Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is an action RPG from BioWare, the fourth installment in the long-running fantasy series, in which the player, as the leader of the Veilguard group, confronts the awakening of two ancient gods who have escaped their prison and threaten the entire world of Thedas as well as the connected realm of spirits. The combat system is faster and significantly more action-oriented than in previous entries, built on combos between the player's abilities and those of the two actively selected companions from a roster of seven party members overall, who can be combined with each other in battle for effective cooperation and special joint attacks, while the player's own character combines one of three classes with an optional skill specialization and equipment tailored to their preferred combat style.

On PlayStation 5, the game offers visually elaborate environments and characters with an emphasis on bold, stylized graphics that move away from the more realistic approach of previous series entries, a branching dialogue system with the ability to influence relationships with the party, and decisions that affect the fate of individual factions and cities across the continent of Thedas. At the start, the player creates their own character, including their origin and profession, which is reflected both in the reactions of the surrounding world and in the available dialogue options during conversations. The music and sound design underscore the epic scope of the story, which follows on from the events of the series' previous entries as well as the companion animated series Absolution.

Veilguard sparked mixed reactions among long-time fans upon release due to its departure from the darker tone of previous entries toward a more accessible and more colorful action-oriented approach, while new audiences appreciated the fluidity of combat and the quality of the written companions. Today it is seen as a distinctive, if debated, attempt by BioWare to revive the Dragon Age brand for a new generation of players after years of protracted and repeatedly redirected development of the entire project.

Why play it: For players open to a more accessible and more colorful take on the series with fluid combat and well-written companions, even though long-time fans may miss the darker tone of previous entries.