Renewed attention has been given to Dragon Age 4 in recent months as players look forward to news on the state of the series' latest title. As conversations start to pick up regarding what the game might look like, it's worth examining what traits it should carry on from previous entries in the franchise.
Since Dragon Age 4 was first announced back in 2018, progress updates have been few and far between. While there have been a few trailers, they haven't provided many details about the game's story, combat, or other mechanics. Although the setting and even a few of DA4's potential returning characters have gradually been revealed, more substantial announcements regarding the game's development.
EA was absent from this year's E3, and will instead be showcasing their upcoming titles during EA Play Live in July, which leads many to believe that Dragon Age 4 will appear during the presentation. Others think that a release date may finally be provided this year. As anticipation grows, discussions have also begun to circulate regarding how the series should move forward when it comes to gameplay, but some of the franchise's best mechanics might be found by looking backward - to the first game of the franchise, Dragon Age: Origins, in particular.
Dragon Age 4 Needs Dragon Age: Origins' Player Freedom
True to its name, Dragon Age: Origins starts off by introducing six different origins that players can select as their character's background story. Each one is fully playable and changes the protagonist's motivations as well as their role within the world of Dragon Age. The vast differences of each backstory, and the way those differences are woven into the fabric of the player character and carried across the entire game, help make Dragon Age: Origins highly replayable and allow for a large amount of player freedom. Different quests and encounters change significantly based on which story was chosen at the start of the game, allowing players to feel as though their decisions have real impact on the game's world.
Additionally, Origins featured a silent protagonist, something that would be altered in Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition. While the voiced dialogue in these Dragon Age games is generally better-received than in some others, like Fallout 4, neither is quite comparable to the wide array of choices available in Origins. BioWare games are often praised for their focus on story, particularly for the addition of meaningful choices and player agency, both of which contribute to a game's replay value, and thus its longevity generally. By giving these elements a central role in Dragon Age 4, developers could create a new and engaging story to draw people back into the franchise.