Most Complex BioWare Games

The complexity of games can encompass various elements, including the title’s scope, amount of content, level of freedom, innovative gameplay mechanics, complexity of themes, writing, and relationships, and new features introduced to established series. When discussing BioWare, known primarily for its single-player, story-driven RPGs with recurring tropes, the studio also boasts unique and innovative titles that often redefine norms and expand on the core formula of an unknown hero rising to prominence, whether as a Jedi, Spectre, Inquisitor, or Grey Warden.

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To determine the most complex BioWare games, certain criteria must be established. First, venturing into new genre territories is always a significant challenge and achievement for any studio. Second, the inclusion of new features beyond traditional action-RPG mechanics enhances complexity, such as mount or transport systems, innovative traversal mechanics, and even the integration of multiplayer modes. With that in mind, here are some of BioWare’s most complex and innovative games, focusing on their fresh and experimental features.

6

Dragon Age: Inquisition

A Colossal And Sprawling RPG Designed To Address Its Predecessor’s Issues

Systems

Released

November 18, 2014

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Highlights:

• Enormous, Semi-Open World Maps
• Rideable Mounts
• Epic Dragon Encounters

Dragon Age 2 marked a turning point for the series, shifting away from the epic scope of Origins in favor of a lower-stakes, more personal narrative set within a single city over several years. While the game found its fans, many players longed for a grand, sweeping tale in the Dragon Age universe — a goal that Dragon Age: Inquisition set out to achieve. From the outset, Inquisition was an ambitious project and the first BioWare game developed on the Frostbite engine, which introduced significant technical challenges throughout development.

Despite these hurdles, Dragon Age: Inquisition largely delivered on its promise, standing as the most ambitious and complex entry in the franchise. It emphasized player choice, deepened combat mechanics, and introduced vast, semi-open-world maps for exploration, comparable in scale to Andromeda‘s planets. Though basic, the game also introduced a mount system for the first time, allowing for more convenient traversal of its expansive areas. Another standout feature was the epic, cinematic dragon encounters, where dragons dynamically shifted positions across large battlefields, creating more engaging and strategic fights.

5

Mass Effect: Andromeda

Paving A New Course For The Iconic Franchise

Systems

Highlights:

• Expansive Planetary Maps
• Nomad Rover Traversal
• Dynamic Jetpack Combat

Tasked with reinventing the Mass Effect franchise after the conclusion of Shepard’s trilogy, BioWare initially envisioned Mass Effect: Andromeda as a far more innovative and complex title — one that would merge the studio’s handcrafted narrative with a procedurally generated universe and explorable planets. However, after months of research and experimentation, the studio realized that this approach wouldn’t work and instead shifted focus to creating several vast, intricately detailed planets for players to explore.

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The return of vehicle traversal via the Nomad was a welcome nod to the original Mass Effect, though this time, the physics and controls were far more refined. Another notable advancement was Andromeda‘s fluid combat system, which introduced flexible class and skill combinations, along with a dynamic jetpack that enhanced the game’s fast-paced encounters. This allowed players to execute quick air dashes and hover midair to rain devastation on enemies below.

Powered by Frostbite, the game’s ambitious complexity and scope posed significant challenges for BioWare, ultimately leading to a troubled launch plagued by technical issues and the cancelation of the teased Quarian Ark DLC.

4

Anthem

An Ambitious Attempt At Live-Service Action That Fell Short

Systems

Released

February 22, 2019

Highlights:

• Excellent Flying Mechanics
• Attempt At Live-Service
• First-Person Hub Area

Years later, Anthem remains a prime example of how short-sighted publisher decisions can be, which is especially relevant in light of the recent cancelation of the live-service God of War game. Tasking an RPG-focused studio with developing a live-service action title always seemed like a questionable choice, and while Anthem is often cited as a case study in failed live-service games, it still introduced several bright spots and innovative ideas.

