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The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition
The next generation of fantasy is here! Go behind the scenes of Dragon Inquisition , the most ambitious game ever created by legendary developer BioWare!
Featuring hundreds of never-before-seen artworks and captions from the developers themselves, this volume offers revealing insight into the inspiration and creation of every facet of Dragon Inquisition , from the heroes, to the wondrous weapons they wield, the powerful beasts that they battle, and the extraordinary world that they inhabit.
Featuring hundreds of never-before-seen artworks and captions from the developers themselves, this volume offers revealing insight into the inspiration and creation of every facet of Dragon Inquisition , from the heroes, to the wondrous weapons they wield, the powerful beasts that they battle, and the extraordinary world that they inhabit.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2014
24 people are currently reading
894 people want to read
About the author
BioWare
19 books22 followersBioWare is a Canadian video game developer based in Edmonton, Alberta. It was founded in May 1995 by newly graduated medical doctors Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, alongside Trent Oster, Brent Oster, Marcel Zeschuk and Augustine Yip. As of 2007, the company is owned by American publisher Electronic Arts.
BioWare specializes in role-playing video games, and achieved recognition for developing highly praised and successful licensed franchises: Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. They proceeded to make several other successful games based on original intellectual property: Jade Empire, the Mass Effect series, and the Dragon Age series. In 2011, BioWare launched their first massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Star Wars: The Old Republic.
BioWare specializes in role-playing video games, and achieved recognition for developing highly praised and successful licensed franchises: Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. They proceeded to make several other successful games based on original intellectual property: Jade Empire, the Mass Effect series, and the Dragon Age series. In 2011, BioWare launched their first massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Star Wars: The Old Republic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
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September 11, 2019
Ridiculously sublime book full of beautiful artwork, varying from basic sketches and WIPs to fully fleshed-out vistas.
Difficult to review, because really there are only a few groups of people who will enjoy this book. Those like me, who love Dragon Age (Origins, II and Inquisition) and games, and can appreciate art in all its forms (except modern art: if you enjoy that you're a liar).
And those who only enjoy games and/or artwork and the amount of effort that goes in to it. It's full of pictures but there is no crude dialogue like a comic book, so comic book lovers won't enjoy it. Unless they also enjoy games like this, and art.
So, unlike novels and the like, I can't rightly say "yo, just read the book and figure it out for yourself if you like it" because this is one of the very few books that is specifically aimed at a certain type of person only, and isn't, like novels, marketed at a certain type of person.
Look. I love Dragon Age. I love games. I love art. Actual art not a pair of glasses with a cheerio stuck to it in a glass case. I love this book. It needed to mention Alistair Theirin but that can be forgiven. I love it.
Difficult to review, because really there are only a few groups of people who will enjoy this book. Those like me, who love Dragon Age (Origins, II and Inquisition) and games, and can appreciate art in all its forms (except modern art: if you enjoy that you're a liar).
And those who only enjoy games and/or artwork and the amount of effort that goes in to it. It's full of pictures but there is no crude dialogue like a comic book, so comic book lovers won't enjoy it. Unless they also enjoy games like this, and art.
So, unlike novels and the like, I can't rightly say "yo, just read the book and figure it out for yourself if you like it" because this is one of the very few books that is specifically aimed at a certain type of person only, and isn't, like novels, marketed at a certain type of person.
Look. I love Dragon Age. I love games. I love art. Actual art not a pair of glasses with a cheerio stuck to it in a glass case. I love this book. It needed to mention Alistair Theirin but that can be forgiven. I love it.
January 24, 2018
There were so many NERD FACTS that I’m bursting with joy!
November 16, 2020
I missed playing it so much.
February 18, 2023
I need to find my copy of this again. 😭House renos can really put your personal library in a state of disarray.
February 10, 2021
(4 of 5 for collection of concept arts which brought me to the vivid world of DA once again)
I'm not exactly a fan of the "Art of" genre, but I love DA games and I loved how the world looked. So the book, showing plenty of art from the game, concepts of known places and much more, explaining how the process of creating such a world was, what they wanted to achieve with this place and this "race" is pretty nice.
I really enjoyed the art, read all the notes (which I usually skip). I especially liked the landscapes, buildings/objects and art. If I hadn't still unsolved debt with Witcher 3, I would go and instal Inquisition again.
