GameTimeline

Release & story order

Dragon Age timeline

Dragon Age from Origins (2009) through The Veilguard (2024)—US release dates, Thedas story chronology, Awakening expansion placement, and FAQ for Inquisition DLC, carry-over saves, and play-order debates around Dragon Age II.

Updated August 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When BioWare shipped each chapter—Dragon Age: Origins (2009), Awakening expansion (2010), Dragon Age II (2011), Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014), then Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024). Ultimate Editions and Jaws of Hakkon / Trespasser DLC are optional unless noted.

  • Full saga → Origins (+ Awakening) → DA II → Inquisition (+ Trespasser) → Veilguard
  • Newcomers short on time → Inquisition or Veilguard with Keep recap—loses earlier context
  • Use Dragon Age Keep before Inquisition to set world state
  • Ultimate/Game of the Year bundles include most essential DLC—FAQ
Story order tips

One Thedas saga: Origins → Awakening → Dragon Age II → Inquisition → The Veilguard. Release and story order align—decisions carry forward via save imports and Dragon Age Keep (Inquisition onward).

  • Core canon: Origins → Awakening → Dragon Age II → Inquisition → The Veilguard
  • Awakening continues the Warden's story—do not skip on story order
  • Trespasser is Inquisition's epilogue—before Veilguard
  • On Story order, later entries may be hidden—reveal when ready or use Show all spoilers

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Dragon Age: Origins

    Dragon Age: Origins

    PCXbox 360PS3RPGMainline

    Dragon Age: Origins is BioWare's Fifth Blight epic—create a Warden across origins and decide Ferelden's fate. Release tab year here is 2009.

    Overview
    Origin prologues, tactical pause combat, and sprawling companion approval drama.
    In-game setting
    Saga start. Continue into Awakening before Dragon Age II.
    Should you play it?
    Best narrative start. Cousins: Mass Effect, Witcher, Elder Scrolls. Pair Dragon Age: Origins with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US November 3, 2009 (PC/360/PS3). Platforms called out for this beat: PC, Xbox 360, PS3.
  2. Dragon Age: Awakening

    Dragon Age: Awakening

    PCXbox 360PS3ExpansionMainline

    Dragon Age: Awakening expands the Warden into Amaranthine—new companions and post-Blight darkspawn politics. Release tab year here is 2010.

    Overview
    Essential expansion that bridges Origins into later world states. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Dragon Age: Awakening established.
    In-game setting
    Play after Origins; Keep/world-state imports matter for later games.
    Should you play it?
    Do not skip if you care about Warden continuity into DA2/Inquisition flags. Pair Dragon Age: Awakening with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US March 16, 2010. Platforms called out for this beat: PC, Xbox 360, PS3.
  3. Dragon Age II

    Dragon Age II

    PCXbox 360PS3RPGMainline

    Dragon Age II reframes the saga around Hawke in Kirkwall across a decade—tighter locales, louder companion drama. Release tab year here is 2011.

    Overview
    Act structure over a decade; streamlined combat; recycled environments (divisive). Sequel debates still measure new games against what Dragon Age II established.
    In-game setting
    Story after Awakening's era; imports alter cameos. Leads into Inquisition.
    Should you play it?
    Shorter campaign—still required for full Kirkwall→Inquisition context. Pair Dragon Age II with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US March 8, 2011. Platforms called out for this beat: PC, Xbox 360, PS3.
  4. Dragon Age: Inquisition

    Dragon Age: Inquisition

    PCPS3PS4Xbox 360Xbox OneRPGMainlineOpen world

    Dragon Age: Inquisition opens the sky—Inquisitor, Haven to Skyhold, and a sprawling multi-region RPG. Release tab year here is 2014.

    Overview
    Largest BioWare DA map set, Keep integration, and Trespasser epilogue DLC importance.
    In-game setting
    After DA2. Trespasser strongly recommended before Veilguard.
    Should you play it?
    Modern midpoint. Finish Trespasser (FAQ) before Veilguard for Solas threads. Pair Dragon Age: Inquisition with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US November 18, 2014; later Game of the Year editions. Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One.
  5. Dragon Age: The Veilguard

    Dragon Age: The Veilguard

    PCPS5Xbox Series X|SRPGMainline

    Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024) follows a new team against elven-god threats after Inquisition's fallout. Release tab year here is 2024.

    Overview
    Action-leaning combat and curated companion fantasy on current-gen hardware. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Dragon Age: The Veilguard established.
    In-game setting
    Latest mainline as of 2026—best after Inquisition+Trespasser context.
    Should you play it?
    Current endpoint. Newcomers can start at Origins or jump with lore primers—FAQ. Pair Dragon Age: The Veilguard with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US October 31, 2024. Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S.

FAQ

Release vs story order, Awakening and Trespasser placement, save imports, and where to start.

Release order

For Dragon Age they match: Origins (2009) → Awakening (2010) → Dragon Age II (2011) → Inquisition (2014) → The Veilguard (2024). Release order uses US launch dates; story order follows the Warden → Hawke → Inquisitor → Rook chronology in Thedas.

Full story: Origins Ultimate (includes Awakening) → Dragon Age II → Inquisition GOTY → Trespasser DLC → The Veilguard. Time-limited: Use Dragon Age Keep (free BioWare world-state tool) and start at Inquisition or Veilguard—you lose earlier character arcs but can follow the main plot.

Story & lore

Awakening is Origins' expansion—play immediately after the Origins main campaign with your Warden save. It is a Release and story-order titles, not optional side content. Skipping it loses Amaranthine plot referenced later. Included in Origins Ultimate Edition.

You can mechanically jump to Inquisition with Keep, but story order requires Dragon Age II. Hawke's Kirkwall choices drive the mage-templar war that Inquisition resolves. DA2 is shorter than Origins/Inquisition—most saga playthroughs include it.

Play Trespasser (Inquisition epilogue DLC) after the main Inquisition campaign and before The Veilguard—it reveals critical setup for Veilguard's plot. Jaws of Hakkon and The Descent are optional side DLC—optional. Veilguard assumes Inquisition (+ ideally Trespasser) context.

Editions & DLC

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.