The ULTIMATE BioWare Tier List...

[@James-u1y]

Matty these recent videos are very fun, I know some were made for the break to be quick but they are so entertaining I hope you make some more akin to the last 3-5 in 2025, also once you expirament with titles a little more for these I think you could get some more traction on them, but I’m no creator just worked in the space occasionally. Love ya man and have a good day.

[@ClellBiggs]

McFly!

[@brandobvf]

doc?

[@Philusteen]

It's not Marty, it's Manatee. Or Myrtle. Or even....Maddie?

[@DragonBallG69]

It’s just top 10 best games of the year a few BioWare videos and reacting to takes he had on fallout. I don’t see what’s so orgasmically incredible about it but whatever, glad you enjoy it so much.

[@MrMightyZ]

You just gave me an idea for crazy shaped chocolates called “Experimints” But seriously, Matty is underrated for one aspect of his skill; His ability to flow his thoughts with no script in to precise speech with excellent vocabulary (and also with no weak “…and like, it’s like, you know like…”) SO much better than 90% of his peers.

[@Rob3r96]

ME3 after the updates and the dlcs is the goat for me, the amount of responsibility placed upon the shoulders of that game was huge, and it managed to close all the narrative threads, while respecting the player's choices, and the cherry on top "It had to be me, somebody else might have gotten it wrong".

[@joshjmilli]

Call me a heretic, but I slightly prefer ME3 over ME2. The narrative is so much more compelling. It’s an amazing climax in an amazing series

[@matthewgrist5234]

​@@joshjmilliI think the DLC did push it top as just base games no chance and people hate on Andromeda but I think it was a decent game I hope the next ME game and this is hope 😂 is good and is a mesh of 3 and Andromeda as both had some really good mechanics and I think it would be a complete game

[@chalp1290]

Man, I'm glad someone else said it too. I loved ME3. People complained about the ending, but I thought it was incredible. Mass Effect is one of my most played series of all time. I played through all three 3 times and played 2 5 times. It's been years, and after seeing this I'm thinking about playing them all again.

[@vik24oct1991]

@@joshjmilli you are right but as a game the ending does let it down while ending is the massive plus for mass effect 2 hence I rate it slightly above mass effect 3.

[@vik24oct1991]

@@chalp1290 ending concept is pretty good but it was badly executed, I have a much better ending for it instead of introducing the starchild, when you have brokered peace between krogans and rest of the galaxy and geth and the qurians, that should be where reaper give up their plan of harvesting "for now" because they are proven wrong on their prediction that machines and organics cannot live together in peace but then illusive man becomes the main villain as he gains access to power of reapers and final showdown is between illusive man and his reaper army vs shepard and entire galaxy , in the end shepard take over the control of the reapers from illusive man and has the three choices which are presented to us, the only difference is that instead of synthesis ending I have paragon ending of allowing the reapers reset their cycle of 50000 years because they are proven wrong for now that organics cannot live with machines and destroy ending is eliminating all synthetic lives like it is in the game and control ending remains the same, and control ending is not paragon choice for me its more like a neutral choice and I don't believe reapers are truly evil and need to be eliminated, they are doing a important job of preserving and resetting life and that makes the organics and even machines come together for once causing a more unforced way of synthesis unlike the synthesis ending where one person is forcing synthesis on entire galaxy.

[@Maehedrose]

The Mass Effect trilogy, when taken as a whole, is my favorite experience in all of gaming. Each separate game was fantastic (aside from a few parts) but the way it integrated and acknowledged all your choices throughout the series (aside from a few shitty parts) really made it a gaming experience I'll treasure forever. When ME 2 came out I played it for 42 hours straight, only stopping to use the bathroom and eating while I played. I didn't sleep until I'd beat my first playthrough and started my second a day or two later. ME3 did a lot right, and really pulled everything together amazingly, but it did give us the finger concerning a few or our previous big choices (Rachni and Collector Base) and the ending was awful. Still, when everything is tallied, it's probably the best all-around game in the trilogy. (Also, my first Shepard was a 'win no matter the costs' character and that meant she sacrificed her relationship with Liara, killed Mordin and later Wrex, all in an attempt to win against the odds - such an emotional experience)

[@RiderZer0]

Mass Effect 3 was such a love letter to the fans post release after all the dlc. The cameos, the consequences, and oh my lord the music. The dlc was top tier. It’s just that ending was so hollow. The extended cut helped a little, but man after EVERYTHING, that ending just left me empty.

[@94tegLSatMSC]

Another ME3 lover, a man of culture

[@bwfextreme]

​@@RiderZer0 The ME3 DLC that let you hang out your crew, get an apartment, and fight the clone really left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't know it was DLC until after my playthrough, so it all just seemed fake and didn't make sense given the whole galaxy was basically doomed. Like Shepard's super serious but now he's happy to do side quests with his pals??

[@CradlePayne]

Everytime I beat ME3, I instantly start the trilogy over. I can't count how many playthroughs I have, but I do know this trilogy feels like home for me, and I love my home.

[@RiderZer0]

@ citadel dlc was amazing 🥲 Agree it felt out of place, but man context aside, it was hilarious and ended with some good closure.

[@SteelSpurs]

KOTOR, Origins, and the ME trilogy are where BioWare PEAKED.

[@Medsas]

wrong, BG2 is where they peaked, Origin is still amazing though 😊

[@impotenceaura]

BG2 was the culmination of Act 1 of the video game industry.