I'm not exactly a fan of the "Art of" genre, but I love DA games and I loved how the world looked. So the book, showing plenty of art from the game, concepts of known places and much more, explaining how the process of creating such a world was, what they wanted to achieve with this place and this "race" is pretty nice.
I really enjoyed the art, read all the notes (which I usually skip). I especially liked the landscapes, buildings/objects and art. If I hadn't still unsolved debt with Witcher 3, I would go and instal Inquisition again.
December 26, 2016
The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition is a beautiful, thick tome filled to the brim with high-quality art of the game – from digital to watercolor paintings and from initial character concepts to in-game models. It goes deep into the world of Thedas, also including numerous notes and designs on cultural aspects of the game; the architecture of Orlais, the mannerisms and clothing of Fereldans, and the tone and atmosphere of Venatori artefacts.
Considering that Dragon Age: Inquisition is one of my most-loved and most-played RPGs, I had to get my hands on this book – and it more than delivered its promise. The art is interesting and engaging on the same level as the game, breathing flavor and life, and it pulls you in just as easily. The notes from designers, writers, and artists showcase what happens behind the scenes when creating art for a game like this, which was quite interesting as well. I really loved how deep the attention to detail was for the art within the game; the distinctions between all the different cultures, and the thoughts behind those distinctions.
There were really only two points of critique for me: one of the reasons I love the Dragon Age series so much as a whole, is its colorful and large cast of characters. Some of the chapters in this book are labelled as quest names in-game, and the character art is scattered throughout without a separate chapter dedicated to them. This is a pity, as it almost feels underdeveloped/under-focused compared to the intricacies of worlds and cultures within the book. The second downside would be that some of the art is pretty dark (in a literal sense), making it difficult to discern all the detailing in the images – this happens mostly with some of the atmospheric scenery paintings.
That said, this is definitely a fantastic artbook that I greatly enjoy browsing through. It’s a great must-have for a big fan of the game (and perhaps even the series in general) and the references can also be useful for any artists who wants to practice worldbuilding and character designs.
Considering that Dragon Age: Inquisition is one of my most-loved and most-played RPGs, I had to get my hands on this book – and it more than delivered its promise. The art is interesting and engaging on the same level as the game, breathing flavor and life, and it pulls you in just as easily. The notes from designers, writers, and artists showcase what happens behind the scenes when creating art for a game like this, which was quite interesting as well. I really loved how deep the attention to detail was for the art within the game; the distinctions between all the different cultures, and the thoughts behind those distinctions.
There were really only two points of critique for me: one of the reasons I love the Dragon Age series so much as a whole, is its colorful and large cast of characters. Some of the chapters in this book are labelled as quest names in-game, and the character art is scattered throughout without a separate chapter dedicated to them. This is a pity, as it almost feels underdeveloped/under-focused compared to the intricacies of worlds and cultures within the book. The second downside would be that some of the art is pretty dark (in a literal sense), making it difficult to discern all the detailing in the images – this happens mostly with some of the atmospheric scenery paintings.
That said, this is definitely a fantastic artbook that I greatly enjoy browsing through. It’s a great must-have for a big fan of the game (and perhaps even the series in general) and the references can also be useful for any artists who wants to practice worldbuilding and character designs.
March 7, 2022
The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition is a collection of fantastic art masterfully tied together with interesting insights from the artists. It has easily become one of my favorite concept art books, adding layers to a game I already know and love.
I love character concepts and models, so I enjoyed seeing the creative process as much as the final pieces themselves. I would definitely recommend this book as inspiration for fantasy world-building and concept art, or even if you just like playing DAI.
The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition is a wonderful glimpse into the world of the video game. It definitely motivated me to pick up my pen!
I love character concepts and models, so I enjoyed seeing the creative process as much as the final pieces themselves. I would definitely recommend this book as inspiration for fantasy world-building and concept art, or even if you just like playing DAI.
The Art of Dragon Age: Inquisition is a wonderful glimpse into the world of the video game. It definitely motivated me to pick up my pen!
April 8, 2022
Прекрасный артбук со всеми объяснениями и деталями о персонажах, однако не советую покупать, если вы не большой фанат Инквизиции или если вы не художник, иначе книга просто будет пылиться у вас на полке.
