Dive Into RPGs with the Best BioWare Games

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Now, this list isn’t published in any particular order, but it only seems fitting that KOTOR take the lead. This famously unparalleled Star Wars story whisks players back thousands of years before the Skywalker Saga. The galaxy is in a state of chaos after the Jedi order fell into civil war. And the Republic is bombarded on all sides by the elusive Sith Lord, Darth Malak. Quite literally waking in the middle of a war, the player takes control of a hand-crafted character, venturing the galaxy. Along the way, they’ll visit iconic planets like Tatooine, Kashyyyk, and Korriban. And they’ll travel alongside a host of new and unforgettable companion characters.

Of course, being a 2003 title, KOTOR isn’t perfect. Especially not when it comes to controls and combat style. Anytime the player enters a fight, the game pauses to allow them the chance to preemptively set several actions. And while this style works well enough for games like Dragon Age, it seems somewhat out of place in the fast-paced Star Wars universe. Especially since the available number of actions to choose aren’t always plentiful. Naturally, the graphics are also somewhat out-of-date at this point. But with a story as intriguing as KOTOR brings to the table, players can easily forgive this aspect.

Overall, KOTOR is one of BioWare’s most appreciated titles. So much so that fans have demanded a modern remake for years. Fortunately, Aspyr studios is in the process of delivering a newer version of this classic RPG. So, Star Wars fans will have the opportunity to embark on this massive adventure in a brand new way.

Mass Effect

BioWare or not, any list of best RPGs would be incomplete without mentioning Mass Effect. This controversial 2007 title throws players into the shoes of Commander Shepard, the first human Spectre of the Citadel Council. The adventure begins in 2183, thirty years after humans first made contact with alien species. And through a series of events, Shepard is thrown into the middle of a grand conspiracy involving another Spectre agent. Amassing a team of talented individuals, the player must travel an expansive galaxy to unravel the mystery.

This third-person shooter has enough lore packed into it to rival some of the most iconic titles. And the large, open-world map allows players to traverse the Milky Way and discover beautiful, diverse settings. However, the game isn’t without it’s pitfalls. Sometimes, the lengthy cut scenes make it seem like the player is watching a movie rather than playing an RPG. And the time between combat or action of any sort can easily elongate when trying to build relationships with NPCs. But the level of player choice in Mass Effect is extraordinary. And events throughout the series are determinable by decisions made early on in the game. So, it’s clear to see why this title lands on the list of best BioWare games. If for no other reason than to experience a massive, story-driven RPG, gamers should check out this title.

Dragon Age: Origins

In a way, Dragon Age: Origins is like someone smashed KOTOR and Mass Effect together to see what would happen. It adopts similar combat elements to the Star Wars title. However, the massive, open-world adventure is also reminiscent of the space-age adventure. Though, it’s quite obviously on the opposite side of the historical spectrum. Dragon Age is a medieval fantasy adventure that seems to come straight from the pages of D&D. Again introducing strong character creation and customization elements, this title casts players as a Grey Warden. These are an order of warriors with mystical abilities pledged to destroy darkspawn. And when a fifth Blight begins, they must travel through Thedas to end the demonic uprising. However, they’ll also find themselves caught in the middle of dastardly political maneuvering as well. So, with danger on every side, every choice matters.

One of the most laudable aspects of this game is that, depending on the player’s race, the origin story and setting change. So, dwarves, humans and elves all carry wildly different narrative backgrounds. However, some detracting features are that in a sense, the game can almost become overwhelming with different options. Players choose which companions to accompany them. They also determine armor and weapons for those NPCs, as well as abilities. And when it comes to combat, it’s to pause and set moves for every party member. Of course, some people love this sort of customizability. However, others find it to be overwhelming, and it could detract from their desire to finish the extensive narrative. This aside, Dragon Age: Origins is arguably one of the best BioWare games to date. And its variance in story means RPG fans can play it again and again without ever having the same experience.

Mass Effect 2

For as revolutionary a title Mass Effect was, the second entry in the series is often considered one of the best BioWare games. As it starts out, players find themselves only a week after the concluding events of the first game. However, the narrative quickly and violently erupts in ways few players will see coming. And alongside a new squad of loyal teammates, Shepard investigates the Collectors, a species controlled by the mechanistic Reapers. Encountering new and original characters, fans will find much to love about the second entry in the series, with another, larger galactic adventure. And for those who played the first, the second game can use the existing save file to create a world based on previous in-game decisions. So, this sense of continuity does well to connect fans moving into a new and exciting part of the story.