[@stanislavkimov2779]

@@Medsas don't forget Neverwinter Nights!

[@SteelSpurs]

@@Medsas Honestly disagree. Origins is an improvement on everything BG2 was. Same for KOTOR.

[@Medsas]

@ not really, dnd 2e is the GOAT ruleset, party size of 6 was also way better, the game had so much more replayability, I would plan the complete build of all 6 party members, setup the modlist I want, then execute the plan it was amazing :D Origins had a better story though, I loved that game so much as well!!

[@someoneelse4939]

Baldur's gate 1 and 2 (and Throne of Bhaal) are top tier. Legendary, in fact.

[@moncr79]

Absolutely, many days I would put them at the top of the Bioware tree. I love the escalation of threat, you start off dying to wolves and kobolds and end up with god like power. And it all makes sense in the universe it is set in.

[@johndeighan2495]

Amen. I also love that BG2 lets you become powerful enough to (virtually) break the game. I hate it when games don’t let you outpace the enemy power curve. “The player needs to feel challenged” - no! If I’ve been clever enough craft a game breaking party, I want to feel nothing except a literal god can challenge me.

[@Amrylin1337]

I don't think one holds up very well at all but as a history lesson yeah.

[@stanislavkimov2779]

Neverwinter Nights 1 was my favourite. But it's subjective. It's graphics and effects and atmosphere was groundbreaking for me on it's release. But Baldur's Gate 2 is probably my 2nd favourite. It's pure magic.

[@stanislavkimov2779]

@@johndeighan2495 yes, too much balance just smoothes everything out and makes it all meaningless. Games are for people to have fun and experiment.

[@seanlynch9716]

I have such fond memories of SWTOR. It hasnt aged the best over the years but that original experience from 2011-2013 was some of the best times I've had in gaming

[@Nytraz]

I agree wholeheartedly. It wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but the friendships I made and the experiences I had when playing those first couple of years are ones I’ll always remember fondly.

[@mccoyrj452]

I will say this for Baldur's Gate 1 and 2. PLAY BOTH! 1 is the low level campaign, 2 is the same story but the high level campaign. You literally carry over the same exact character between them. They are both amazing for different reasons because of how their different stories are told but still tie together.

[@Art0r1a]

I don't like low level DnD, but even I love BG1. (Even more with mods) Sure, BG2 is bigger and better, but BG1 is still worth playing IMHO.

[@Martian_Manhunter_01]

I plan on playing BG1&2 after I finish DAO. Do you guys have any tips for someone who knows nothing about the series? Any mods that would make my experience better?

[@mccoyrj452]

@ I recommend looking at the attribute tables on the wiki when making your character. Originally they came in the manual so they are not in game. Unlike modern D&D you need some monstrous scores to see any benefit basically. Aim for 18’s and then go nuts. Explore a ton and enjoy.

[@Art0r1a]

@@Martian_Manhunter_01 For first playthrough one doesn't really need mods. Just play the enhanced edition, it's pretty good. Implements some of BG2's functionality into BG1 and you can seemlessly import your BG1 character into BG2. The Siege of Dragonspear is nice, but not necceseray. However explore and explore, you can find lot of things aroung the world. And use the highlight key - I belive the Enhanced edtion has it maybe - because there's some really good loot lying around you probably won't find without. And don't really worry about your class, you'll have a party to compensate. I played FIghter/Thief in BG1 for my first playthrough and Sorcerer for BG2. And for the love of all that is holy don't start on insane difficulty. (Unless you enjoy randomly getting killed in 1 hit) And if your main character dies, it's game over, so it's not that fun unles you know what you're doing. As has been said, stats are really important in this game, there's a huge difference between say 15 and 18 strength. There are items to boost stats, but early game can be much harder with bad stats. Try to do quests that don't need fighting to get some decent XP. Disarming traps also gives decent XP. Don't be afraid to do a little kiting especially early on with bows and slings even. Scrolls can make all the difference in certain fights, so use read what they do and use them in the appropriate fight. Didn't want to put in much spoiler, that's why I've been so vague. It's been a while since I've played them, so others might be able to give better advice. Good luck and enjoy.😁

[@bigbastard7582]

I'm a huge isometric rpg fan, love Kotor and Neverwinter and all that. All that said I just cannot get past how dated bg1/2 are. The graphics I'm sure we're very nice for their time but it just detracts too much, coupled with the clunky gameplay. It hurts me so bad because I wish I could just get over it and play them but it simply will not click.

[@snowtyler]

Yo Matty, I'm pretty sure those McDonald's cups contain dangerous levels of cadmium. Neat collector item but I probably wouldn't drink from it too often.

[@RedheadJack]

Just the Shrek ones actually. Particularly the puss in boots one is the only seriously dangerous one

[@fadeaway4571]

Might have lead in it.

[@pepeedge5601]

Wtf

[@spikeboy6920]

Yea i was gonna say i hope he stops

[@Enzar17]

Don't skip Baldur's Gate 1, Matty. You can import your save, and there are characters who carry over. You won't have the full picture if you skip the first game.

[@angelavm84]

I still play BSG1. Ppl pass it over for BSG2, but indeed, they should be a package deal.

[@obba40]

Imo i watch the end on youtube for bg1

[@EvovledProtozoa]

Also BG1 is the better game of the two. Both some of my favourite games of all time that ive played many times, and while BG2 does many cool things, and plenty things better than the first, the story is sense of adventure just works better in BG1.

