Summary
BioWarehas a long history of delivering some of the most influential RPGs in gaming, but not every title in its portfolio has been met with universal acclaim. Following the departure of the studio’s co-founders in 2012, several of their major releases over the past decade have received mixed reactions from both critics and fans. The consensus is that BioWare has shifted more toward action-heavy gameplay at the expense of the deep RPG elements they were once known for. While this modern approach appeals to many players, longtime fans have been less enthusiastic.
Although only one of BioWare’s games, the live-service action titleAnthem, is widely regarded as a failure, other games have proven divisive among players. WithDragon Age: The Veilguard’s release on the horizon, it’s worth reflecting on some of the studio’s most polarizing titles, whether due to unsatisfying endings, genre shifts, or straying too far from the formula that fans loved.
Mass Effect 3was meant to be an epic conclusion to Commander Shepard’s story, and in many ways, it succeeded. The game was packed with high-stakes moments, intense situations, and difficult choices that delivered on many of its promises. However, it also disappointed many players, not only because of its more action-oriented focus — building upon the already action-heavyMass Effect 2— but especially due to its original ending.
The discussions surroundingMass Effect 3’s final twist involving the Catalyst became a hot topic for months after its release. Thevagueness of the available endings, combined with the superficial differences between them, left a bitter taste in fans' mouths. Many felt that the final choice boiled down to pressing a button that simply changed the color of the ending cinematic, which didn’t provide the resolution they were hoping for. In response to the widespread backlash, BioWare released theExtended CutDLC for free, which addressed many concerns and added clarity to the original ending. To this day,Mass Effect 3’s conclusion remains one of the most divisive moments in BioWare’s history, highlighting the challenge of closing out such an epic tale on a universally satisfying note.
While the reception ofDragon Age 2wasn’t as dramatic as the uproar surroundingMass Effect 3, the game still received a mixed response fromDragon Age: Originsfans. Developed under a tight schedule, with EA giving BioWare just 14 to 16 months to complete the game, the team had to make significant compromises, which affected the game’s scope and overall appeal.
Upon launch, many players were disappointed by how repetitive the city of Kirkwall felt, with numerous identical locations and quests that forced players to revisit the same areas repeatedly. Over time, however, some fansbegan to appreciateDragon Age 2for what it did well. Despite its flaws, the sequel offers a deep, personal story filled with emotional moments, memorable companions, and a more refined combat system.
On paper,Mass Effect: Andromedaseemed incredibly ambitious — a game that aimed to blend BioWare’s signature narrative, rich with character interactions, with expansive, open environments across alien worlds in a new galaxy. Originally, these environments were even envisioned to be procedurally generated. Additionally, the game was intended to have little to no connection to the original trilogy’s characters and events. Unfortunately, the new Montreal team handling the project lacked the experience to bring this grand vision to life within the challenging Frostbite engine. The game’s launch was riddled with technical issues, quickly leading to its association with various mocking videos and memes.
It’s a shame because underneath its flaws,Mass Effect: Andromedaturned out to be a solid RPG, especially after many of its issues were fixed. The game arguably offers the best combat in the series and features stunning, explorable planets. While the protagonist, companions, and main villain didn’t quite reachthe iconic status of those in the original trilogy,Andromedastill packed plenty of pleasant surprises and exciting story beats that could have been expanded upon in future installments. Thedirection BioWare will take with the nextMass Effectgameremains unclear, but many fans suspect it will distance itself from this polarizing entry.
Dragon Age: Inquisitionbeing labeled as polarizing might seem exaggerated, considering that it was widely hailed as Game of the Year in 2014 by many critics and players alike. The game marked a noticeable course correction fromDragon Age 2, particularly addressing the sequel’s shortcomings by offering more open, unique, and explorable locations throughout Thedas. However,Inquisitionwasn’t without its issues. Its first major open area, the infamous Hinterlands, quickly became a meme due to the number of players who abandoned the game early on. Many were put off by the sheer number of simple fetch quests and the overwhelming amount of map markers to clear, leading to frustration.
Some players were quick to label the game as a hybrid between a single-player RPG and an MMO due to its filler content. However,Inquisitionimproves significantly as the game progresses, eventually delivering everything that RPG fans expect from theDragon Ageseries —complex characters and relationships, impactful choices with consequences, and more. Even today, opinions on the game remain divided, with some even considering it a financial misstep, despite reportsclaiming it to be BioWare’s best-selling RPG.
While not as divisive as other titles above,Star Wars: The Old Republicdeserves its spot here, marking an unexpected shift for BioWare into MMORPG territory. Many fans of the originalKnights of the Old Republicgames, who were hoping for a proper single-player sequel, were left puzzled by this move. Despite delivering on its promises — true to BioWare’s strength in prioritizing characters and storylines — many fans never engaged with the game, simply due to its MMO nature.
Over the years,The Old Republichas grown into a massive game, not only becomingthe longest story-drivenStar Warsexperience everbut also offering a collection of unique storylines for each of the game’s classes. Although it may not have dominated the MMORPG genre,The Old Republiccarved out a lasting niche, continuing to attractStar Warsfans for years.