One of the game’s standout features is its traversal system, with the Javelin exosuits’ flying mechanics remaining unparalleled in gaming. Hopefully, some of the lessons learned will be applied to Motive’s upcoming Iron Man game. Another unique addition was the first-person hub area, an unusual choice for a BioWare title. This approach made dialogues feel more immersive, deepening character interactions and enhancing the player’s connection to the world. Lastly, Anthem‘s world itself was distinctive (not mentioning the abundance of loading screens), featuring impressive verticality, an unusual fragmented structure, and rich lore infused with unmistakable BioWare DNA.

3

Mass Effect 3

Massive Challenge Of Concluding The Epic Sci-Fi Trilogy

Highlights:

• Conclusion To The Trilogy
• Multiple Choice Threads Import
• Co-operative PvE Mode

While Mass Effect 3 wasn’t particularly complex in terms of gameplay or technical innovation, remaining firmly within typical sequel territory, it served as the grand conclusion to a massive trilogy, tasked with addressing and resolving numerous plot threads unique to each player’s journey. The sheer number of choices carried over from previous games was astounding, making Mass Effect 3 one of the most notable RPGs in terms of narrative continuity. It offered a truly branching, personalized experience, where player decisions were meaningfully reflected in the story. Naturally, a conclusion of this scale was bound to be controversial, and this was evident from players’ reactions to the game’s ending.

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Additionally, Mass Effect 3 introduced cooperative PvE multiplayer to the series, which unexpectedly became a major success. With its robust class and weapon systems, diverse enemy factions, and varied maps, the multiplayer mode proved to be a long-lasting favorite among fans. It received several content updates and was later replicated in Andromeda with minimal changes.

2

Mass Effect

Introducing A Next-Generation RPG Formula In A Brand-New Universe

Systems

Released

November 20, 2007

Highlights:

• Innovative Cinematic Dialogues
• Huge Explorable Maps
• Mako Rover Traversal

Mass Effect was a groundbreaking title and one of the most impressive RPGs of its time, setting a new standard for next-generation role-playing games. It also marked the beginning of one of BioWare’s most beloved and influential franchises. The game’s innovative approach to dialogue, featuring a cinematic flair and the introduction of the now-iconic dialogue wheel, was unmatched at the time, standing far above its RPG competitors that relied on a more static “talking heads” approach. By seamlessly blending storytelling and player agency, Mass Effect blurred the line between video games and interactive movies.

Beyond its dialogue innovations, Mass Effect introduced a host of complex features that were entirely new for both BioWare and its fans. The game’s vast (if somewhat empty) planets offered an authentic sense of space exploration, while traversal via the Mako M-35 rover provided an added layer of excitement and realism — something even Starfield couldn’t deliver at launch. As an ultimate sci-fi RPG, Mass Effect invited players into one of the most fascinating fictional universes ever created.

1

Star Wars: The Old Republic

A Decade-Long MMO Envisioned As KOTOR 3, 4, And Beyond

Highlights:

• BioWare’s First MMORPG
• Massive Scope With Multiple Campaigns
• Years Of Ongoing Content Support

Star Wars: The Old Republic is a truly exceptional project, building on the rich legacy of Knights of the Old Republic. Often overlooked by fans hoping for a full-fledged single-player sequel, The Old Republic strikes a balance between MMO and story-driven RPG, emphasizing personalized narratives for each playable class. As a result, it effectively packs multiple unique and lengthy campaigns into one game.

The scope and complexity of Star Wars: The Old Republic among BioWare-developed games remains unmatched. It stands as one of the longest and most immersive Star Wars games ever made, featuring branching stories, memorable characters, additional plot arcs, vast explorable worlds, and a wealth of PvE and PvP activities. With over 13 years of updates and ongoing support, The Old Republic ranks among the most successful and long-lasting MMOs, easily making it one of BioWare’s most ambitious and complex projects to date.

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