[@maxr7527]

I jumped to the end to check out Jade Empire's placement. now I can watch at peace.

[@maxr7527]

@@Smawllz I hope you hit a table leg with your little toe~

[@zivosthrintolimgren3513]

Honestly, it feels as though the Dragon Age franchise lost some of its identity when aspects of Mass Effect got grafted into it. It's telling when only one ME game is ranked low and one DA game is ranked high.

[@tomch6799]

Man Bioware used to be my favourite game dev company, it's such a shame seeing where it is today. I sincerely hope that they knock it out of the park with the next Mass Effect (If it ever comes out), although given their track record it seems very unlikely.

[@PeopleCallMeQ]

look up the game EXODUS the mass effect devs are working on it

[@chrisspink8873]

I hope they can knock it out of the park with mass effect 4 too. But one thing is for sure if they underdeliver it will be the final nail in the coffin for BioWare.

[@tomch6799]

@@PeopleCallMeQ Yeah Exodus looks great! Can't wait to play it, i hope it releases this year.

[@stanislavkimov2779]

Bioware was the single best developer for RPG games. I still believe after Bioware's demise (ME2, DA: O), AAA RPG is dead, save for Witcher 1-3 (but CDPR seems to be dead now too). Larian and BG3 doesn't scratch that itch. Sad, after 15 years the industry keeps stagnating with AAA RPG games.

[@chrisspink8873]

@@stanislavkimov2779 that’s a fair stance personally I just got baulders gate 3 a few weeks ago and it feels like a true sequel to DA origins to me. In terms of gameplay, tone feel etc. obviously it’s a different setting but it just felt some much like a modern evolution of origins to me. Loving it.

[@RockoEstalon]

If Baldur's Gate 2 does not end up on S category we will have to revoke your RPG credentials Matty. BG1 is flawed but BG2 is amazing and has one of my top 10 favorite companions: The GOAT Jan Jansen, 10 times funnier than Minsc.

[@vincentd.2284]

Agreed. While I like Matty, I have to say he doesn't have that much cred with the hardcore crpg crowd as he barely has a track record of going through real CRPG. In fact, has he even played any of them in recent years? Has he ever tried any other recent CRPG revival. All he has got in this genre is a few larian games and his experience as a kid with kotor and DA:O? No Pillars, no Pathfinder, no Tyranny, no Disco Elysium, no BG1&2, no IWD. He basically powered through FO1&2 mostly because he loves Fallout3 so much... To me, he is somewhat of a casual rpg guy, being very partial to mainstream action RPGs and RPG-lite games like ME. One of his rpg tier list had Borderlands in there! He is not Mortismal or Cohh.

[@RockoEstalon]

@@vincentd.2284 Yeah, Matty has stuck close to "Consolised" CRPG. I understand his enthusiams with some of those mid to late 2000's RPGs but I cannot consider DAO and Kotor "S-Tier". For example I replayed Origins recently and I feel that Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition are closer in quality to DAO than DAO is to the really greats like BG2, BG3, Pillars, Pathfinder. The Jank in DAO is insane, Bioware tried to do a 3D Baldur's Gate 2 but that style that worked on an isometric RPG is a pain in the ass for a third person RPG, is too slow.

[@vincentd.2284]

@@RockoEstalon We are in full agreement again. Yes. DA:O and Kotor are definitely not S tier. Good games but really not that good compared to real CRPGs.

[@calgunderson752]

@@vincentd.2284 Yeah, that's why I think he definitely should not skip BG1 and start with 2. 2 has insanely complex magic systems and it'll be really tough to keep up not having played the first one.

[@vincentd.2284]

​@calgunderson752 I agree. I missed the part about him just playing bg2. This is a bad idea. Most quality of life issues with 1 were fixed by the enhanced version. BG1 is almost as good as the second one

[@elliottb7009]

i love BG1 +2. i think 2 is better, just because there is heaps more to do (spells, weapons, locations, side content, characters) and it is easier to get through from the beginning. playing the enhanced edition is the way to go, but also just take a moment to recognize the gameplay, story and visuals like it was the year it first came out. i really think it set the bar with how beautiful and timeless it looks. the location design is great. i recommend playing bg 1 first to get the full story and characters before heading into bg2. i also highly recommend the icewind dale series. i did enjoy BG3, but i wish it played more like 2 instead of the turnbased.

[@JimmyMon666]

BG1 I always say is the quintessential D&D experience. Low level characters traveling through the forest fighting monsters and wolves and whatnot. It does such a great job at feeling like a D&D campaign. But yeah BG2 has Sooooo much more things to do. Including strongholds which aren't that great, but it's the icing on the cake for me. And it's where they introduced more cut scenes with such an awesome voice actor. It turned it a little more cinematic which is a good thing imho. You the character, should never even be able to see the things Sarevok is doing, but it's still cool to see. It made him the better villain.

[@MarcoEscobarg]

Unpopular opinion. Mass Effect 3 is the best of the trilogy. It is just unfinished. But the level of emotion just cannot compete. To be fair, I believe the trilogy should be considered one single experience, though. But yeah, for me ME3 is the best. Even if the did fuck up the ending at release. Also, Control is the only ending that makes sense for me for Paragon Shepard. Destroy for Renegade Shepard. Synthesis just weird AF.

[@kortov7756]

I appreciate the take. Still, Destroy was my choice for my staunch Paragon. The justification? Shepard knew that with absolute power comes absolute corruption, and that between now and eternity it was inevitable to happen no matter how noble or genuine the underlying intentions and resolution were originally. Leaving Destroy as the only viable option, as no single creature or mind should have that much power and responsibility.