September 1, 2021
DEAR BIOWARE:
YOU GET THE CHARACTER DESIGN RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
SINCERLEY,
A LONG HAIRED-DORIAN/BROWN AND MULLETED SERA/CHIN PIERCED JOSEPHINE STAN
YOU GET THE CHARACTER DESIGN RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
SINCERLEY,
A LONG HAIRED-DORIAN/BROWN AND MULLETED SERA/CHIN PIERCED JOSEPHINE STAN
May 20, 2019
An absolutely brilliant tome. If you love (concept) art, drawing, creating worlds & characters, or general storytelling, this is definitely going to make an interesting read-watch. Dragon Age has always been a game that puts great emphasis on its characters, races, and their intricate relationships in an immersive world, and The Art of Dragon Age Inquisition offers a unique look at how the developers created the game, its story, characters and world.
From different countries and nations; vast environments; a myriad of characters, their look, personality and background; trinkets, furniture and everyday objects; to suggestions on how to use appearance, clothes and weapons to write well-rounded and complex characters, the Art Book covers many and more stages of creating an adventure through visual storytelling. Writers can also learn much and adapt proposed approaches to bring their own worlds and characters to life.
This book is going to draw fans of Dragon Age right in. It’s great to see what everyone’s favourite characters could have looked like since Art lays out every Inquisition member with many different concept designs; there are immersive panels of various locations, and more. At the same time, even if you have never played the game, I strongly advise (concept) artists, writers and other creators-designers to take a look.
A well-put together collection that makes me want to play the game, banter with party members and explore the world of Thedas all over again.
From different countries and nations; vast environments; a myriad of characters, their look, personality and background; trinkets, furniture and everyday objects; to suggestions on how to use appearance, clothes and weapons to write well-rounded and complex characters, the Art Book covers many and more stages of creating an adventure through visual storytelling. Writers can also learn much and adapt proposed approaches to bring their own worlds and characters to life.
This book is going to draw fans of Dragon Age right in. It’s great to see what everyone’s favourite characters could have looked like since Art lays out every Inquisition member with many different concept designs; there are immersive panels of various locations, and more. At the same time, even if you have never played the game, I strongly advise (concept) artists, writers and other creators-designers to take a look.
A well-put together collection that makes me want to play the game, banter with party members and explore the world of Thedas all over again.
June 30, 2025
“I hope you’ll enjoy exploring the world of Dragon Age as much as we have.”
—
I like art books! I like seeing concept art! And I just finished the main story of “Dragon Age: Inquisition” (although I’m still working on “Trespasser”), so it’s time I gave this book a go!
This book provides a lot of really cool, behind-the-scenes artwork on the game, showing you what it is that they were going for, and how the ideas developed over time as the game developed. Solas, at one point, had hair. That’s a bit of a startling thing to discover. More seriously, they talk about the ideas behind creature designs, the influences on Inquisition armor, and ideas that got thrown out, such as the War Table changing its look based on which advisor you showed preferences for. There are also little bits and pieces of concept art that made it into the game in various ways–usually as the thumbnails of the missions or War Table assignments.
Interestingly, it seems like they expected the default Inquisitor, for promotional materials, and some of the concept art, at least, to be a Rogue? Considering what we’ve seen on the game cover and in trailers, and on the cover of this book, I don’t think that’s how things turned out.
Of course, this was made as a promotional book, so while there are some spoilers, like art of Red Templars and inside the Fade, there are no major spoilers, like how the major choices or how the endgame rolls out. There are no insights into how the game ends, really, into the main villain other than some basic art (though there are storyboards with him in it), and nothing at all about expansions, so no “Trespasser”, “The Descent”, or “Jaws of Hakkon”.
Regardless! It was a fun look at the creation of a great game.
—
I like art books! I like seeing concept art! And I just finished the main story of “Dragon Age: Inquisition” (although I’m still working on “Trespasser”), so it’s time I gave this book a go!
This book provides a lot of really cool, behind-the-scenes artwork on the game, showing you what it is that they were going for, and how the ideas developed over time as the game developed. Solas, at one point, had hair. That’s a bit of a startling thing to discover. More seriously, they talk about the ideas behind creature designs, the influences on Inquisition armor, and ideas that got thrown out, such as the War Table changing its look based on which advisor you showed preferences for. There are also little bits and pieces of concept art that made it into the game in various ways–usually as the thumbnails of the missions or War Table assignments.
Interestingly, it seems like they expected the default Inquisitor, for promotional materials, and some of the concept art, at least, to be a Rogue? Considering what we’ve seen on the game cover and in trailers, and on the cover of this book, I don’t think that’s how things turned out.