However, the second title suffers similar cons as does the first. Often, it can seem as if the actual game experience takes a backseat to the narrative. And players will find themselves sitting and listening to dialogue more often than not. However, Mass Effect 2 is well worth playing for fans who enjoyed the first title as well as newcomers.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Unfortunately, BioWare did not take part in developing Knights of the Old Republic 2. However, the MMORPG, The Old Republic, more than makes up for this fact. Released in 2011, this free-to-play option offers players hundreds of hours of unique, rich content. In the timeline, it takes place around 300 years after the events of KOTOR. And similarly, finds the galaxy in a state of cold war between the Sith Empire and Galactic Republic. However, unlike its predecessor, SWTOR allows players the option of choosing which side to fight for. So, they can decimate the galaxy as an Imperial or save it as a Republic hero.

While many features of the game are worth noting, one of the most important is its replay value. In all, there are eight different classes to choose from when designing a character — four light, four dark. And each one of these tells a different story. Furthermore, each class has two subclasses, and there are currently twelve race options. So, designing a character and backstory has rarely been more fun or fulfilling. As an MMO, players are able to go through the adventure in groups of four, or they can choose to play alone. So, no matter whether they have friends to play with, they can experience all the game has to offer. SWTOR is easily one of BioWare’s best games and one of the only Star Wars legends storylines currently running.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Finally, to end the list, there is the most recent addition to the Dragon Age series. This RPG is quite a far cry from the original entry, adopting more real-time combat mechanics and open-world elements. So, players who are fans of more action-oriented RPGs will find much to appreciate here. Far from the story of the Blight introduced in Origins, this title tells the story of the Inquisitor. After a massive explosion tears a breach between the physical world and the Fade, the central character must act to close the rift. And as with all other Dragon Age titles, they are joined by an iconic cast of characters, some new others familiar. And without detailing important narrative points, this game does well to tie together all three titles in the series, setting the stage for the future.

Though not without its flaws, Inquisition is a worthwhile RPG for anyone looking for a save-the-world adventure. And it’s action-oriented elements do well to distinguish it from its predecessors in a way that doesn’t feel like a massive shift from the series core.

Check Out the Best BioWare Games

Obviously, we can’t tell you where you should start. These games are all RPGs, but they have wildly different settings and play styles. And while we definitely recommend playing all of them, it comes down to personal preference. So, check out some other reviews or gameplay walkthroughs to determine which series you should invest in, then get to playing.

Do Video Games Stunt Ethical Maturity?

Admittedly, as described by a Harvard Medical School article, experts are divided on the issue, with some saying video games can impact individuals’ moral development. On the other hand, a Bournemouth University study proposes that while video games can impact a youth’s ethical development, they have little to no effect after the age of 18. Yet, for the most part, those who see no inherent moral harm within video games remain on the defensive, only going so far as to say they don’t negatively impact players. Contrary to the concerns of many individuals, there is an argument to be made that video games can be used in a way that helps players develop a more robust sense of morality. At least, in a philosophical sense, video games can be viewed more as a potential aid to moral development than a hinderance.

As a disclaimer, this is not to suggest that young children should be allowed to play any video game they please without fear of impact on their moral development. Rating systems like the ESRB exist for a reason. And it seems obvious that some games contain content which younger audiences don’t need to be exposed to.

What Hath Aristotle to do with Video Games?

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who lived in the mid-fourth century B.C. He was the tutor of Alexander the Great. But he’s most famous for establishing the Aristotelian tradition that’s still studied widely today as the framework for centuries of western thought. In other words, his ideas were essential for the development of western culture and society. A man of many ideas, Aristotle held to the notion that the primary role of art was cathartic. Now, when most people hear the word, “catharsis”, they probably think of it in terms of emotional cleansing. Something along the lines of how crying at a movie can feel good. But in Aristotelian terms, catharsis refers to feeling the correct emotions at the right time and in the right circumstances. And the way art can help with this is quite interesting.

