Electronic Arts is offering Dragon Age: Origins for free until October 14th. DA: Origins is a classic RPG and, while no game is universally loved, it definitely has a large and loyal following and is worth checking out.
A (free) Origins account is required to activate and play the game. Offer expires October 14th but once activated the game is yours.
It’s probably worth noting that they’re only giving away the bare-bones standard edition, and you’re likely going to end up paying them far more than you’ll save if you want the DLC and the expansion pack.
You’d probably be better off dropping the $25 for the Ultimate Edition.
Eh, most of the DLC is skippable and Awakenings was no great shakes either. But the offer is there just the same.
If you want the Ultimate edition, you’re much better off waiting for a $10 (or $7.99) sale on it than paying $25.
If you get this free copy of Dragon Age: Origins, head over to the Bioware site and you can download the Stone Prisoner DLC for free. That’s really the most important DLC for affecting the main game ince it adds an extra character to the story. There’s a couple other DLCs for some extra exploration and the rest of it is mini-stories outside of the main storyline which you can play at any time. So if you loved DA:O, just wait for the Ultimate Edition to go on sale and buy it then for the side stories and Awakenings.
Also, you can download a free DLC bundle of in-game items (magic rings, belts, weapons, etc) from previous offers and promotions.
If you like great RPGs please do this. DA:O was a great game.
I don’t think I bought any of the DLC on the Xbox and still really enjoyed the game.
Thanks for the notification. Now that I have a PC that can run everything I look forward to playing games on my PC once again!
I also greatly enjoyed the game but I did not play any of the DLC, which I do own, I bought the Ultimate Edition, I’ve just never played any of them. As much as I enjoyed the main game, I felt there was plenty there that I did not really need any more after I completed the main quest (and all the side quests in the main game).
Well, if you played the core game in the Ultimate Edition, you likely played three of the DLC (Stone Prisoner, Return to Ostegar & Wardens Keep) since those are integrated into the core game. Stone Prisoner gives you access to Shale, a new character, which is definitely worth it since Shale is well fit into the rest of the game and you’d never know was optional. The other two are less important and mainly just chances to get some high end armor for your mid-level characters and make the game easier.
Anaamika, playing it on PC has the additional advantage of mods. Both quality of life stuff like graphic enhancements, invisible hats/helms and the ability to respec and more game changing stuff like new spells, equipment, etc. If nothing else, I always run “Skip the Fade” which removes the dreary task of navigating the Fade “maze” but still awards you the appropriate skill points and character dialogues.
I know! I always say “I WILL DOWNLOAD ALL THE MODS” but I get too lazy to look for safe/legit ones and just play as is.
Sorry about the total newb question cluttering the thread, but if I got this, how would I control this? I’ve played Skyrim, but on a PS3, using a PS3 controller. I’ve never played something like Skyrim on a PC. Is it controlled similar to Doom, 20 years ago? Or do I need to buy a (Xbox?) controller.
It’s a 3rd person not-quite-open-world game. If you have an XBox controller you can use it but you don’t need to. It controls like pretty much any other computer game: WASD to move, mouse to look, mouse buttons for common actions, other keyboard keys in the close vicinity of WASD for other actions.
I always played it mouse + keyboard. Does it even have controller bindings? I’ve never played it on a console (so I guess it must, huh?) but would think controller would be annoying versus the hotkey bar.
Anaamika, the mods from the link I posted should be safe. That doesn’t mean they’re all “good” or compatible with one another but none would be viruses or anything.
I think it’s a good, solid RPG. I liked the interactions with the followers, in particular. And the “origins”, the starting stories for the various types of characters (there are 6 differents, IIRC, all interesting. I regret they didn’t have more consequences in latter game. But they definitely give a solid background for your character. I started with clear opinions about the game world, which is a rare thing. Again too bad you can’t really act on these strong feelings).
I played only the basic version, without any of the DLCs, and I find the game perfectly satisfying this way. I guess it would be nice to return to Ostagar if only for closure, or to have an extra NPC, but really it’s not needed. Just take the free copy and play the game as it is.
From what I read, the second installment of the game has been a major disapointment for most people who had enjoyed the first, since apparently they wanted it to have a broader appeal and as a result dumbed it down and removed most features that people had liked. So I never tried it.
Excellent game, in my opinion. Anyone who hasn’t played it already and has even a passing interest in RPGs should give it a go. Definitely grab the Stone Warden DLC, since it should be free and Shale is a very entertaining character.
There’s a bunch of paid DLC, but honestly they’re really not worth it. The three big ones basically just mini campaigns with no relation to the main game. The one where you control the enemy during a pivotal plot moment is kinda neat as an alternate history novelty, but none of them are at all necessary. Warden’s Keep is kinda nice in that it gives your main character a few extra, unique abilities, but they are in no way critical. Ostagar was just kinda blah to me.
On the mod front, the Skip the Fade mod is great for replaying the game, but for first time players I wouldn’t recommend it. That part of the game is worth experiencing precisely one time. I really like the mod that lets you respec any character, since it’s nice to play with whichever companions you find most interesting, rather than whoever is most optimized. There are also mods that let you have as many tactics slots as you want, which I found made the game much more interesting.
This is the third service I’ve signed up for due to free games. 
(The other two are Steam, for Portal, and GoG, for the first two Fallout games…)
So it’s about a month later and I no longer have Dragon Age (or Bejeweled, which I downloaded for free at the same time). When I sign back into my Origin Account it now says I have to purchase the game.
I can’t say I am surprised, at all, but perhaps I am just doing something wrong. Thoughts before I delete my Origins account and never look back?
I still have both, I played Dragon age last night. I am at work right now, but I will try again tonight when I get home
I just logged into my account, and I still have both.
I already had DA:O on Steam so didn’t grab it on Origin but all my other “On The House” games are still showing in my library. Seems to be an error specific to you.
Is there some sort of account/purchase history option on origin?
My guess is that you made two accounts far enough apart that you forgot about one. And then you ended up logging into the one that you didn’t grab those games on.