it crashes constantly without an unofficial patch + windowed mode and has really bad lag issues the longer you play in one sitting due to memory leaks (restarting the game fixes it temporarily) but it's still worth playing as it's a pretty fun game. Normally I do not like real time with pause rpgs but it's done well here with the tactics/AI you can customize for your companions. I like that the story has choices you can make that can impact the sequels in small ways.

Also uhh Alistair my beloved

doesn't work on steam so no i don't recommend it, in fact i think you should be criminally charged for selling a product here that doesn't work. no im not going to a third party site to fix it.

A Classic RPG That Hasn’t Aged Gracefully

Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition is often hailed as a masterpiece of RPG storytelling, but playing it today reveals a game that feels clunky, outdated, and riddled with frustrations. While its ambition and depth are commendable, the experience is marred by dated mechanics, uneven pacing, and technical issues that detract from its appeal.

The game’s strongest aspect is its world-building. Ferelden is a rich, detailed setting filled with political intrigue, complex factions, and deep lore. However, the story, while epic in scope, is fairly generic and relies heavily on well-worn fantasy tropes. The "chosen hero saves the world from an ancient evil" plotline feels predictable, and the game's attempts at moral ambiguity often boil down to black-and-white decisions with obvious consequences.

The companions, a hallmark of the BioWare formula, are hit or miss. While characters like Morrigan and Alistair are memorable and well-written, others feel underdeveloped or lack meaningful arcs. Companion relationships are heavily tied to gift-giving mechanics, which feel more like a grind than genuine character development.

Gameplay is where Dragon Age: Origins shows its age the most. The combat system, while strategic, feels slow and repetitive. The AI is frustrating to manage, and the tactics system, while robust, requires constant micromanagement to prevent your party from making boneheaded decisions. Battles quickly devolve into spamming abilities and hoping your healer doesn’t get overwhelmed, which becomes tedious over time.

The visuals are another glaring issue. Even for a game from 2009, the graphics feel dated, with stiff animations, awkward facial expressions, and bland textures. The Ultimate Edition includes all the DLC, but this only adds more uneven content to an already bloated experience. Some DLCs, like Awakening, are worthwhile, but others feel like filler that doesn’t justify their inclusion.

The pacing of the game is also a problem. The main story is lengthy, but much of that time is padded with repetitive side quests, endless backtracking, and large, empty areas that feel like a chore to navigate. Dungeons, in particular, are overly long and lack variety, making exploration feel more like a slog than an adventure.

Technically, the game has its fair share of issues. On modern systems, Dragon Age: Origins can be prone to crashes, performance problems, and compatibility issues. The controls and UI are clunky, especially for PC players, and feel poorly optimized for mouse and keyboard.

While Dragon Age: Origins was groundbreaking in its time, the Ultimate Edition doesn’t do enough to address the game’s shortcomings or bring it up to modern standards. It’s a game that may still appeal to nostalgic fans or those willing to overlook its flaws, but for new players, it’s a tough sell in a world where more polished and engaging RPGs exist.

I've played this game over and over and over. Got a copy from my old friend years ago, modded it, ♥♥♥♥♥♥ it up so much with my mods, bought it on steam, played it vanilla, played it again with mods. Over and over and over. It touches a part of my soul. 11/10 I'd recommend.

Seriously one of the greatest games of all time. Not even joking. No more explanation needed.

Iconic

I have played all of the Dragon Age's and Mass Effects from BioWare excessively throughout my lifetime, these games are hands down some of the best story single-player rpg offering extremely good story that carries over to the next within the trilogy, this one in specific gives you that old-timey feel of an rpg. I would highly recommend this game and all that follow after continuing it's story. Edit forgot to add - If you wish to play this game though to an enjoyable extent you will most likely have to go to console to play as EA has given up on fixing the problems it has, you can jump through hoops to get the game to work but crashing/launch issues will most likely consist.

Oldie but goodie!

Doing a full replay of the Dragon Age series before I try out Veilguard. DA:O is still my favorite out of the Dragon Age games I *have* played. Awakening is one of the best DLCs and feels like its own game. I was worried I'd be turned off by the graphics and gameplay since it's a much older game now (and it does feel dated in a lot of respects) but it still holds up and I've really been enjoying it.

I *did* have to figure out how to keep it from crashing to desktop every five steps... but apparently if you lower your graphics settings to medium it fixes whatever the problem is.

The true Dragon Age experience. Made for those who wanted a "Baldurs Gate" style experience in a world that knew nothing of BG3 or Divinity yet.

10/10/10