Dragon Age: Origins, the 2009 BioWare RPG, established gameplay systems that Baldur's Gate 3 later refined, according to the report. The game features a camp system where companions confide in the player, an approval mechanic that changes based on player choices, and origin stories that alter how NPCs treat the player character.
The report highlights specific companion characters in Origins, including Zevran, a sardonic elf rogue hired to kill the player. This mirrors Astarion's role in Baldur's Gate 3. Other Origins companions include Alistair, a Grey Warden with hidden insecurities; Morrigan, a sarcastic mage; Leliana, a bard; Sten, a warrior; and Oghren, a drunken berserker.
Player choices in Origins carry permanent consequences. Insulting an NPC, sparing or betraying allies, and selecting morally questionable dialogue options affect companion approval and story outcomes. One example: selecting a dubious dialogue option during a political conflict causes Alistair to threaten leaving the party. The game includes cinematics showing the results of these choices.
The report notes Origins features real-time combat with pause, and the campfire scenes involve companions conversing with each other. BioWare's co-founders described Dragon Age as a spiritual successor to their own Baldur's Gate series.
The 2009 game runs on modern PC and Xbox Series X through backwards compatibility. The report mentions quality-of-life fixes exist, including patches addressing crashes and mods upgrading textures and fixing bugs. The game requires roughly 50 hours to complete and includes the Awakening expansion.