10 years later, Dragon Age: The Veilguard's release marks the return of an RPG series that made a lasting impact on my life

Oct. 31, 2024

Opinion | Dragon Age is back after a decade and it’s got me reflecting back on a series so close to my heart

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It’s been a long time coming, but The Veilguard is at last here, bringing with it a decade of emotion to the forefront. It’s at last taking me back to a world that’s never been far from my mind, and continues to capture my imagination and heal my heart.

Thank the Maker

I grew up playing games from an early age, but nothing has had quite as much of an impact on me as Dragon Age. The series drew me into engrossing storylines, introduced me to characters I fell head over heels for, and opened me up to the wonders of the RPG genre. With rich lore, incredibly detailed worldbuilding, and memorable romances, each entry set in Thedas has consumed me like nothing else; there are corners of my brain and heart reserved for the series since Origins. While all of these ingredients work together to create unforgettable adventures, my love for the series also comes from a much deeper and more personal place.

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Each game has gotten me through some of the most difficult times in my life, and it continues to help me in smaller ways. Dragon Age 2, for example, came during a period of huge change. Having just started university when the Mark of the Assassins DLC released, I returned to the second entry constantly. Feeling lost away from home, I was still also grappling with my sexuality back then, and it was the first game that really allowed me to understand my own feelings as a bisexual woman through characters like Isabela. A line Anders says when he speaks about his relationship with a male mage was one that I also needed so much to hear at that point: “Why would you shy away from loving someone just because they’re like you?”.

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As we inched closer to release this year, I saw the community come alive again, brought together by a shared passion for the series. From theorizing over every small detail in updates, trailers, concept art, and screenshots, to cheering on newcomers who were experiencing the previous games for the first time to prepare for Veilguard, the new Dragon Age adventure served to remind me why I love and care about games. They have the power to move your heart and bring people together, and for all the hardships this industry is going through right now, it can be all too easy to forget that. It’s what Dragon Age has always done for me over the years, and it’s continuing to do so now as we step back into Thedas.

See our breakdown of theDragon Age timeline, story, and lore.

I started out writing for the games section of a student-run website as an undergrad, and continued to write about games in my free time during retail and temp jobs for a number of years. Eventually, I earned an MA in magazine journalism at Cardiff University, and soon after got my first official role in the industry as a content editor for Stuff magazine. After writing about all things tech and games-related, I then did a brief stint as a freelancer before I landed my role as a staff writer here at GamesRadar+. Now I get to write features, previews, and reviews, and when I’m not doing that, you can usually find me lost in any one of the Dragon Age or Mass Effect games, tucking into another delightful indie, or drinking far too much tea for my own good.

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