After being in development for nearly a decade, BioWare's latest game, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, was finally released last year. This new addition to the long-running Dragon Age series was, without a doubt, one of the most controversial releases of 2024. After releasing a handful of poorly received games, such as Anthem and Mass Effect: Andromeda, many were hoping that BioWare would be able to reclaim the RPG throne with Dragon Age: The Veilguard, but unfortunately, that didn't end up being the case. Although the game was met with solid critic reviews, far higher than BioWare's recent titles, its reception among players was quite meager.
On Steam, Dragon Age: The Veilguard currently has a 69% Mixed user score, which is lower than that of previous Dragon Age installments. To make matters worse, according to publisher EA, the game sold around 1.5 million copies, which was 50% below the company's expectations. Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been criticized for lots of things, from its limited player choice to its writing quality, but one of the biggest issues with the game is the fact that it's unapproachable to newcomers, something that other RPGs, like Avowed and The Elder Scrolls 6, don't suffer from.
Mass Effect 4 Still Has Time to Outdo Dragon Age: The Veilguard in One Area
After the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Mass Effect is presumably next, and it could still beat the former in one important way.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Isn't As Newcomer-Friendly As Avowed and The Elder Scrolls 6
DA: The Veilguard, Avowed, and TES 6 Are All New Entries in Once-Dormant IPs
Aside from being part of the same genre, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Avowed, and The Elder Scrolls 6 all have one thing in common: they're new installments in long-dormant franchises. Dragon Age: The Veilguard came out about a decade after the last game in its respective series, Dragon Age: Inquisition, was released. Meanwhile, Avowed made its debut on Xbox Series X/S and Windows PC roughly seven years after the launch of Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, which it shares a universe with. The Elder Scrolls 6, on the other hand, isn't even out yet, but by the time it is released, more than 14 years will have passed since the launch of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
Avowed and TES 6 Are Games With Self-Contained Stories Instead of Direct Sequels
It's always exciting to see new entries in inactive franchises, but the one problem they often face is that they're typically unfriendly towards new players, especially when it comes to narrative-driven titles. Avowed and, in particular, the upcoming The Elder Scrolls 6 do have some workarounds to this issue, though. Even though Avowed is set in the same world as Pillars of Eternity 1 and 2, it has no direct connection to either game story-wise. Since it's technically a Pillars of Eternity spin-off, it can be enjoyed whether or not one has prior knowledge of its predecessors. Plus, anyone who's unfamiliar with the lore of Pillars of Eternity can easily look up any relevant information in Avowed's in-game glossary, which can be accessed during any conversation.
Very little is known about The Elder Scrolls 6, but it will likely be as approachable towards newcomers as Avowed is. Judging by the history of the series, the game will probably have an entirely new, self-contained story instead of serving as a direct sequel to The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. None of the modern mainline Elder Scrolls games are directly connected story-wise, so they can be played in any order. The same will likely apply to The Elder Scrolls 6, whenever it does come out.
DA: The Veilguard Being a Sequel to a 10-Year-Old Game Likely Hindered Its Success
Unlike Avowed and The Elder Scrolls 6, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is fairly reliant on its predecessors from a story perspective. BioWare's latest RPG is basically a direct continuation of Dragon Age: Inquisition, set ten years after the events of the game. Although Dragon Age: The Veilguard can technically be experienced without prior knowledge of the Dragon Age series, its story will make a lot more sense to those who have played Inquisition. Since it doesn't contain the in-game glossary that Avowed had and isn't a completely standalone experience like most Elder Scrolls titles are, new players were sort of alienated by Dragon Age: The Veilguard's narrative, which potentially impacted the game's overall success.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 71%
- Released
- October 31, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.
Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
- Genre(s)
- RPG