[@MarcoEscobarg]

​@@kortov7756 I heard that argument several times. And I respect that. But for me, there is no enough information about that being suggested in the game. And paragon Shepard is for me the ultimate galaxy defender. In control he becomes that on another level, protecting each species (no saving the Geth just to destroy them later) and keeping the galaxy as strong as possible (he himself commanding the ultimate power and keeping full functioning relays). Destroy for me is consistent with renegade Shepard, who straightforward does what needs to be done to ensure humanity survival, even if screwing up other species.

[@danischannel]

My only issue is that at the very end, the starchild brings a completely new angle to the narrative by mentioning that reapers were created to bring a solution to the organic vs synthetic conflict . Like what ? That's not even one of the main themes of mass effect until that point . They could and should have at least hinted at it with some clever forshadowing instead of just the geth quarian conflict. I still love the trilogy though

[@MarcoEscobarg]

@danischannel it is unconfirmed but common knowledge they changed the reasons of the reapers in ME3 development. Game is really unifinished

[@battlep0t]

@@kortov7756 And even then Destroy makes the whole freeing the Geth storyline with Legion completely meaningless

[@Maehedrose]

Dragon Age 2 is my second favorite game in the DA franchise, right after 'Awakening'. I was so tired of 'chosen one' storylines by the time this game came around that just playing the coolest person in Kirkwall was a nice change. 'Jade Empire' is one of my favorite Bioware games and it's disappointing we never got a sequel in a more modern engine. I would consider the 'Kotor' games to be as iconic and essential to Star Wars as the OT - those games helped define so much of the SW universe.

[@Jinforrver]

Dragon Age 2 is criminally underrated.

[@JohnathanWilliams-u4h]

​@@Jinforrver Veilguard is still better but I'll admit if DA2 had for time to cook in the oven for more years it would have been way better.

[@Th1sUsernameIsNotTaken]

@@JohnathanWilliams-u4h No, it's not. You're entitled to that wrong opinion, but quit trying to convince us all of how good that bad game is.

[@keiremu]

​@@JohnathanWilliams-u4h No it isn't... DA2 has way better writing

[@rossetti4444]

If it wasn't so cut and paste at times it may have been more appreciated, but it also followed Origins/Awakening. I love the DA II characters...I cannot say that about many of the characters in Inquisition which I feel is vastly overrated... Andromeda and Inquisition left me feeling Bioware was truly...gone, and I still blame the acquisition by EA...in my heart.. I never even bothered with Anthem or Veilguard...

[@Spilfiasco]

The "high I'm still chasing" about Mass Effect is the same thing I have felt since Mass Effect, and the first game came out the year after I finished high school where you said you were playing the final game in high school, so it's probably not just part of growing up cause I'm right there with you.

[@mrmagoo-i2l]

Only the original FF7 has had me so hooked on a story as ME.

[@Tkdmaster1991]

Jade Empire was one of my favorite all time games, it's a real shame that there was never a sequel made.

[@anthonyhampton2991]

Man Jade empire is so slept on, I wish they would’ve continued that series. Maybe a remake/remaster one day but I doubt it

[@thehallofkillz3069]

Awful combat with a great story

[@anthonyhampton2991]

@ compared to modern games yes, but I didn’t mind it back when it came out. I think the last time I played was maybe around 2015ish, and I still enjoyed it then. Not sure how it would feel now but I’m sure it has aged. If they modernized the combat and made it a bit more dynamic that would be an easy win for BioWare right now lol

[@anthonyhampton2991]

@ compared to modern games yes, but I didn’t mind it back when it came out. I think the last time I played was maybe around 2015ish, and I still enjoyed it then. Not sure how it would feel now but I’m sure it has aged. If they modernized the combat and made it a bit more dynamic that would be an easy win for BioWare right now lol

[@michal8635]

Playing BG2 is a great 2025 goal to have. The way 3 ties into 2 was one of my favorite things about it.

[@paulpallo5513]

It kinda stinks when the 3 games you really wanted to hear an opinion about don't get discussed. Ah well, at least you're honest.

[@jasons2210]

I remember trying Mass Effect 1 back in like 2008 because my older brother loved it. I got like halfway through Eden Prime and was bored so I shut it off and didnt think twice about it. Mass Effect Andromeda was the first ME I really played because my good friend who was a huge ME fanboy was hyped for it. In 2019, my friend finally convinced me to give the original trilogy another shot and man am I glad I listened. Ive played the trilogy multiple times now and regard it as one of my favorite all time franchises.

[@chrisj320ac3]

Jade Empire was the first Bioware game i ever played, it was so good.

[@johndeighan2495]

Baldur’s Gate 2 for me. It still holds up today.

[@PlayLaughLogan]

Loving the variety lately man, keep it up 🙏🏻 def do more of these fun random vids

[@renossantinc768]

KOTR was my first cyberpunk in that it my first rpg where all my choices mattered up until the end of the game so each play thru was 100% diff than the last. just mind boggling how huge that game was for the time. def one of the best games ever made.

[@eyasidebutcloser2873]

You showing that mickey mouse cup was a flashbang for me. We had one in the house growing up. No memory of it existing for decades until you showed it. That should be considered a relic.

