Bioware’s successful fantasy RPG seriesDragon Ageis home to truly ambitious storylines, unique characters, and rich lore ingrained strongly into the game’s world. All of the denizens of Thedas know about the threats and horrors they live tenuously alongside, always living with the worry of a dragon attack, mages becoming abominations, or another Blight that would see thousands dead.
This all sounds like the stuff of nightmares, andDragon Agesupplies the fuel plentifully. Despite being touted as a fantasy RPG, there are many disturbing elements in the game that players will unfortunately come face-to-face with, though they will wish they hadn’t.
Updated July 17, 2025, by Mara Cowley:The gaming industry is abuzz with all the news and teasers BioWare have treated fans to ofDragon Age: The Veilguard, bringing new fans into the folds and driving old fans back to the classic games for a refresher before embarking on the next adventure. Many may forget, or not even be aware of the darker parts of theDragon Ageseries. Though firmly a fantasy series, that hasn’t stopped BioWare sprinkling in their own brand of horror in terms of enemies, parts of the lore, and even its characters. This article has already delved into some of these darker elements, but withVeilguardon the horizon, it’s time to shed more light on the horrors of Dragon Age, so new fans can prepare themselves.
11The Dark Ritual
Dark in Both Name and Nature
In order to negate the possibility of the Warden dying from slaying the Archdemon, the powerful and mysterious mage Morrigan offers a solution through a ritual she has conducted. By carrying the child of a Grey Warden, the soul of the Archdemon can travel to her unborn child rather than whatever Warden slayed it, providing them with an out.
But of course, Morrigan gets something out of this, a child with the essence of the Archdemon, which is quite a cruel thing to to put an unborn child through, and a very dark method to protect the Wardens.
10The Calling
Every Grey Warden is Doomed to the Same Unfortunate Fate
The Grey Wardens are already dark enough with how they are created, as surviving the Joining ritual is no small feat, and inflicts the candidate with excruciating pain. Most Grey Wardens aren’t even aware they are signing up for possible death by simply becoming a Grey Warden, but those who survive are doomed to another unfortunate fate.
Because Wardens have the darkspawn taint inside of them, those that don’t die in battle will eventually hearthe Calling, a magical beckoning that uses this connection to pull Wardens to the Deep Roads for one last battle against the darkspawn that always ends the same way. Although the Hero of Ferelden decides to attempt to find a way to cure it for all Wardens, there has still been no news of a cure, so all Wardens are still damned to die prematurely to the blade.
9Return to Ostagar
Cailan’s Corpse is a Disturbing Discovery
Ostagar is a location of great important in Origins, as it is where the King and the Grey Wardens made their stand against the darkspawn, and fell when Loghain withdrew his forces in a tactical but cold decision that left thousands for dead.
The player has the option to return to Ostsgar, where they can pay respect to their fallen, retrieve certain items. What makes this DLC so dark is beholding what the darkspawn did to Cailan’s corpse. They stripped him of his armor, which has been separated between several darkspawn, and strung his body up for all who go there to see. A grim warning or an act of disrespect? It is unclear which it is, yet it was still a disturbing sight to behold.
8Leandra’s Death
Hawke’s Mother Was Victim to a Wannabe Frankenstein
The Hawke family faced its share of misfortunes when the darkspawn drive them from their home. One of the twins falls to an ogre, the surviving family live in the slums with their cantankerous Gamlen, and then the other sibling dies to the Blight or joins the Wardens. One would not be surprised that a wedge is driven between the elder Hawke sibling and Leandra, but this still caused her death to be one of the most tragic and shocking scenes in the entire game.
During Act 2, Leandra goes missing, causing a panic among the Amell family, and of course, Hawke and co. After searching and picking up on a trail, Hawke will find the kidnappers' lair, and behold a horrible abomination–a stitched together corpse with Leandra’s head. This was one of the moments that stuck withDragon Age 2fans, not just because of the tragedy, but how dark and utterly chilling the entire mission was.
