Dreadwolf's Sinister Reign: Unleashing the Terrifying Horror in Dragon Age

Highlights

Dragon Age may not be classified as a horror game, yet the sinister origins behind its various elements contribute an intriguing dimension to its narrative.

The Tevinter Imperium, recognized for its blood magic and gothic-inspired architecture, provides an ideal backdrop for the upcoming game. By incorporating horror elements like possessed serial killers and eerie catacombs, Dragon Age: Dreadwolf can elevate the overall gaming experience while building upon the established horror themes of the franchise.

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, the highly anticipated action RPG from BioWare, is expected to bring significant changes to the beloved franchise. While details have been scarce, leaks suggest that the game will feature action combat akin to 2018's God of War.

One aspect that remains uncertain is the tone of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. However, there is a compelling argument for BioWare to explore the franchise's horror elements. While Dragon Age has never veered into the realm of true horror, the original game delved into dark and unsettling themes. The depiction of Darkspawn, Demons, Blood Magic, and related concepts showcased a sense of unease.

With Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, BioWare has the opportunity to prioritize the franchise's horror aspects. There are indications that the studio is leaning towards embracing this direction, generating heightened interest and anticipation among fans.

Horror in the Dragon Age Setting

The Darkspawn Broodmothers are widely regarded as the epitome of horror in the Dragon Age universe. Featured in Dragon Age: Origins and its Awakening expansion, these creatures crafted by BioWare are incredibly disturbing and grotesque. Essentially, Broodmothers are mutated women from various races (human, dwarf, elf, and qunari) who give birth to countless Darkspawn. The process of creating them is as appalling as their appearance, involving the Darkspawn kidnapping a woman, infecting her with the Blight, and force-feeding her the flesh of other captives.

In comparison, the Blight-infected Ghouls may not be as visually repulsive, but their condition is far from ideal. The Blight gradually corrupts their bodies and minds, turning them into mindless zombies. However, the most heartbreaking characters in Dragon Age: Origins would likely be the sentient Ghouls, such as Ruck and Hespith, who still possess fragments of their sanity and comprehend the tragedy unfolding within them.

The horrors of Dragon Age's Darkspawn and the Calling cannot be discussed without mentioning the inevitable fate of Grey Wardens. As the corruption of their blight progresses, Wardens venture alone into the Deep Roads to face the Darkspawn in a final battle, doomed to wander through the dark tunnels as their bodies are destroyed by the corruption and the haunting song of the Archdemon takes over their minds.

Furthermore, it is important to analyze how Blood Magic and Demons were approached in both Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age 2. In Origins, players undertook a quest named "Something Wicked," where they were tasked with banishing spirits from an abandoned orphanage. This quest encompassed various horror elements, with encounters with ghosts and hearing disembodied voices within the blood-soaked halls. The depiction of demonic possession in the game was equally unsettling, with Abominations being depicted as grotesque and bloated monsters. Although Abominations like Connor and Sophia Dryden resemble humans, their eerie appearance and behavior would fit right into the world of Resident Evil.

In Resident Evil, The Golems of Amgarrak, a DLC for Dragon Age: Origins, introduced grotesque flesh monsters called Harvesters. A similar creature appeared in Dragon Age 2. In the second game, there is a significant storyline involving a serial killer stalking the streets of Kirkwall. This storyline reaches its climax with the killings and assemblage of Hawke's mother and other women into a creature resembling Frankenstein's Monster. Although not necessarily scary, these scenes are horrific and disturbing.

In Dragon Age: Inquisition, Darkspawn, possession, and Blood Magic have a reduced role, and the game's tone leans more towards typical heroic fantasy. However, Inquisition still includes horror elements. Areas heavily populated by undead, such as Crestwood and The Fallow Mire, give off strong horror movie vibes. The Codex entries also contain unnerving stories and descriptions. Notably, the side quest "Chateau d'Onterre" takes players through a haunted mansion, and the Envy Demon in "Champions of the Just" is also worth mentioning.

Dreadwolf's Horror Should be Front and Center

The upcoming game Dragon Age: Dreadwolf has a unique chance to enhance the horror aspects that define the franchise. This highly anticipated installment transports players to the Tevinter Imperium, a setting that may also include the regions of Anderfels and Nevarra. For those familiar with the Dragon Age universe, this promises to be a collection of the series' most terrifying elements.

Tevinter is an empire entirely devoted to blood magic, where every mage of importance practices these dark arts. Necromancy and human sacrifice are disturbingly common occurrences in this region, as believed by those in Southern Thedas. In addition, the Imperium's cities are characterized by imposing gothic-inspired architecture that looms over the eerie streets below. The Tevinter city showcased in the 2022 trailer for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf exhibits a gothic horror rendition of Blade Runner. To truly capture the horror aspect, it would be a wasted opportunity if the game did not include at least one possessed figure akin to Jack the Ripper, and other elements to intensify the dread.

In the neighboring Anderfels, a significant issue arises with the presence of Darkspawn. The majority of its landmass is a Blight-infected steppe, an unfortunate result of numerous invasions by Darkspawn. The leaked gameplay of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf suggests a renewed focus on the Darkspawn and the exploration of their horrific origins. Additionally, Nevarra serves as the capital of necromancy in Thedas. The Nevarran Mortalitasi, distinct from traditional fantasy necromancers, hold a vital position in Nevarran culture. However, the dark catacombs of the Grand Necropolis conceal numerous terrors, as illustrated in the story "Down Among the Dead Men" from the Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights anthology. Even the Mortalitasi do not possess comprehensive knowledge of what lies within.

Notably, several stories from Tevinter Nights, including "Down Among the Dead Men," "The Horror of Hormak," "Callback," "Luck in the Gardens," and "Hunger," revolve around themes of horror. If Tevinter Nights serves as a preview for the upcoming game, it is reasonable to assume that these concepts will have a significant role in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. It would be a missed opportunity if Dreadwolf fails to capitalize on these captivating horror themes and further expand the world of Dragon Age.

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is in development.