If you're thinking of finally having a crack at BioWare'sDragon Age but the idea of another RPG is daunting, don't worry — it isn't a time sinker. In fact, it's relatively short at only 20 hours granted that you run straight from the prologue to the ending, ignoring any side quests and potential romances.
Otherwise, it's standard RPG stuff, if not a little quicker given the way that the open-world is designed. It can vary from 40 to 80 hours based on how much of it you engage with. Rather than being a giant sprawling landmass filled with collectibles, NPCs, and dungeons, Dragon Age: Origins is made up of a series of smaller localized maps with quests dotted about, indicated by the standard golden exclamation mark. Don't knock the classics.
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The aim of the game is to travel from location to location to recruit allies in your fight against the Darkspawn, an evil army of demons led by a dragon known as the Archdemon. There are werewolves, elves, knights, dwarves, golems, mages, templars, the Reavers, and more to bring into your cause. You don't have to get 'em all and some are optional so it's up to you how long you run around trying to amass a Fellowship to conquer the Blight.
How Long Does It Take To 100% Dragon Age: Origins?
Believe it or not, this is an answer that was kindly addressed 12 years ago. BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka said that it took him 120 hours to reach 90% completion given the scope of content available.
That means from your starting origin to the Grey Wardens fall, to your recruitment of allies to fight the Darkspawn, there are three days worth of content to occupy the time.
In this junction, you can grab yourself a whole host of companions. There's Alistair, a templar turned Grey Warden who will join you by default, the dog (only available from the human noble origin), Leliana the bard, Morrigan the witch, Oghren the alcoholic dwarf, Shale the golem (DLC), Sten the Qunari prisoner, Wynne the Magi Circle enchanter, and Zevran the Antivan Crow assassin.
It's worth building your bond with these characters, especially Zevran given a later confrontation that occurs, but you cannot romance Alistair if you're a man, unfortunately.
How Long Are Dragon Age: Origins' DLCs?
Dragon Age: Origins has a whole host of DLC. There's A Tale of Orzammar, Leliana's Song, The Golems of Amgarrak, The Stone Prisoner, Warden's Keep, Witch Hunt, Return to Ostagar, and The Darkspawn Chronicles. As the game tells you, these take place before the final showdown with the Darkspawn, so that's a lot of adventuring jampacked into the Warden's seemingly short adventure.
On average, these take around one hour to beat, with Tale of Orzammar being shorter and Leliana's Song being double the length. On a whole, every DLC combined adds a total of 10 hours to your experience.
If Origins' completionist length of 120 hours wasn't enough, then the DLCs will certainly keep you satiated.
Next: Dragon Age Origins: How To Romance Morrigan
