On October 31, Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be released for PC, PS5, and Xbox. The role-playing game has a long history with many predecessors and spin-offs but is also set to attract new players. But do they even understand what’s going on?
This is how big Dragon Age is:
- Before The Veilguard, there were already 3 previous parts of Dragon Age. The first part, Origin, was released back in 2009.
- In addition to the main series games, there are numerous spin-offs as well as a pen & paper and even action figures.
- In 2022, there was even a Dragon Age series on Netflix called Absolution.
Do I need to know all the predecessors? Generally, no. Each Dragon Age before could stand alone, and it will be the same with The Veilguard. Although we can’t say anything about the contents yet, the developers have already talked about the player experience.
In the interview with IGN, Game Director Corinne Busche explains that “new players shouldn’t feel like” they’ve missed out on anything. Accordingly, you likely won’t need any prior knowledge to enjoy The Veilguard at least.
However, it’s a different story if you want to understand all the connections or recognize the importance of certain characters. Because that only works if you know the world – and it’s vast.
You can already check out detailed gameplay here:
Veterans get to see something, but new players shouldn’t “miss anything”
Dragon Age has been building a continuous world since 2009 that you can shape as a player yourself. Every decision you make in the games affects not only that part itself but also its successors.
BioWare speaks here of the “world state,” which you can track when you link your saves to your EA account. In the Dragon Age Keep, you’ll find a tapestry where certain facts are recorded, such as:
- Which characters are still alive?
- How did you handle certain situations?
- Who has reached which position or is in a relationship?
These events are significant in shaping the world. To have the full experience for The Veilguard, some players are currently speedrunning through all predecessors to have their own world state and know what has happened.
Moreover, you’ll encounter many characters from the past. For example, Solas plays a significant role, who is introduced as an antagonist in The Veilguard. Two characters, Varric and Harding, also appear, whom you might know from earlier parts – but without the knowledge, you won’t have any connection to them.
Additionally, there’s information about the elf gods you’ll be fighting against or the factions that appear in The Veilguard. If you’re not familiar with Dragon Age, you’ll be missing a lot of background to get excited about certain details.
In The Veilguard you create your own past
However, all of this mainly applies to the details of the game. The Veilguard takes place in a completely different part of the Dragon Age world. The developers emphasize: The south of the first three parts is one matter. The north of The Veilguard is a completely different one.
That’s why, for the first time in the history of Dragon Age, you won’t be able to import saves, meaning no world state. You reshape the world during character creation, with several choices (via The Gamer).
In the end, it comes down to what exactly you want from The Veilguard. If you just want to enjoy a role-playing game, you can safely skip the predecessors. If you’re interested in the world, you can always catch up.
However, if you want to experience a complete epic, with a vast world, its backgrounds, and an enormous lore, it is advisable to play the first three parts beforehand or at least read a summary of the events. In the first hours, dedicated fans like our Head of Editorial Rae Grimm are definitely very enthusiastic: After 7 hours of gameplay, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is everything I’ve ever loved about BioWare
