem pushed ahead undeterred. Well, maybe not entirely "undeterred."
Anthem's development troubles are well-documented. From uncertainty about what the game's primary mechanics would be (flying was only introduced as a last-minute idea) to a lack of any hallmarks of BioWare's previous successes, the shoe simply never found a way to fit the foot. The flying mechanics are objectively fantastic, and those alone make picking up the game before the servers go offline in January 2026 worthwhile. Unfortunately, everything else, from progression to narrative to loot to end-game content, is severely lacking. Anthem was a major flop, the first since BioWare was little more than a fledgling studio, and it marked the beginning of a major tailspin that the studio has yet to recover from. As stellar as the majority of BioWare's legacy is, the release of Anthem marked a turning point for the studio that may eventually spell its end. We can only hope that one of the gaming industry's all-time greats finds a way to pick itself up, dust itself off, and return to what made it so successful for so long.
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