This review will be quite personal (and honestly, a bit of a heart-to-heart) because Dragon Age: Origins is a game I can confidently place in the top five of my all-time favorites. And as someone who’s been gaming for over twenty years, that says a lot.

Origins was a game I played obsessively during my high school years, and it was the first game to introduce me to the CRPG genre. It exposed me to so many new concepts and systems, and in a way, it changed the way I view games. Thanks to this game, my horizons expanded, and I discovered a genre that would become one of my favorites for years to come. On top of that, since it came out during my high school years, Origins also triggers a lot of personal memories. In 2011, while everyone else was playing Skyrim, I was still late to the party but having an amazing time with Origins, and it’s something I can’t fully explain. My life back then, my family, friends, school—whenever I think of Origins, all of it comes rushing back. We all have that one (or a few) games that bring on a wave of nostalgia, right? The ones that take you back to a simpler time. Origins is one of those games for me.

Now, fifteen years later, I wanted to give this classic a second try, from a modern perspective, to see if it was still as great as I remembered or if I was simply overly impressed back then. The answer is simple: I was right to be so impressed. Origins is truly an exceptional game.

It’s a masterpiece from one of the best CRPG studios of its time, BioWare, and it shows in every aspect of the game. The game feels like it was crafted by artists who are masters of their craft, and it doesn’t hide it. The dialogue, the story, the characters, the music (Inon Zur really outdid even himself on this one), the atmosphere, and the overall aura of the game are nothing short of fantastic. While the gameplay and graphics might feel a bit dated today, they don’t stick out in a negative way—and in fact, they still hold up quite well. The level design, character progression, skills, items, and even the interface are so well done and engaging. In short, the game is a complete package. It would easily rank among the top of the best CRPGs ever made. Considering BioWare’s current state (especially with Veilguard) and looking at what Baldur's Gate III achieved last year by building on Origins' formula, it’s almost ironic how things turned out.

In conclusion, if you’re an RPG fan, you’ve probably already played DA: Origins. But if, for some reason, you haven’t had the chance yet, please do give it a try. You won’t regret it.

PS: Should you choose to give it a try, be sure to enhance your experience by following a good modding guide to make the game even better. Cohh's mod guide from his latest playthrough is a decent starting point.

This review will be quite personal (and honestly, a bit of a heart-to-heart) because Dragon Age: Origins is a game I can confidently place in the top five of my all-time favorites. And as someone who’s been gaming for over twenty years, that says a lot. Origins was a game I played obsessively during my high school years, and it was the first game to introduce me to the CRPG genre. It exposed me to so many new concepts and systems, and in a way, it changed the way I view games. Thanks to this game, my horizons expanded, and I discovered a genre that would become one of my favorites for years to come. On top of that, since it came out during my high school years, Origins also triggers a lot of personal memories. In 2011, while everyone else was playing Skyrim, I was still late to the party but having an amazing time with Origins, and it’s something I can’t fully explain. My life back then, my family, friends, school—whenever I think of Origins, all of it comes rushing back. We all have that one (or a few) games that bring on a wave of nostalgia, right? The ones that take you back to a simpler time. Origins is one of those games for me. Now, fifteen years later, I wanted to give this classic a second try, from a modern perspective, to see if it was still as great as I remembered or if I was simply overly impressed back then. The answer is simple: I was right to be so impressed. Origins is truly an exceptional game. It’s a masterpiece from one of the best CRPG studios of its time, BioWare, and it shows in every aspect of the game. The game feels like it was crafted by artists who are masters of their craft, and it doesn’t hide it. The dialogue, the story, the characters, the music (Inon Zur really outdid even himself on this one), the atmosphere, and the overall aura of the game are nothing short of fantastic. While the gameplay and graphics might feel a bit dated today, they don’t stick out in a negative way—and in fact, they still hold up quite well. The level design, character progression, skills, items, and even the interface are so well done and engaging. In short, the game is a complete package. It would easily rank among the top of the best CRPGs ever made. Considering BioWare’s current state (especially with Veilguard) and looking at what Baldur's Gate III achieved last year by building on Origins' formula, it’s almost ironic how things turned out. In conclusion, if you’re an RPG fan, you’ve probably already played DA: Origins. But if, for some reason, you haven’t had the chance yet, please do give it a try. You won’t regret it. PS: Should you choose to give it a try, be sure to enhance your experience by following a good modding guide to make the game even better. Cohh's mod guide from his latest playthrough is a decent starting point.