Dragon Age can make a comeback, and many fans believe it should, but the success of that comeback depends on how well BioWare returns to its roots: deep lore, memorable side characters (like Sandal), complex world-building (like the Dwarven caste system), and morally gray narratives.
Here’s a structured breakdown of how Dragon Age can return to glory and why revisiting things like Sandal and the Dwarves is key:
🔥 I. Why Dragon Age Needs a Comeback
1. Legacy RPG Franchise
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Dragon Age: Origins (2009) set a gold standard for modern Western RPGs—deep character stories, tactical combat, and narrative consequence.
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However, Dragon Age II rushed development and scaled back scope, while Inquisition (though beautiful) leaned more open-world MMO-lite, losing some narrative punch.
2. The Void in the Genre
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With The Witcher 3 nearly a decade old and Elder Scrolls VI nowhere in sight, there’s space for a grounded, gritty fantasy RPG with political intrigue, deep faction lore, and a rich magic system.
🧠 II. What BioWare Must Bring Back
A. The Side Stories that Felt Real
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Sandal and Bodahn Feddic (the Dwarven merchant duo) weren’t just comic relief—Sandal’s mysterious magic immunity and cryptic outbursts hinted at ancient power.
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➤ Their presence gave Origins and II emotional texture and mystery.
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These kinds of "small legends in a big world" are crucial to worldbuilding.
B. The Dwarves and the Deep Roads
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The Dwarves of Orzammar, their brutal caste system, political tension, and the blight-infected Deep Roads gave the world a sense of age and tragedy.
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Players felt the decay of a once-great empire—contrast this with later entries, where Dwarves became more of a background race.
C. Grey Wardens, Blood Magic, and Fade
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Reintroducing the Grey Wardens (not just name-drops) and exploring forbidden magics again would rekindle that feeling of playing with fire—morally and magically.
✍️ III. Narrative Pillars They Should Rebuild On
| Core Pillar | How It Was Done Well | What to Reinstate |
|---|---|---|
| Mystery | Sandal's cryptic "boom!" prophecy, ancient dwarven secrets | Return to slowly unfolding, player-discovered lore |
| Cultural Conflict | Mages vs Templars, Casteless vs Noble, Elves vs Humans | Reinvest in faction relationships and allow story choices to influence those |
| Character Depth | Companions like Alistair, Varric, Morrigan had layers and arcs | Avoid the quirky archetype-only trap—give them consequences and contradictions |
| Player Agency | Origins’ origin stories literally changed how the world saw you | Make choices matter again—not just for ending cutscenes, but mid-game world state |
🌍 IV. A Comeback Strategy: What BioWare Should Do
1. Refocus on Smaller but Richer Worlds
Instead of massive fetch-quest maps, go for dense, reactive hubs like Orzammar, Denerim, or Kirkwall. Make every NPC, book, or room matter.
2. Bring Back Legacy Characters & Plotlines
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Sandal needs at least a cameo—his story was unfinished.
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Return to the Deep Roads and finally tell us the truth about the Titans, the Stone, and the mysterious connection to magic.
3. Involve Veteran Writers & Worldbuilders
People like David Gaider helped define Dragon Age’s mythos. Reconnecting with that original spirit (even spiritually, if not directly) would strengthen continuity.
4. Reclaim the “BioWare Feel”
If Mass Effect: Legendary Edition proved anything—it’s that fans want that classic Bioware RPG vibe back: tough decisions, layered companions, moral complexity.
🧩 V. Conclusion
Yes, Dragon Age can make a comeback—but only if it embraces what made it great: smaller personal stories that echo in a larger world.
We want more Sandals. We miss the political madness of Orzammar. We need the layered moral dilemmas that made Dragon Age feel like something more than just a fantasy game—it was a living world.
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