Ranking the 10 best BioWare games

BioWare has given us some of the greatest RPGs of all time. From exploring the galaxy as Commander Shepard to deciding the fate of entire kingdoms in Dragon Age, its games made our choices feel deeply personal. They introduced unforgettable companions, morally complicated decisions, and worlds that stay with us to this day.

But with the heartbreaking news that BioWare closed its doors and the next Mass Effect has been cancelled, I wanted to look back at 10 games that made the studio one of a kind and share a special place with me. This is my personal ranking, and while some entries have aged better than others, every one of them deserves to be played and appreciated.

10. Dragon Age: Inquisition

Inquisition earns its place in my ranking for its ambitious fantasy world, memorable companions, and the feeling that you’re leading a movement capable of changing Thedas. Characters such as Dorian, Cassandra, and Varric give the adventure plenty of personality, while its political conflicts add welcome complexity.

However, its enormous maps can become exhausting (Hinterlands, I see you!). Repetitive side quests and endless collectibles sometimes distract from the excellent central story. It is a game that could have been considerably stronger with a little less content and more focus. Nonetheless, it is remembered fondly for being the big winner at the inaugural The Game Awards in 2014.

9. Baldur’s Gate

Before Mass Effect and Dragon Age, there was Baldur’s Gate, the game that helped establish BioWare as a major name in role-playing games. Its rich fantasy setting, party-based adventuring, and adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons rules created an experience that rewarded curiosity and experimentation. I only recently came back to finishing the game with the release of the Enhanced Edition on modern platforms, but the quality and prototype for BioWare storytelling were already taking shape.

The problem is that its age is increasingly apparent. The interface can feel awkward, the combat takes patience, and the characters aren’t quite as developed as those in its sequel. Nonetheless, its importance to BioWare’s history and gaming in general is difficult to overstate.

8. Neverwinter Nights

Neverwinter Nights deserves recognition for giving players the tools to create their own adventures. Its campaign, multiplayer possibilities, and Aurora engine helped turn it into something much bigger than a conventional RPG. The community’s custom maps offered practically endless opportunities to build new stories.

Its original campaign can be uneven, however, and the presentation feels dated today even with the Enhanced Edition. Still, the freedom it offered was remarkable for an early 2000s RPG. BioWare was telling stories, while helping players and developers create their own.

7. Mass Effect 3

Few games have delivered a sense of impending catastrophe quite like Mass Effect 3. The Reapers are finally here, and Shepard must unite a divided galaxy against an enemy that seems impossible to defeat. Seeing familiar characters return gives the conflict enormous emotional weight, and it kept me on the edge of my seat to see my favorite gaming trilogy to its end.

Unfortunately, the controversial ending remains difficult to ignore. After three games of decisions and consequences I, like many players, felt the final choices didn’t adequately reflect Shepard’s journey. Even so, the emotional highs, great combat, personal companion moments, and desperate atmosphere make it an unforgettable conclusion that often feels harshly judged to this day. At ease, Marauder Shields.

6. Mass Effect

The original Mass Effect introduced one of gaming’s most compelling science-fiction universes, one that in my eyes belongs up there alongside Star Wars and Star Trek. Mass Effect’s detailed lore, political tensions, alien civilisations, and ambitious choices made exploring the galaxy feel alien (cough cough) and exciting. Meeting Shepard’s crew for the first time was the beginning of something special, each with defined backstories and motivations. This game made me desperate to buy an Xbox 360 at the time, and boy was it worth it!

Of course, the combat and inventory systems haven’t aged particularly well. The Mako sections can be clumsy, and the shooting sometimes feels secondary to the role-playing, something that BioWare worked hard on fixing in the sequels. But the world-building remains outstanding, and without this game, the trilogy would never have become what it was.

5. Dragon Age: Origins

For me, Dragon Age: Origins represents BioWare at its dark fantasy best. Its different origin stories give the protagonist a more tailored history, while difficult decisions force players to choose between competing loyalties rather than simple good and evil. The companions, political intrigue, and atmosphere make the world feel grim and at its breaking point.

Its tactical combat and lengthy encounters can be demanding, particularly for newcomers. Some of its mechanics also show their age. But its ambition and willingness to let choices carry real weight make it one of the defining RPGs of its generation. The Dragon Age series should’ve been as popular as its Mass Effect sibling. It’s a real shame that the sequels couldn’t match up to the original’s high points, especially the recent missed opportunity with Veilguard.