[@RottenPieceof]

The Mass Effect Legendary Edition holds a special place in my heart, because it kept me optimistic about the sci-fi genre. I remember watching the original Star Wars trilogy and thinking “what do people like about this”. Basic ass protagonist. Black and white morality. The Force isn’t that interesting. But, most importantly, why is the story set in space focused around a bunch of humans (I later learned it’s meant to be a reference to WWII). When I played ME Legendary Edition for the first time and got to the Citadel and met all the different alien races, I was like “This is what I’m talking about!” You got the mysterious Reapers. The kind and gentle Elcors. The philosophical Hanars. The more sentient Turians. All these races kept me interested in learning more about this “galaxy far far away”

[@tjhicks3600]

For Star Wars, you gotta think about the time it came in. The 70's didn't have a lot of space operas like that if any

[@Tiasung]

Its been a long time since I played Jade Empire, but I think I saved the village and redeemed (?) the spirits. For me Jade Empire is the best Bioware game. Secondly Mass Effect 1, third Dragon Age Origins. Loved KOTOR 1&2 as well, (and really enjoyed most of their other games) but these first 3 offer the most unique experiences (through their world, and delivery of their stories) and that's what made me enjoy them the most.

[@kwoni3337]

Cool to hear banner saga mentioned, I think this is the first time I've ever heard someone mention it. Randomly discovered it a few years ago on a sale, underrated indie gem

[@COMMANDRofAWESUM]

After all the updates, I still believe the Indoctrination Theory is correct in ME3. You are absolutely being manipulated by the Reapers to not destroy them. The true paragon ending is to do the “red” ending and destroy them.

[@Medsas]

BG2+TOB is Bioware’s best game ever made, followed by Dragon Age 1😂 you need to play it asap!

[@lunarpanda77]

I absolutely agree and can relate with your position on DA2. Not the best DA game, but it's way better than it initially felt. I've replayed it plenty of times--good fun!

[@Mc_Whitty]

I remember when jade empire came out. 2005. That was a great year and every console had a banger exclusive. GameCube had resident evil 4, ps2 had god of war, and xbox had this. Good times.

[@XBluDiamondX]

You call yourself an old school BioWare fan and you never played the original Baldur's Gates and Neverwinter Nights? For shame. Those are some awesome classics that put BioWare on the map. I will say, however, Neverwinter Nights most likely doesn't hold up to today. The magic of that game was in its multiplayer experience. Namely, they incorporated dungeon master tools to allow organic storytelling experiences coupled with the toolset that came with the game. It was an experience I have not seen since. I have no idea if anybody even plays that game anymore. As for the original Baldur's Gate, the storytelling still holds up, and there are the enhanced editions that spruce up the visuals a bit.

[@oliviawilliams6204]

There’s still some people who use it for role play. The girlfriend of one of my friend still do every week

[@JimmyMon666]

yeah the story of NWN1 is weak. The strongpoint is the ability to design your own modules. I always say I'm going to play through the game again and get bored in Act 1. :) The expansions are better, but I always tell myself to play through the main game and then the expansions, but I never get that far. It's just hard to play now days. The combat can be very slow.

[@Some_Guy_87]

I never managed to finish the campaign of NWN, super boring game in my opinion. Yet I still played it tons because of this feature - essentially having online DnD sessions back then was something else.

[@LordMuzhy]

I appreciate the continual roasting of Dragon Age veilguard into 2025 😂🎉

[@JohnathanWilliams-u4h]

It wasn't that bad, sure the story is pretty mid and gameplay get repetitive but they have memorable characters and choices that stick with u.

[@sasuke11457]

@@JohnathanWilliams-u4h as long as the story has to much dei in it, its going to track the most hateful crowd. Im halfway through it and having a blast with the gameplay. I dont really care for dragon age lore so i cant tell you what it does to it but some moments have been really cool. overall writing is subpar but i have played forspoken and that game was a hidden gem to me. the game has the most hateful crowd in existence going after it so i wouldnt spend time talking to them. even matty is brutal definitely a c tier game and more depending if you like the combat

[@LordMuzhy]

@@JohnathanWilliams-u4h memorable characters? Are you serious? Come on bro

[@wardensurana8336]

​​@@JohnathanWilliams-u4h it wasn't bad, it was terrible, worst Dragon Age ever, and overall, terrible game.

[@pearsemolloy9656]

@@LordMuzhywell you could say Tash is memorable… for all the wrong reasons sure but there it is 😂

[@chasesOface]

23:04 that music still gives me butterflies

[@CataclysmDM]

Dog it's wild to me that you've never played bg 1, bg 2, and neverwinter nights. That's crrrrazy.

[@garrettwilson9664]

Actually the 3 best Bioware games.

[@ZakiJeppe]

Mass Effect 3 is the only videogame, that has made me cry. Towards the end, when you say goodbye to your romanced character (Liara ofc). That moment is so well done. I cry everytime I play through it, even when I know how it goes

[@HappyDrunkGamer]

I wasnt quite sure what you where on about with the emotions you mentioned when you played KOTOR, then you started talking Mass Effect with "Vigil" playing the background and I stared getting emotional 🤣 God I miss old Bioware...........

[@dereka5017]

Jade Empire was actually my first Bioware game, and I liked it enough to join a forum that was pushing for its sequel.

[@ttzhang7699]

Bg2 is definitely on S tier

[@xenophon1999]

I started playing Bioware games when BG first came out, I was instantly hooked on it and have been a nerd for CRPG's ever since. For me the first Bioware game to start to slip was ME2, I could feel at the time that it was a step back from what I loved about CRPG's, and how it was the first step towards where we are now unfortunately.

