The Most Selfless Characters In BioWare Games, Ranked

BioWare is a long-running game studio that has been responsible for some of gaming history's greatest hits, from the Dungeons and Dragons-themed Baldur's Gate, the fantastic Star Wars experience Knights of the Old Republic, to their own original IPs such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age. These games are heralded for their immersive and in-depth storylines, fun gameplay, and memorable cast of characters.

BioWare is adept at crafting multi-faceted characters with true and honest depth, personal motivations and goals, unique personalities, and in some cases, hearts of gold. Despite the perils of the world they are in, there are characters who live with the utmost selflessness.

7 Water Dragon (Jade Empire)

A Deity Who Uses Her Powers for Good

When it comes to those holding the rank of godhood, they are usually one of two ways: evil deities who wish to spread discourse and strife, or good ones who only wish to aid and serve mortals. The Water Dragon in Jade Empire is the latter, responsible for water distribution and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Human morals may not be applicable to gods because of the power they have at their fingertips, but still, it would not be wholly incorrect to call the Water Dragon selfless. She aids the player character on their quest, reviving them and even granting them power to increase their likelihood of success.

6 Alistair Theirin (Dragon Age: Origins)

Is Willing to Make the Ultimate Sacrifice

Dragon Age: Origins started the Dragon Age series off with a bang. Creatures known as darkspawn surged up to the surface, spreading their deadly blight across the land, killing thousands, and razing entire villages to the ground. A military order known as the Grey Wardens are the only ones capable of stopping them, but there are only two left in the entire game, the playable character and the illegitimate royal heir, Alistair Theirin.

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Throughout the game, Alistair proves himself as one of the most good-natured members of the party, approving of all the morally correct decisions made, and is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice if he is in love with the Warden, showing the depth of his love and selflessness.

5 Varric Tethras (Dragon Age 2)

A Confidant and Mediator to the Other Companions

The city of Kirkwall was home to many dubious characters, especially the underbelly filled with criminals, but that is not to say it is without its share of selfless and good-natured folk, with Varric Tethras among them.

This charming and witty rogue swaggers onto the scene, crossbowing a pickpocket in their tracks and returning Hawke their pilfered gold. This already set the stage for him as a good character, and as time went on, this reputation only strengthened. He was affable to all of the other companions in the party when bickering was a near constant among them and acted as a confidant to those who needed someone to confide in him. His selflessness lies in the care he demonstrates for each of his traveling companions.

4 Minsc (Baldur's Gate)

Perfects the Art of Purity

One of the recurring characters in the Baldur's Gate series, Minsc became one of the most popular, either due to his acting as a polished moral compass, his boundless and absurd witticism, or his adorable hamster companion named Boo, who is never too far from the ranger.

His alignment is listed as neutral good, and he embodies the values thoroughly in each game, never afraid to throw himself head-first into the fray to save others, especially the hero. Anyone would be grateful to have someone as selfless as Minsc in their corner, as they know they would have a fierce friend and protector, and he may even encourage them to be better as a person.

3 Hawke (Dragon Age 2)

An Ordinary Person Saddled with the Weight of a City

Dragon Age: Origins had players starting out with the lofty title of Grey Warden, whereas in Dragon Age 2, players begin their journey as just Hawke: eldest child, sibling, and refugee fleeing from the blight. They find refuge in Kirkwall, even with the simmering politics threatening to boil over to the citizens.

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As the elder sibling, Hawke is saddled with a lot of responsibility and is even blamed for the death of their brother or sister at the start of the game. Hawke constantly prioritized the safety of their family above their own, and eventually the well-being of the city as a whole. The title of champion was bestowed on them, proof of their heroism and selflessness.

2 Mordin Solus (Mass Effect 3)

Saves an Entire Species from Certain Extinction

In Mass Effect lore, the Krogan were infected by a bioweapon known as the genophage, designed to reduce birth rates to even the odds of a war that predated the events of the Mass Effect trilogy. But with the galaxy in danger, Krogan support is needed, and there is one character more than happy to undo an old wrong: Mordin Solus.

Mordin is a brilliant scientist introduced as a campaign in Mass Effect 2, and came back as a character in the third and final game, intent on curing the genophage his people were responsible for, and he himself modified. Mordin knows that curing the genophage will be a death sentence, and yet he is determined to be the one who does it, proving that despite any past sins, he is still a selfless hero.

1 Commander Shepard (Mass Effect)

Risks Life and Limb for Others

Image via BioWare

With an entire galaxy and billions of lives under threat, loss is a constant tragedy in the Mass Effect trilogy, and one Shepard becomes accustomed to, witnessing more than their fair share of death. Their own companions and friends, or even innocents like in Mass Effect 3, are killed or willing to sacrifice themselves to save others.

Command Shepard certainly proves themselves the latter on more than one occasion, dying to ensure every crew member escapes the Normandy at the start of Mass Effect 2, and willing to die for the entire galaxy in Mass Effect 3 should the player choose the destroy ending. Nearly every second of Shepard's life aboard the Normandy is dedicated to trying to prepare the galaxy against the impending Reaper threat, even when those in charge refuse to believe them. Even as a Renegade, Shepard truly holds a selfless nature, trying to save the lives of everybody.