4. Jade Empire

I must confess that Jade Empire is one of if not the most interesting experiments put together by BioWare and one of my favorite RPGs of all time. Drawing on Chinese mythology and martial arts fantasy, it delivered a distinctive setting at a time when many Western RPGs leaned heavily on familiar medieval fantasy. Its combat styles, philosophical choices, and colourful characters helped it stand apart.

Its main weakness is that combat can become repetitive, while its role-playing systems aren’t as deep as those in Baldur’s Gate or Dragon Age. Yet I still admire how confidently it tried something different and succeeded. It’s the kind of world I’d love to revisit, and the lack of a proper sequel remains a missed opportunity.

3. Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn

Baldur’s Gate II is where BioWare’s classic formula truly reached a high point. It expanded on the original with a richer cast, more sophisticated quests, a memorable villain in Jon Irenicus, and an enormous fantasy adventure packed with secrets and mysteries to discover. Its companions feel genuine, while the gameplay can be punishing if you try to approach it like a normal RPG. I know I had a few things to learn during my playthrough and Baldur’s Gate II made me doubt my approach.

The learning curve can be steep, and its Dungeons & Dragons rules are intimidating if you’re unfamiliar with them. But this depth is precisely what makes it so rewarding and why so many players keep coming back to it. It remains one of the strongest examples of how to build a sprawling RPG without losing sight of its characters, story, and identity.

Baldur’s Gate III successfully carried on its legacy making the DnD aspects more accessible and the gameplay more refined and up-to-date. I hope to see a Baldur’s Gate IV in the future…one can hope.

2. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

We are in the final two and honestly both would deserve the top spot as BioWare’s very best. Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) gave Star Wars fans something extraordinary: the opportunity to inhabit a story in which their decisions could shape their identity and the fate of the galaxy. It moved past the Skywalker saga and into territory that fans are begging Disney to adapt to this day. Its companions are so charismatic and well developed and it features one of the greatest plot twists in gaming history. KOTOR has a special place for me growing up and getting introduced to RPGs and Star Wars, as well as featuring my first game crush with Bastila Shan. I know you are judging me, but I bet she was your crush too!

KOTOR’s combat can feel slow, and some systems are dated, but the writing and atmosphere remain intact. For me, it captures the excitement of discovering a Star Wars story that feels entirely your own. It also demonstrated just how powerful BioWare’s approach to storytelling could be when given a license to adapt other IPs.

While BioWare might be gone, there is still hope for new KOTOR games with the much-anticipated remake and spiritual sequel Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic still in development. May the Force be with them.

1. Mass Effect 2

And here we are. At number one is Mass Effect 2, the game that, for me, represents BioWare at its absolute best.

The premise is simple but brilliant: assemble a team of specialists for a suicide mission. That structure gives every companion a purpose, from their personal struggles to their loyalty missions, making the crew feel like the heart of the entire experience, while the looming galactic threat takes shape in the background. Characters such as Garrus, Tali, Mordin, and Miranda are central to what makes the journey so memorable. It also features one of the most impactful beginnings of any game and it takes you by surprise.

The streamlined role-playing systems and reduced exploration frustrated some fans of the original, while the main story can feel secondary to recruiting and helping the crew. But the character writing, atmosphere, and spectacular Suicide Mission bring everything together. Your preparations matter, your relationships matter, and the consequences can be devastating if you are not careful.

No other BioWare game has combined its characters, tension, and cinematic storytelling quite so effectively for me. Mass Effect 2 is my favorite BioWare game and one of my favorite games of all time.

Saying Goodbye

BioWare’s closure marks the end of an era for me. Its best games made their worlds feel real, their companions feel like friends, and their stories feel like my own. I’m sad there may be no more adventures from this studio, but I’ll always be grateful for the memories it gave me.

Thank you, BioWare. These games will always have a special place with me.

Adrian Cozmuta | Managing Editor

Adrian grew up with PlayStation and Nintendo, although he’s recently on a journey to experience the very best of Xbox. His first ever game was Metal Gear Solid and his favorites are Mass Effect, Halo, Knights of the Old Republic, and Final Fantasy. He has traveled the world and lived in Japan, the UK, and the EU working in the industry with Square Enix, Sony, and Nintendo on titles like Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest, and more. He is the Managing Editor of Smash Jump.