In the modern era, writing profoundly impacts content beyond the written word in books. While it has long been acknowledged that writing is a component in film and theatre, the impact of writing on games has long been disregarded, especially in games with a hefty action component. However, in RPGs, the role of writing is paramount, as this element is the main feature – the player needs to be invested in the plot, dialogue, and characters to keep them immersed in the gameplay. I have chosen these two games for this article as they are both recent and popular franchises within the genre.
Having played and completed both Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, I can confidently say that the writing, plot complexity, and post-game narrative outcomes in Baldur’s Gate 3 far exceed what Dragon Age: The Veilguard offers. Both games deliver rich worlds and character-driven experiences. Still, Baldur’s Gate 3 is clearly the superior RPG when it comes to dialogue, plot intricacies, and the lasting impact of player choices. While Dragon Age: The Veilguard presents a competent action RPG with some narrative elements, its plot and character development fall flat in comparison, leaving much to be desired in terms of post-game reflections and outcomes.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, the plot revolves around a unique central conflict: the player character is infected with a Mind Flayer tadpole, which grants them immense power but also threatens to consume their mind and body. This concept sets the stage for a deeper exploration of power, morality, and the consequences of one’s actions. The game’s world-building is layered and expansive, with numerous factions, hidden lore, and secrets waiting to be uncovered. As you progress, the plot becomes increasingly complex, with choices affecting immediate outcomes and future events. It’s the kind of game where the deeper you go, the more you uncover, making exploration and attention to detail crucial. In particular, the post-game scenes reveal just how far-reaching your choices are.
After completing the main story in which I voluntarily became a Mind Flayer and elected to continue my partnership with the Emperor, I was surprised to discover that we had conquered the Sword Coast. To make matters more intense, I was also forced to make four saving throws to avoid eating Asterion’s brain. This unexpected turn of events made me realise just how much my decisions had influenced the world, even in the post-game phase. The information I uncovered wasn’t just fluff—it was the kind of detail that made my choices feel truly meaningful, showing that every action had consequences beyond the final battle.
In stark contrast, Dragon Age: The Veilguard fails to offer the same level of narrative complexity or post-game revelations. While the game attempts to weave a story of political intrigue and moral ambiguity, the plot often feels too constrained, with few meaningful consequences for the decisions made throughout the game. Even after completing the game, I wondered what had happened to certain characters, including my partner Emmerich, whose fate was never made clear. Did we settle down together for a life of tea, gardening, and necromancy? I have no idea. The only notable post-game reflection for me was the reassurance that Manfred and the griffins were safe—hardly the type of dramatic reveal that would leave players thinking about the lasting consequences of their actions. Though admittedly, I was more invested in saving Manfred and Assan than in preserving the entirety of Minrathous. This lack of closure and exploration into the world’s aftermath felt like a significant missed opportunity, especially when compared to the far-reaching impacts of Baldur’s Gate 3. Unlike Baldur’s Gate 3, where the game encourages you to reflect on your decisions. Dragon Age: The Veilguard wraps things up with minimal exploration of the long-term consequences, making it feel more like an action RPG than the story-driven experience I had hoped for.
The dialogue system in Baldur’s Gate 3 also stands as one of its greatest strengths. The game allows for a wide range of choices that are influenced by moral decisions and character background, relationships, and alignment. The writing is rich, nuanced, and often subtle, with multiple dialogue options hidden behind certain character traits or prior decisions. This creates a profoundly immersive experience where the player’s choices genuinely matter, shaping the relationships with companions and influencing the course of the narrative. Even after the main story concluded, I found that my character’s personality, decisions, and alliances still impacted the world—particularly in the unexpected developments post-game. On the other hand, Dragon Age: The Veilguard feels much more static in its character development and dialogue. While there are decisions to be made, the character arcs are more predefined, and the dialogue options rarely have the depth or complexity of Baldur’s Gate 3. The relationships with companions feel less influenced by the player’s choices, and while the writing is competent, it doesn’t offer the same level of engagement or emotional weight.
One of the most striking differences between the two games was how I felt about keeping my companions alive. In Baldur’s Gate 3, the depth of the characters’ personalities—ranging from Asterion’s tragic past to Shadowheart’s internal conflict—made me genuinely invested in their survival. I worked hard to ensure that my team survived, with my only fatality being Lae’zel – the character that annoyed me the most. Dragon Age: The Veilguard did not elicit the same emotional attachment from me. The dialogue with companions felt more like a chore than an opportunity to build meaningful relationships. Lucanis, an assassin possessed by a demon, had a backstory that should have been compelling, yet the majority of his dialogue involved rambling about coffee and shopping. I was uninterested in most of the companion interactions, as they lacked the complexity or intrigue I expected. The only companions worth engaging with were Emmerich, due to his necromancy, and Dravin, because of the griffins. The rest of the group felt essentially disposable, with their dialogues failing to draw me in or make me care about their well-being.
Based on my experience, Baldur’s Gate 3 stands head and shoulders above Dragon Age: The Veilguard regarding writing, plot complexity, and the lasting impact of player choices. The game’s world-building is richly detailed, its plot intricately woven, and its post-game revelations genuinely surprising. The subtle, hidden layers of the story and the actual consequences of my decisions became apparent only after completing the game, showing how much Baldur’s Gate 3 invests in making the player’s journey feel meaningful and personal. The dynamic dialogue and the complex character arcs leave an impression long after the game ends.
That said, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is not a bad game. It offers solid action RPG mechanics, a satisfying combat system, and an engaging world to explore. However, it falls short when it comes to dialogue, plot, and role-playing elements. The story lacks the depth and complexity that Dragon Age fans have come to expect, and the post-game content feels underwhelming, leaving much of the world’s aftermath unexplored. In many ways, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is more like an action RPG, focusing on combat and immediate decisions rather than offering a rich, narrative-driven experience. This marks a significant departure from previous Dragon Age games, which were known for their more traditional RPG vibe, detailed character interactions, and long-term player-driven consequences. Fans of the franchise who have cherished its deeper storytelling might find Dragon Age: The Veilguard a disappointing diversion from the series’ roots.