Dragon Age: The Veilguard may be the most divisive game of 2024, but give the game a fair shot—you might just have a good time with it.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been a somewhat polarizing video game, having created a massive gap in player opinion that leaves little middle ground. While many seem to have enjoyed everything that the game has to offer, just as many have been quick to express their disappointment, leading to heated discussions across the internet.

Ghilan’nain in The Veilguard – Image Credit: BioWare.

Here’s the thing, though. As many within the community would tell you as well, if you’ve enjoyed BioWare’s recent takes on this series, specifically the ones after the first Origins, then it may be worth setting aside all the discourse surrounding the title and giving the game a fair shot after all.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard isn’t as bad as some have made it out to be

Harding and Varric with the Rook – Image Credit: BioWare.

So, the mixed reception surrounding Dragon Age: The Veilguard seems to stem from divided opinions on where the series finds itself within the present day of gaming and what the development team is trying to deliver this time around.

On the one hand, you’ll find people comparing the game favorably to the past entries, specifically citing things like the combat mechanics as major improvements over the predecessors. On the other hand, putting aside the usual “woke stupidity,” you’ll find people criticizing the game’s early storytelling bits, along with dialogue options for Rook as a massive step-down from before.

Now, sure, while most would undoubtedly agree that the writing is pretty bad in a lot of places, as Reddit user WanderingStrang would tell you, there’s a lot to like about this game. Enough to even ignore all the negative reviews for the time being:

To be honest, we agree with the fella. If you’re willing to give it a chance, The Veilguard offers much to admire. The game’s art style genuinely shines once in motion, bringing BioWare’s unique fantasy world to life in ways that grow on you as you explore its diverse environments.

Plus, for those who enjoy epic endings, the final two to three hours are a thrilling gauntlet, showcasing that the team can still deliver powerful, climactic gameplay experiences.

For fans of Inquisition or even Dragon Age II, The Veilguard might be right up your alley, offering a blend of challenging combat, stunning visuals, and well-rounded companions that keep Dragon Age’s spirit alive.

More importantly, all the positive and negative reviews, at the end of the day, are subjective takes on the game and what should or shouldn’t be the studio’s focus. So even if you don’t wish to spend 50 to 100 hours on the game trying to make up your mind on things, ensure that your taste in gaming aligns well with the reviewer you’ll wish to follow.

What does the reception to The Veilguard mean for BioWare’s future?

The Rook with Davrin in Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Image Credit: BioWare.

Whether you love the game or hate it, it’s hard to deny that the reception to The Veilguard has been a little too polarizing than expected, creating a rift within the community about where the studio should take its RPGs in the future.

Such a rift, in our opinion, does beget a thought exercise on what this means for BioWare as a whole and how this game’s wins and failures will affect it in the future.

For instance, when it comes to Mass Effect, Executive Producer Mike Gamble has hinted that the next installment will aim for a more mature tone that reflects the darker elements within that series’ universe.

While this statement indicates that the team is paying close attention to the criticism, especially as the community’s faith wavers over its future direction, where does it leave the people who actually enjoyed the game design that was crafted for The Veilguard?

You can argue that these are wildly different IPs, so it shouldn’t be a problem, but you’d most likely find people who are fans of “BioWare games” and not specifically Mass Effect or Dragon Age due to the design and structural overlap on the role-playing side between the two.

That said, while The Veilguard most certainly deserves a fair shot, it remains to be seen what BioWare’s future holds and whether it will continue to polarize its fans with future games.

But with that out of the way, have you given The Veilguard a try already? What are your thoughts on it so far? Let us know in the comments below!