[@blacbraun]

I can't take a ranking of Bioware games seriously by someone who hasn't played Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 or Neverwinter Nights. It would be like someone ranking Stanley Kubrik films who hasn't seen anything before The Shining.

[@jameslowell9656]

Yup, especially to call it an ultimate list.

[@rose.i]

That’s silly. He’s played every single BioWare game except for the old 1990’s dnd games and somehow that makes his opinion worthless. Like the 1000’s of collective hours he’s surely put into the other 13 games on the list are just worth nothing cause he didn’t play Baldurs gate? Lmao gimme a break. We did it folks. We found the gatekeeper.

[@jameslowell9656]

@rose.i it's like making an ultimate star wars tier list and not watching the original trilogy.

[@rose.i]

@@jameslowell9656 Yeah and in the exact same way you could have a totally valid opinion on all the star wars movies and shows without having watched the original trilogy. It's the other gatekeeper guys we found them both lol.

[@jameslowell9656]

@rose.i yeah sure but it wouldn't be an ultimate list lol

[@HatiTheMoonChaser]

If you go for Neverwinter Nights 2 keep in mind that the main campaign is continued by the DLC Mast of the Betrayer (MotB) which needs to be played for the full experience. MotB is considered one of the best written DLCs Bioware has ever written.

[@gabiruuuuuuuuu]

Dragon Age 2 is an A. It is flawed for sure, arguably very much so, but as someone who first played this game not that long ago I think that the story and writing are great, and the flaws in the gameplay don’t get in the way that much because of how streamlined and direct this game had to be to fit the crazy short deadline. Its a no-bullshit, no-filler game which is becoming increasingly rare this days, and it stands at the very opposite of Inquisition that had great story moments but got drowned in bloat.

[@lycantabris]

And when you think about it, the biggest flaw people cite, the repeated maps thanks to the like 18 month dev cycle, are justified narratively thanks to the framing device of Varric telling this story to Cassandra - everything happening is in her head so Varric's just being lazy describing the surroundings. Background NPCs being low quality and sorta faceless? Cass's just not thinking about them. It's not perfect, but that framing device does a lot of work in making the quirks and flaws work out okay, especially in comparison to Veilguard where, yeah, the background NPCs are pretty I guess, but the big white barriers saying "No you can't go this way" are pulling me out of any immersion I manage to find.

[@doubledispatch6620]

Not talking about Neverwinter Nights, the toolset and the plethora of community made content for it is a significant hole in this video.

[@grantlawrence4600]

"Gaming's best love story." Careful there...... careful.... Final Fantasy X exists.

[@chazz3167]

Loving your tier lists lately!

[@Terrymooneyes]

I find it interesting the whole evolution and where the newest rate in comparison with the older ones. And I totally agree with the tier.

[@zavtra13]

I’ve only played (to completion) the Mass Effect and Dragon Age games. So it will be a simple tier list, but I’ll work with it. S tier - Mass Effect 3, Mass Effect 1, Dragon Age 2. A tier - Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: Veilguard, and Mass Effect Andromeda. Simple list.

[@wardensurana8336]

And a bad one

[@zavtra13]

@ cool story…

[@schpooopy]

Jade Empire was one of my favorite games growing up. Its absolutely amazing!

[@joshwhite1562]

One of my favorite videos you've done. Please do play BG1 & BG2. Cant wait to hear your review.

[@Mistabanned]

BG 1 and BG 2 and their expansion packs are the reason I liked Bioware in the first place. Baldur's Gate 3 found a great home at Larian.

[@coycadaver]

Going from origins to dragon age 2 has such insane whiplash from the art design. I remember hating playing as rogue and literally disappearing to stan the enemy from behind. On replay I agree it's pretty good.

[@maxeverblack]

Inquisition behind 2 is absolutely smooth brain, I can't bother with the rest.

[@lance134679]

Baldur's Gate II was a lot of fun back in the day. I remember replaying it over and over with different builds & parties. I also played KOTOR and really liked, KOTOR 2 by Obsidian tweaked the D20 system a bit and made it really fun to play, despite it being a shorter game with perhaps not the best ending. I remember my first playthrough of KOTOR 2 as a light side light saber specialist was really fun with the special attacks. Then I played a dark side force specialist and it was ridiculously OP - basically, enter combat, cast force lightning and everything died.

[@chargedjupiter5785]

This guy really put the McDonald's cup flex in the script you gotta respect it

[@sh_i_ro]

veilguard at D is a seriously great accomplishment for that game. well done bioware

[@Kevo_91]

I somehow never played a BioWare game in my teenage years so I haven’t played all the older titles yet. Sadly, my first BioWare experience was mass effect andromeda and I really enjoyed it despite the hate from fans. Decided to play the ME trilogy and it blew my mind. Definitely one of my favorite gaming experiences, right up there with fallout and halo 1-3. I’ve also played dragon age inquisition and loved it so I need to go back and try origins.

[@joshuabroekema6416]

That was great. Now you should make one on Obsidian when you play the Pillars of Eternity games and Avowed

[@3XPLOSlV3]

the good thing for me, is that I haven't played most of them, so Iam in for a treat, just completed dragon age origins and idk how I haven't touched these games before, PEAK gaming

[@Phippsy]

Haven’t gotten into tiers yet but KOTOR is S tier and at the front spot, absolutely love that game, early Bioware was on another level. Current BioWare is such a disappointment.