If part of ethical development is learning to experience emotion correctly, it seems people would have to place themselves in various situations just to understand how they should feel about the things going on. Stated differently, emotional intelligence is rooted in experience. So, if a person wanted to know how they should feel when a loved-one dies, they would need to experience the death of someone close. The problem with this view is that it’s essentially wrong to be put into some situations. For example, it would never be right to participate in murder just to know you should feel disgusted by wrongful death. It would be wrong to set my neighbors house on fire to understand arson is wrong. And that’s where art comes in.

In Aristotle’s world, one of the primary art forms was enacted drama — plays. And in those plays, audiences could witness certain events carried out in a fictional environment which never would have been ethical to experience first-hand. The hallmark of a rational person, in this sense, was the ability to express emotion toward events correctly. So, the person who felt sadness at the death of a heroic character could be considered more rational than the person who felt apathetic. And in that was, they were seen as more ethically mature.

But taking this idea further, it would seem participative art would have even more of an ability to help people develop into ethically mature individuals. That is, forms of art which allow the person to make decisions that impact the art itself in some way, rather than simply observing. After all, having first-hand experience of decisions and their consequences is often a better learning experience than watching someone else do so. And jumping forward thousands of years from Aristotle, that’s exactly where video games come into the mix. Because, as many of us are well aware, games have become increasingly focused on decisions and outcomes.

Moral Decisions in Gaming

Moral alignment systems have been a part of gaming since at least the early 2000s, perhaps best seen with titles such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. In this classic RPG, true to Star Wars lore, it’s possible to make different in-game decisions that affect your light or dark side alignment. However, while the implementation of this alignment system hearkened toward a future where decisions could drastically alter the outcome of the narrative, essentially all paths led to the same place. More or less, in KOTOR, player decisions impacted the ability to use certain powers, since each force ability had an alignment toward the light or dark side. For example, a character attuned to the light side of the force would have an easier time curing wounds. However, one who had embraced the dark side would find force lightning to be a useful tool in their arsenal. So, while KOTOR implemented a very visible morality system in its player choices, those decisions failed to heavily impact the narrative elements of the game itself.

In some sense, the visibility of the morality system in KOTOR (a literal meter that showed how far the character leaned toward one side or the other) could be responsible for the lack of real feeling in the game’s alignment system. Players can experience the real weight of their in-game decisions best when the outcomes of those decisions aren’t marked as either a light or dark path. Such is the case with the Mass Effect trilogy, where choices can impact the course of the narrative immensely.

SPOILER ALERT: Perhaps the most striking instance is when Shepherd must determine whether to side with the Geth or Quarians in Mass Effect 3. If the Geth are chosen, the entire Quarian fleet is destroyed, and a companion that’s been with the player with three games kills herself. But if the player chooses to side with the Quarian fleet, another companion dies. Either way, the decision is extremely difficult, especially since the outcome can’t be discerned beforehand. Still, it can easily be inferred that whichever side is chosen will lead to a negative consequence for the other. So, this type of moral quandary presents a prime opportunity for reflection and assessment. The ability to feel through this scenario is reminiscent of the Aristotelian notion of catharsis.

Even so, with the Mass Effect decision described above, the results are almost instantaneous and allow the player to simply restart their latest save if they don’t like the outcome. More recent games have done away with this type of immediate gratification, not always letting the player know what the outcome of decisions will be. Instead, they reveal that information only when it’s too late to simply go back to the latest save point and try again. A good example is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, one of the most recent releases in the Assassin’s Creed series. For all its flaws, it has an immersive decision scheme throughout that can lead to wildly different endings.

SPOILERS AHEAD: There are at least six decisions that must be made throughout the narrative in a specific manner to see the best ending. In one scenario, the wayward sibling is persuaded to return to the family, and in the other, the player character kills the sibling. And it is this type of morality system that seems most rewarding when it comes to ethical development.

Video games that can present decisions as lifelike as possible have the best chance of leaving a lasting moral impression on those who play them. Particularly where choices can be made freely and when consequences aren’t always obvious. And in an Aristotelian framework, these have the best chance of aiding moral development.

Some Final Thoughts

Just like the real world, the ethical situations within games are not always appropriate for kids or young teenagers. So, it’s ultimately up to guardian figures to determine what their children should and should not be exposed to. As with anything, video games can have a positive or negative impact. And while they can help in moral development, they should never be viewed as the sole means by which anyone should come into their ethical framework. At the end of the day, it is the responsibility of parents and guardians to help youth understand the implications of their decisions. Perhaps the best path forward is one of open discussion, whether the situations revolve around those found in video games or real life.