7Morrigan’s Companion Mission
Morrigan’s Unique Quest Sheds Light on a Diabolical Plan
Flemeth is a key player at the end ofInquisitionbut debuts in the very first game,Origins. She is the mother of Morrigan,one of the companionsthat has joined the Warden’s endeavor to unite the lands and end the threat of the Blight.
When her approval reaches a high enough level, Morrigan approaches the Warden, asking for help in finding Flemeth’s true grimoire, which she thinks holds many powerful spells, but it, in fact, reveals how Flemeth has lived so long. She raises a daughter to possess her body once the one she is in will expire, with Morrigan in line as the next sacrifice. It is disturbing enough to imagine any woman doing this to her daughter once, but Flemeth has evidently done this numerous times.
6The Joining
The Method of Creating a Grey Warden is a Closely Guarded Secret for Good Reason
In order tocreate warriors that stand a chanceat stopping the Blight, the Grey Wardens were formed, and the Joining Ritual created. Outsiders do not know what the Joining exactly is, but new recruits are warned that it is dangerous, but will only learn exactly what it entails when it happens.
The reason it is such a protected secret is because the Joining is deadly, as recruits will drink Darkspawn blood, which is a death sentence in most cases. Most recruits die before they even embark on their first mission, yet the Wardens have no qualms in conscripting anyone they deem worthy enough into the ranks with little regard for the threat it imposes on their lives.
5Red Lyrium
This Substance is as Dangerous as it is Addictive
Guarding the mages is a dangerous job because of the magic they wield and their connection to the Fade. To avoid the risk of being overpowered or influenced by magic, Templars take Red Lyrium, but it is not without its drawbacks.
It is as highly addictive as any drug, and even those who leave the Templar orderbattle with their addiction. Not only that, but it has the power to corrupt those who take it, as demonstrated by Knight Commander Meredith inDragon Age 2. Its power to corrupt and enslave those who take it makes it a disturbing and tragic element of the series, which is explored inInquisitionthrough Cullen’s character arc.
4City Elf Origin
Out of All Six Origins, the City Elf is the Most Disturbing
Players will choose from one of six origin stories when startingDragon Age: Origins, human noble, mage, Dalish elf, city elf, dwarf commoner, or dwarf noble. They provide the player with a unique backstory and reason for Duncan recruiting them into the Grey Wardens, andthe City Elf is by far the most harrowing.
It is the wedding day for a few elf couples, and on a day that should have been filled with celebrations and happiness, the elves, unfortunately, earn the wrath of Vaughan, the son of an important lord who arrives to ruin the day. The female elves are kidnapped, and the Warden’s cousin, Shianni, is physically assaulted. It’s a harrowing situation players endure, and Vaughan intends to hold all the women hostage for the whole night. The other origins pale in comparison to the horrors in this one.
3The Darkspawn
The Darkspawn Have Long-Bloodied Thedas’s Past
The Darkspawn are undeniably the most potent threat the Fereldan’s face, and it is only a matter of time before they invade the upper world,unleashing a Blightupon all the land. They attack any and all in their path indiscriminately and mercilessly, cutting down any who stand in their way, no matter how young, old, or helpless they are.
The danger they impose is so severe, that the Grey Wardens, warriors who undertake a dangerous ritual to join their elite forces, were created for the onerous task of ending the Blight. In the first gameDragon Age: Origins, the Wardens and their fight against the Darkspawn are at the fore and center of the plot, and players will witness plenty of horrifying Darkspawn variants and atrocities.
2Demons and the Fade
Mages are wildly feared in the world of Thedas, largely in part due to their connection to the Fade, separated from the world by the Veil. Mages tap into the Fade when using magic, which attracts the dangerous demons that call the Fade home.
The design of these demons is pure nightmare fuel, and yet there have been many mages that have fallen victim to them, seduced by the offers and deals they make. These mages then go on to become Abominations, dangerous creatures that will rack up a mighty body count if they aren’t put to death. The very nature of the Fade and the sway it holds over the mages are both truly disturbing elements.