[@stephenjackson4726]

Thanks Matty, a well argued list. I will certainly be trying Mass Effect Legendary Edition based on your comments. Do try BG2 at some point. David Warner's portrayal of Irenicus is truly exceptional.

[@Sevo-]

I still have everyone but one of those mcdonalds cups from when i was kid. man kids nowadays dont know how good fast food toys, and cereal box stuff was back then

[@breathtaker101]

Just the music in the mass effect segment makes me feel so nostalgic. Its so damn good. Also, I feel like people who say that none of your choices mattered in 3 are doing a massive disservice to the game and themselves. The journey is very different depending on choices and who lives and does is a direct result of your actions throughout the series. Not to mention people joke about the different color endings, but all these years later I still see heated debates about the merits of synthesis vs destroy and what the greater implications of both are. I’ll be the first to admit I wasn’t CRAZY about it at first, but it has grown on me over the years and I still think about it regularly and which choice is better. 🤷‍♂️ Is synthesis indoctrination or the next step in evolution ensuring the long term servical of organic life? Is destroy the most necessary despite its associated sacrifices, or is it just delaying the inevitable cycle?

[@ActNasty5]

Dude i have a whole bunch of those mickey mouse glasses from my dad 😂

[@SurefireMa156]

Swtor is underrated. If you play it as a single player game, it’s actually really good story telling. But it has its valid criticisms

[@dthicks13]

Jade empire evil play through is so good

[@dcblunt666]

Everything you said about KOTOR is 100% how I feel. The time in my life I played it - young and impressionable - I’ve been chasing that feeling in video games ever since. It defined my taste in games, just as you said.

[@anthonylittle666]

Nostalgia blast jesus 0_0 I had like 5 of those cups in highschool

[@chaddoell]

Hey Matty! Great list. I strangely almost totally agree with you. I recently replayed Inquisition and I always want it to be an A. But it's such a slog, it can't be. But boy was the competent writing refreshing in 2024. I put ME1 ahead of ME2. All of your reasons are well argued, and I'm happy to see ME1 in the A tier, but I remember the first time I played ME2. I was frustrated how stripped it was from even the lean rpg elements of ME1. Just wasn't for me. I played a lot of Neverwinter. It's story is poor, but as a D&D crpg with coop in 2002, I thought it was a great accomplishment. Parts of it feel very BG3, particularly the dungeon delving, if you can believe it.

[@isaacboyyy4271]

Mass effect 3 i actually like way more for companion's because all thier dialogue is unique and feel like they actually exist compared to 2 where your whole crew don't even acknowledge each other existence mostly

[@EldritchAugur]

I was too young to play Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 on release and despite that I think Baldur's Gate 2 is definitively Bioware's best game. It has Bioware's best combat without a doubt, what I think are some of the best and most complete side quests ever (like the cult of the unseeing eye), and a great story led by one of the best video game acting performances ever with David Warner as Jon Irenicus. I understand a lot of people here are too young to have played it, please give it a try if you love Bioware. You can see the roots of everything that would later become what Bioware is known for and completely unfiltered without any of EA's meddling.

[@ashocck8065]

I usually disagree with lots of rankings in lists like this, but here I'm pretty much in agreement with everything, except maybe I'd put ME3 in S tier as well. Great job!

[@criticalmrs.7423]

I don‘t know if it’s even possible to get the same feeling now compared to playing the brand new games in the late 90s / early 2000s. But to someone who has a huge amount of nostalgia filter, you missed the best ones :)

[@oliviawilliams6204]

NeverWinter Night is an odd case. It’s more a platform to make and play modules. There’s a campaign BioWare made for it, but it’s just okay. It’s really more to get your friends and play a module and role play together

[@RustCohle072]

These are really balanced and rational take on the BioWare games. DA2 and Inquisition are B tier too in my eyes, and some aspects like the character writing at many points is A tier, but.. of course we need to consider gameplay, whether any of the game is repetitive, and more elements. It was back when BioWare still had skilled writers at the studio. 😢

[@falksi3182]

Not playing Bladur Gate 2 just outs you as a complete casual. It's still the greatest RPG ever made.

[@sylenzZ-80]

I have to admit, the one thing that The Veilguard situation did right, while not even having played it, was bringing me back to the good old days of traditional gaming experiences like the Mass Effect trilogy 👌

[@Sekiberius24]

Holy shit, right off the cuff, I have that exact same cup, my mother got it for me when I was a kid.

[@BrianAndrewParker]

Ooooh, hearing that Jade Empire is a (relatively) quick play - I need to finally play it in 2025!

[@dblundz]

Beat DA2 on nightmare a couple years ago. Got me to use all the systems... Had a blast. Also DA2 gave us some great characters too

[@MrBarkarus]

Jade Empire for me is S Tier. I remember watching my brother play this as a child and have so many fond memories. TOAD DEMON STYLE. 😂

[@MartinSeda]

Since BG and BG2 were my first BW games (since 2000 I play both once a year), I alwas enjoyed seeing things from these two games implemented in the next BW games. Those things are small, but make a subtle net that connects the other games (you must gather your party before venturing forth).

