The Dragon Age series of fantasy role-playing video games, developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, is one of the most popular and acclaimed RPG franchises of the past decade. Set in the fictional world of Thedas, the games allow players to create their own customized protagonist and lead them through epic adventures filled with intriguing characters, impactful choices, and thrilling combat. But for those new to the series, a common question arises: which Dragon Age game was released first? In this article, we will explore the origins of the franchise and determine the inaugural title in BioWare’s dark fantasy saga.
Overview of the Dragon Age Series
The Dragon Age series currently consists of three major installments:
- Dragon Age: Origins (2009)
- Dragon Age II (2011)
- Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014)
In addition, the series has spawned media tie-ins such as books, comics, and web series. Set in the world of Thedas, each game typically focuses on a major crisis that threatens the land. The player controls a customized protagonist, the last of an ancient order called the Grey Wardens in Origins, a refugee rising to wealth and power in II, and the survivor of a cataclysmic event in Inquisition. Through their actions, dialog choices, and relationships with companions, the player shapes the overarching narrative and determines the fate of Thedas.
Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Origins is the first game in the series, serving as its foundation and introducing players to many of its core concepts, lore, locations, and characters. Initially unveiled in 2004 under the working title “Dragon Age”, it was released worldwide in November 2009 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. It was later ported to Mac OS X in December 2011. Origins establishes many signature aspects of the franchise, including:
- The dark fantasy setting of Thedas
- The conflict between mages and templars
- The monstrous darkspawn and their connection to the demonic Blight
- The prestigious Grey Warden order
- Moral ambiguity and political intrigue
- Player choice driving the narrative
- A party system with companion characters
Origins received widespread critical acclaim upon release, with praise directed at its compelling narrative, strategic combat, freedom of choice, characters, voice acting, and setting. It is considered one of the best RPGs of its time and a crucial foundation for the Dragon Age series.
Answering the Question: Which Dragon Age Game Came First?
Given the above overview, the answer is clear:
Dragon Age: Origins is the first game in the Dragon Age series.
Released worldwide in November 2009, it establishes the world of Thedas, Grey Wardens, darkspawn, and other essential franchise elements. It lays the groundwork for future games through its introduction of places, cultures, characters, lore, and gameplay systems. Origins’ critical and commercial success paved the way for the subsequent mainline sequels Dragon Age II and Inquisition, additional media tie-ins, and the series’ popularity today. For these reasons, there is no doubt that Origins marks the genesis of the Dragon Age franchise.
The Development and Release of Dragon Age: Origins
To provide more context around Origins being the inaugural Dragon Age game, let’s take a closer look at its development and release:
Initial Development
- Origins was first known as “Dragon Age” during early production, making the “Origins” subtitle clear in retrospect.
- Development began in 2002 under the code name “Project Sally.”
- The project was unveiled as Dragon Age in 2004, advertised as a spiritual successor to BioWare’s Baldur’s Gate series.
- BioWare co-founders Drs. Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk were executive producers.
- The game runs on a modified version of the Eclipse Engine, technology originally created for a different cancelled RPG.
Features and Gameplay
- Party-based gameplay with six playable origin stories for the protagonist.
- Pauseable real-time combat emphasizing strategy and tactics.
- Morality system tracking the protagonist’s reputation.
- Romance options with companions, impacted by past choices.
- Full voice acting for major characters.
- Epic fantasy story spanning nations and races across Thedas.
Pre-Release Hype
- The game received significant pre-release coverage from major gaming publications.
- Multiple trailers and demoes were shown at events like E3, generating buzz.
- BioWare emphasized deep lore and tactical combat to appeal to classic RPG fans.
- They positioned the game as a narrative-focused spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate, their classic PC RPG series.
Release and Reception
- Dragon Age: Origins launched worldwide in November 2009.
- It received high review scores, averaging around 90/100 from critics.
- Praise focused on the intricate world, customization, meaningful choices, characters, and tactical combat.
- Fan reception was similarly positive, drawn in by the dark heroic fantasy.
- Origins was considered a RPG of the Year contender by many outlets.
- With over 1 million sales in less than six weeks, the game was deemed a commercial success.
This background on the initial development, hype cycle, launch, and reception shows that Origins was unambiguously the first Dragon Age title.
The Legacy of Dragon Age: Origins
As the inaugural entry in the franchise, Dragon Age: Origins would go on to have a significant legacy that persists throughout the series today:
- Established the world of Thedas and many core elements of Dragon Age lore and factions.
- Introduced fan-favorite companions like Morrigan, Alistair, and Leliana.
- Created the darkspawn and emphasized Grey Wardens as central heroes.
- Solidified series pillars like player choice, customization, and epic fantasy storytelling.
- Received significant critical praise and strong sales, proving the viability of Dragon Age as a major RPG franchise.
- Paved the way for Dragon Age to become a multimedia property across games, books, comics, and web series.
Without the success of Origins, Dragon Age may have never reached the heights it has today across various media. Origins’ accomplishments make it clear the game was the crucial genesis point of the property.
Dragon Age: Origins’ Lasting Impact on the Series
To further illustrate Dragon Age: Origins’ status as the first title in the franchise, let’s examine some of its most important long-term impacts on the sequels:
Thedas
Origins fleshed out many areas of the continent Thedas that remain relevant across the whole series. Locations like Denerim, Redcliffe, and Orzammar immerse players in different nations and cultures. Factions introduced including the Circle of Magi, Chantry, dwarven kingdoms, Dalish elves and others are constantly referenced. This worldbuilding provided an invaluable base.
Grey Wardens
As the protagonists of Origins, the legendary Grey Wardens were established as central heroes of Thedas, with detailed lore around the tainted darkspawn blood in Wardens granting powers and a grim sacrifice. Their role fighting Blights anchors future stories.
Characters
Fan favorites like Leliana, Morrigan, Alistair, Zevran and others debuted in Origins and appear across later titles, books and other media. Their origins are tied to the first game.
Gameplay Systems
Origins introduced signature elements of Dragon Age gameplay like its tactical pause-and-play combat, dialogue wheel, relationship approval ratings for companions, skill trees, inventory management, and loot system of collecting ever more powerful gear. These would become gameplay pillars reused and iterated on in sequels.
Save Imports
One concrete way Origins impacted sequel canon is Dragon Age II and Inquisition allowing players to import saves from previous games, with narrative details like Hawke’s origin changing based on the Origins protagonist. This import functionality provides continuity.
These lasting influences and connections confirm Origins’ status as the original foundation of the Dragon Age franchise.
Conclusion
In summary:
- Dragon Age: Origins was the first game released in the Dragon Age series, debuting in November 2009.
- It established crucial worldbuilding, lore, characters and gameplay systems that persists throughout the franchise today.
- Origins received widespread acclaim from critics and fans, cementing Dragon Age as a major RPG franchise.
- Elements like Grey Wardens, Thedas locations, companions and progression systems were foundational for subsequent games.
- Its success paved the way for the franchise to expand into sequels, books, comics and web series.
- There is no doubt that Origins was the genesis point that launched the Dragon Age universe.
For all these reasons, there is only one accurate answer: Dragon Age: Origins is definitively the first game in the acclaimed dark fantasy series. Its creation marks the big bang that gave rise to the franchise we know today. Origins will forever occupy a special place as the inaugural entry that started it all.
