Strong narratives and immersive worlds are vital pillars of the RPG genre, and a game’s characters can make or break that foundation. From always-has-a-joke Alistair to always-spinning-a-story Varric, Dragon Age has a good track record of creating beloved companions you want to see in each installment of the series, whether with small cameos or by playing main roles in your inner circle.
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It’s no question that the heart and soul ofDragon Ageis its spectacular canon cast. But some of the series’ most memorable characters played minor parts in the narrative, and you likely wondered whether you could recruit them at some point. While several either died too soon or had other roles to fill, it boils down to the fact that you simply can’t fit everyone in your party. But what if you could?
10King Cailan Theirin
When you first meet him at Ostagar, King Cailan is the picture of heroism, brimming with eagerness to fight alongside the Grey Wardens. Whether you think he’s naively overconfident or blindly foolish, it’s hard not to root for his good intentions. But before you get the opportunity to really know Cailan — beyond his king persona and what other characters say about his political decisions — an ogre kills him on the battlefield.
His death alongside the wardens is the catalyst for the narrative, adding to Ferelden’s instability andforcing you to choose the next ruler at the Landsmeet, but it’s fun to imagine how his companion quests and reactions to your decisions could have fleshed out his character if he didn’t have to die for plot purposes. All you have to do is picture the inevitably awkward banter he would have had with Alistair to know that BioWare missed out on creating aniconic sibling duo.
9Ketojan
In Dragon Age 2, you meet Ketojan, a collared Qunari mage, when Sister Petrice covertly asks you to help him escape Kirkwall. If you agree, Ketojan temporarily joins you.
you may choose to fight for Ketojan’s freedom against a group of Qunari, which still leads to his death, or you can willingly hand him over, letting him die at the hands of the Arvaarad. Either way, a single quest was not enough for his character. Ketojan had compelling arguments about free will and magic and had an interesting backstory. Plus, Dragon Age 2 has no Qunari companions, and he could have filled that void seamlessly.
8Lace Harding
Lead scout for the Inquisition, Lace Harding is resourceful, witty, and charming. She’s nearly a companion, considering she has a personal bard song in the Trespasser DLC and you’re able to evenstart a secret romance with herby choosing flirty dialogue options. However, that relationship is not properly fleshed out like romances with other companions.
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Harding deserved a place in the Inquisitor’s party. She surely could have held her own in combat, filling a spot as one of your rogues. Her positive demeanor could have also sparked fun interactions with your other companions, such as the scene where they play Wicked Grace together.
7Ser Cauthrien
You only encounter Ser Cauthrien a handful of times in Dragon Age: Origins, but her internal conflict between loyalty and doing the right thing is clear. Though she spends the entirety of the game defending Loghain and swears there’s good in him, she can be persuaded to stand down at the Landsmeet, finally admitting that his hatred has driven him to madness.
Cauthrien is firm, loyal, and means well at the end of the day. If she were a companion, she’d likely be the strongest member as she’s also one of the hardest bosses you can fight — that is, if you don’t back down when she confronts you at the Denerim Estate. Just imagine if you were able to take Cauthrien to fight the Archdemon; you’d definitely have an easy victory.
6Thrask
The conflict between mages and templars is too complicated for one person to solve, but some characters do make efforts to avoid needless violence. In Dragon Age 2, Ser Thrask was one of the few templars in Kirkwall who tried to save mages. And in the Best Served Cold questline, you discover that he is working towards ending Meredith’s cruel leadership as knight-commander.
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A mage ultimately kills Thrask in the midst of a chaotic confrontation with Hawke, which feels like an unsatisfying end for his character. While somewhat controversial, his moderate templar beliefs would have made him an interesting character to have in your party, allowing you to investigate his internal conflicts while also getting access to connections he must have had around Kirkwall.
5Felix
Felix Alexius is yet another likable character that Bioware killed off too soon. When you first meet him, he’s already plagued with the blight sickness, and despite his love for his father, he warns you of the drastic measures Magister Alexius is willing to take to save his life.
You can assume Felix has a good sense of humor and a rebellious spirit, considering he was good friends with Dorian, and he could have given the Inquisitor a unique perspective on Tevinter culture, building upon Dorian’s descriptions of it. If you desperately wanted to save Felix, you’re not alone. The Dragon Age subreddit has many thought-out theories about how he could have been saved, but when it comes to the canon, unfortunately, there’s nothing you could have done.
4Riordan
Duncan’s death left a warden-mentor-shaped hole in the lives of Alistair and your warden when they needed him most. So when you rescue Riordan before the Landsmeet, his composure and in-depth warden knowledge are a reassuring comfort.
Riordan’s bravery and sense of duty make him an easy-to-love character. He also offered to deal the killing blow to the Archdemon, thereby agreeing to sacrifice himself. He ultimately had one of the most legendary deaths in the game after stabbing the Archdemon mid-flight, but he could have been a legendary party member if he had survived.
3Donal Sutherland
Sutherland’s Company of Heroes is an easy-to-miss questline inInquisitionwhere you can help Sutherland develop his skills and build a crew of his own. Though there are stillunanswered questions about what happened to the groupat the end of the game, it’s no question that Sutherland’s character arc from a hopeful volunteer to a confident leader is one of Inquisition’s hidden gems. Much like Iron Bull and his chargers, Sutherland’s company feels like a family.
Sutherland is the type of character who could have fit in well with any of the notable Dragon Age parties — the Hero of Ferelden, Hawke, and the Inquisitor. He’s willing to dive into a dangerous adventure, and he has enough wits to stay alive.
2Briala
When you meet Briala in Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts, she is in the middle of navigating a civil war as her underground network of elves kill off ambassadors and send forged letters to political rivals. The more you learn about her, the more you realize that she is cunning, resourceful, and passionate about elven rights.
While she is a deadly force to reckon with if she’s not on your side, having her as a companion would have fun gameplay possibilities, such as opportunities to use her spy network, similar to Sera’s Friends of Red Jenny. It would have also been interesting to uncover Briala’s softer side because even the toughest characters have layers of hidden emotions.
1Krem (Cremisius Aclassi)
Krem is the second-in-command of Iron Bull’s Chargers, a ragtag mercenary company, and he’s the first major transgender character in Dragon Age. Not only does Krem provide vital representation, but he also enriches the narrative, adding depth to Iron Bull’s character as you learn about their relationship as well as opening up dialogue paths to explore how the Qunari view gender roles.
Regularly talking with Krem at the Herald’s Rest tavern will reveal much of his sweet, humorous, and positive personality. Thankfully you get to see more of Krem if you help Cole play matchmaker by setting him up with the minstrel Maryden in the Trespasser DLC, but even still, you simply can’t help but want more of Krem’s character.