[@Lemonkof]

ME 3 have the best mate conversations, they are really comunicating betweeen themselves, not only with Shepard like in ME 2. Also, best DLC is for ME 3 and don't forget that this is the peak of the main plot. We are fighting actual Reapers that threats whole Galaxy, not some punk ass Collectors that no one concerned about other than Humans because they don't collect alliens. It's just EVERYTIME someone is mentioning ME 3 it's about ending, bla bla bla. Other than that ME 3 executed almost everything much better than ME 2. Cytadel - Check, Weapons variaty - Check, DLCs - Check, Epickness - Check, emotional scenes - Check, "exciting" planet grind for resourses - Che....oh it's the ME 2 thing:) Anyway I would've put the whole Trilogy in S+ tier

[@Guineweree]

I totally agree with Matty on the matter of the DA franchise. Probably the best thing that the devs could do now to save it is to remaster/remake DAO. I would literally give a fortune for a chance to play it again (yes, I know I could mod it, but it just keeps breaking...)!! 😭 Or they could just proclaim The Veilguard as a standalone game (like a parallel world or something of sort) and make a new DA game that would suit better as a 4th entry. I'd be up for that too.

[@PopeDuwang]

KotOR and Mass Effect 2 are my Top 2. Hell, ME2’s Final Mission is what I’d like the KotOR Remake to do. Take the Star Forge mission and turn it into an Omega Relay Mission where you have your party decide how the ending goes…it’s something I know will never happen.

[@bloodmoonwilds]

Thank you for putting Dragon Age 2 in the B tier. It's one of my favorite games, and it always makes me sad when people hate on it. It definitely has its flaws, but it's got a lot of heart, too, and i love it. ❤

[@remortisgaming]

SWTOR was the beginning of the end. EA. The doctors leaving. Them chasing wow instead of taking their time and really making something good. Each planet should have been way bigger than the little playpen we were allowed to run around in. Each planet should have been as big as a continent on WoW tbh

[@darumanu9276]

Honestly I dont mind the ME 3 endings personally, they might not be visually different but as a RPG player more than anything I usually prio story and all 3 endings were significantly different. The biggest issue I had with the game was the dead child (you saw him for like 2 minutes and yet he has nightmares about him meanwhile Reapers are literally murdering planets) and Kai Leng (literally an edgy ninja character that feels like he is written by a teenager)

[@ronuss]

As a crpg fan, my fav games of bioware are the games not played on this list lol. BG2 and nwn are top tier bioware honestly. bg2 story telling, the complete package of nwn, its toolsets, online ext are just next level. Side note on Mass effect, i love ME3, i think its the best game, its so dark and grim it works so well and it had some great dlc to really pull it up to the best ME game for me.

[@reignmans]

considering the working conditions, the timetable, the limited budget, the fact that it was supposed to be an expansion/DLC for origins and suddenly the higher ups demanded it to be a stand alone game, for me DA 2 is a solid A. tremendous work considering the above.

[@GiggaWatts1.21]

the utter lack of effort put into the end of the mass effect series was the true death knell of Bioware. everything after that is just been terrible in one way or another. been playing all their games since 1998, if you told me then that they would be at the level they are now I would not have believed you in a million years that they could fall so far.

[@GeorgeNoX]

Neverwinter Nights is really good, it was actually the first Bioware game i ever played and after it i was hooked on their games for a long time, still am in many ways. It is similar to Baldur's Gate in it that is a top down CRPG. I recommend anyone play it who hasn't. Its a great world with a great lore from D&D universe

[@cdeezy225]

Anthem was a decent idea with a horrible execution. That gameplay was some of the best I’ve ever seen

[@rageshot4352]

Dragon age 2 was my first dragon age game, I remember it being pretty good. Tho, I also don't think I finished it because I kept dying in some random combat situation and couldn't get past it, lmao. I'll have to replay the older games now that I'm not a kid anymore

[@kdot2925]

DAI (modded) is my S tier - the best, most emotional storytelling and characters. I think it is unfair that when people talk about Skyrim as the best game ever they mean heavily modded game, but the same people say that DAI is bad because of the war table or similar issues which are easily fixed by mods. Inquisition has the most mature character writing (Cassandra, Dorian, Iron Bull, Solas, Vivienne - there is so much character development but also lorebuilding through those characters' backgrounds). It has superb banter (once you fix triggers through mods or cheatengine) which adds so much to characters and the world. The huge world may be overwhelming to new players, but is a huge benefit for replay value, since you can focus on selected maps on each playthrough and keep things fresh. All 3 DLC are excellent. To me, highs in Inquisition are very high, while lows are easily fixable by mods or player's knowledge how to pace the game and which builds are the most fun in this combat system. And I say it as someone whose first DA was Origins; I love Origins (A tier) but it is no so emotionally engaging for me, it has excellent worldbuilding and lore, but I don't enjoy replaying it too often. DA2 is B tier, DAV does not exist, it is a cosy fantasy spin-off someone mistakenly named a Dragon Age game. ME3 (A tier) is my favourite ME game, it is the most emotional and the most high-stakes, the ending may not be as deep as the series deserves, but it is such a great ride before you get there. I loooove BG1 and BG2 (S-tier), these were my first "serious games" when I was around 12 and they made me obsessed with RPGs, my whole gamer life has been defined by those games. I like KOTOR but don't feel particulary attached to it.

[@Agent13226]

Unplayed BG1/2? Goodness, I envy you. I wanna wipe my memory and play those games again fresh.

[@vik24oct1991]

baldur's gate 2 is the greatest game made by bioware ahead of kotor and mass effect 2. and bg1 is top tier as well. And mass effect 3 is top tier, don't let the haters tell you otherwise, some of the heartwarming/heartbreaking moments in history of gaming are in mass effect 3 and its not even close, only game that made me cry.