Two of the best RPG franchises in video games today are The Witcher and Dragon Age, both from respectable developers and both having existed alongside each other in a nearly identical time frame. That's why comparisons between the two are unavoidable since they are also story-heavy video games that feature tons of ending-altering choices throughout the whole game.
That's why there has always been that one big question in the fantasy genre of video games that asks which of the two are better. Be it for some RPG gamers who have tight wallets or fans of both franchises looking to weigh in which of the two intellectual properties are superior to the other, this list ought to help in determining which is the better dark fantasy RPG.
10 WHY THE WITCHER: BETTER SOURCE MATERIAL
Those looking to become a huge fan of an established fandom will find plenty more to like in The Witcher than in Dragon Age. The Witcher books have been around since the early 1990s and already have several titles that all lead up to the games.
The games are then based upon them and continue the storyline, which is why The Witcher games feel like they have a more cohesive and lived-in world compared to Dragon Age. The setting itself is based on Eastern Europe and thus incorporates Eastern European folklore in its story and world-building elements.
9 WHY DRAGON AGE: BORROWED FROM DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS
Still, Dragon Age succeeds more as a video game in that it's based on the granddaddy of all RPGs, Dungeons and Dragons. D&D has always been one of the finest templates ever for video game RPGs today and unsurprisingly, the first Dragon Age game borrowed a lot from its progenitor.
It's a formula that worked right off the bat and is easily recognizable by a lot of players. That's why Dragon Age: Origins was a blockbuster whereas the first Witcher game felt more like a sleeper hit and probably something not many fans will replay even today.
8 WHY THE WITCHER: HAS A FRANCHISE ICON
Here's where both franchises develop their own stark differences. The Witcher saga was all about Geralt of Rivia's adventures and life. That's why the games built upon this and made him a more likable and more heroic figure compared to his book counterpart.
Now, Geralt is pretty much a household name and someone whose appearance easily correlates to The Witcher. It's easy marketing, having poster boy like that; he's someone who's now in the same caliber as video game legends like Gordon Freeman from Half-Life or Snake from Metal Gear Solid. Sadly, Dragon Age just doesn't have this same level of representation.
7 WHY DRAGON AGE: BETTER CHARACTER FREEDOM
Of course, the problem with having an established character such as Geralt of Rivia is that the actual RPG element of the games suffer from rigidity. Only Geralt is available and players mostly just see get to decide his story and won't have a say in his personality.
Dragon Age is the better RPG architect in this department since the player character is an actual blank slate-- even someone like Hawke from Dragon Age 2. For a lot of hardcore RPG players, this element of an RPG is rather important since it's more immersive and allows for more customization and freedom.
6 WHY THE WITCHER: MORE MATURE
As much as Bioware tried to market Dragon Age games as mature dark fantasy titles, they simply pale in comparison to how liberal The Witcher franchise is with its world and story. The characters are more mature and the scenarios, as well as the writing, is darker and more vivid.
Because of this, many consider The Witcher as the Game of Thrones of video games due to how unapologetic it can be with its subject matters. The Witcher has less censorship and treats its players like the adults they are in many aspects.
5 WHY DRAGON AGE: BETTER GAMEPLAY VARIETY
In conjunction with how Dragon Age allows the players more agency in creating their character and customizing them, it also offers more flavors in combat and even dialogue. Dragon Age handles the warrior, rogue, and mage archetypes in video games whereas The Witcher games' Geralt is really just one class.
Additionally, players are not stuck playing one class as they have a whole party to control, meaning they can switch to other characters or classes on the fly if they ever get tired of a certain playstyle. Sure enough, combat is one of the weak points of The Witcher games, not a flaw that's present in Dragon Age games.
4 WHY THE WITCHER: BETTER SIDE QUESTS
Gotta admire the developers of The Witcher games, since the first title, they've committed to outdoing themselves every time. That's why each new Witcher game is better than the last. The third one has already immortalized itself in the annals of the best video games to ever exist thanks to the developers' dedication.
This dedication to their craft is most apparent with how they handled side quests or activities in The Witcher 3. Each quest is handcrafted and follows little to no template, making it refreshingly unique and not tedious unlike the non-crucial activities in Dragon Age games.
3 WHY DRAGON AGE: SMARTER COMBAT
If there is one sure thing that the Dragon Age games do better than The Witcher games, that would be the combat. The Witcher games' combat was never decent until the third game came along and borrowed much from established action titles like Dark Souls.
Dragon Age did experiment a lot after the first game but the gameplay and interactions allowed were still more intricate than The Witcher games.' Better tactical awareness and strategizing are required whereas Geralt mostly just needs to hack and slash anyone with a health bar.
2 WHY THE WITCHER: BIGGER CULTURAL IMPACT
Apart from the books, The Witcher franchise has also spawned its own Netflix show thanks to the immense popularity of the video games. This is how Geralt became a common name in pop culture today, especially with an actor like Henry Cavill assuming the role.
More than that, The Witcher games, particularly the third one, has also spawned its own surprisingly fun and prominent collectible card game, Gwent. Dragon Age is going to need a lot of keeping up if it wants to have the same widespread appeal across multiple industries.
1 WHY DRAGON AGE: ALL THREE GAMES ARE GOOD
When one mentions they've played The Witcher games, they usually only refer to The Witcher 3 or that and the second game at most. That's because the first Witcher game is a clunky slog with weird hybrid combat. Meanwhile, the second game is a little too linear for an RPG.
By comparison, all Dragon Age games are actually well-balanced and polished. The first one is a masterpiece, the second one is a decent experiment, and the third one is a grand culmination. You can't go wrong with any Dragon Age game, but the same can't be said for The Witcher games unless of course, they remaster the first one, *cough* petition *cough.*