Of course, this was made as a promotional book, so while there are some spoilers, like art of Red Templars and inside the Fade, there are no major spoilers, like how the major choices or how the endgame rolls out. There are no insights into how the game ends, really, into the main villain other than some basic art (though there are storyboards with him in it), and nothing at all about expansions, so no “Trespasser”, “The Descent”, or “Jaws of Hakkon”.
Regardless! It was a fun look at the creation of a great game.
August 31, 2018
4.5 As a huge fan of the DA series, and DAI especially, I've pined after this book for a while. It didn't disappoint. Seeing the variety of character concepts and storyboards for pivotal events, and reading the commentary and rationale for small things ("such and such was intended as a metaphor of"), gave me great insight into the game's development. I've deducted .5 stars for organization. I don't understand why the companions weren't all grouped together, or location/faction grouped together, etc, instead of organizing it vaguely by each Act (in hushed whispers, what pride had wrought...). The organization was disorienting, but I mostly overlooked it in the midst of my nerd ecstasy.
December 1, 2023
Art books>>>>
The art-to-commentary ratio on this one was just right for me (though I did want more commentary on the character designs and the teams thoughts!) and besides the one or two photos from the actual game there was so much gorgeous concept art. A lot of it made me wonder if Inquisition was supposed to have a darker tone from the get-go, since there's a very overcast aesthetic that the art has but the game doesn't. Overall Inquisition has some stunning art direction and this reflects that perfectly, with a lot of insight into how they crafted it
The art-to-commentary ratio on this one was just right for me (though I did want more commentary on the character designs and the teams thoughts!) and besides the one or two photos from the actual game there was so much gorgeous concept art. A lot of it made me wonder if Inquisition was supposed to have a darker tone from the get-go, since there's a very overcast aesthetic that the art has but the game doesn't. Overall Inquisition has some stunning art direction and this reflects that perfectly, with a lot of insight into how they crafted it
February 28, 2021
big scary hole in the sky is pretty
I'm usually a character concept person, but this made me really appreciate environments, props, and architecture. The amount of detail in even simple chests (that get chewed up by my PS3 copy graphics) is remarkable, and this sure reminded me to "look up!!" when I'm in a building!
I'm usually a character concept person, but this made me really appreciate environments, props, and architecture. The amount of detail in even simple chests (that get chewed up by my PS3 copy graphics) is remarkable, and this sure reminded me to "look up!!" when I'm in a building!
August 31, 2022
Me compre este libro porque soy un Gran Fan de Dragon Age Inquisición. Siempre me gusto la arquitectura de su mundo junto con su historia. Y actualmente estoy volviendo a jugar el juego.
Puedo decir que este libro te muestra todo el proceso como de como inicio los diseños de los personajes hasta los diseños finales del juego. En mi opinión hay algunas armaduras y cascos que me gustaron mas que algunas del juego. También contiene algunas de las ilustraciones mas bellas que he visto. Tras ver todos los diseños puedo decir que el libro no deja de sorprenderme. El arte de libro es espectacular.
Aunque actualmente todavía no he terminado el libro puesto que estoy viendo las ilustraciones despacio. Para apreciar mas el arte.
Puedo decir que este libro te muestra todo el proceso como de como inicio los diseños de los personajes hasta los diseños finales del juego. En mi opinión hay algunas armaduras y cascos que me gustaron mas que algunas del juego. También contiene algunas de las ilustraciones mas bellas que he visto. Tras ver todos los diseños puedo decir que el libro no deja de sorprenderme. El arte de libro es espectacular.
Aunque actualmente todavía no he terminado el libro puesto que estoy viendo las ilustraciones despacio. Para apreciar mas el arte.
November 24, 2024
4.5/5: Loved it!
If I'm going to be very honest with you, I did not even get halfway through Dragon Age: Inquisition. It is so crazy to see what I missed, especially the palaces, weapons, and monsters I could have seen in the breach. Nonetheless, I still loved seeing the 3D renderings and other artwork shown, and the design process of the whole game. Would recommend!
-Constant Reader
If I'm going to be very honest with you, I did not even get halfway through Dragon Age: Inquisition. It is so crazy to see what I missed, especially the palaces, weapons, and monsters I could have seen in the breach. Nonetheless, I still loved seeing the 3D renderings and other artwork shown, and the design process of the whole game. Would recommend!
-Constant Reader
December 4, 2017
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time spent thumbing through this art book. Every page is interesting and the art is so gorgeous! It has certainly inspired me to draw more and learn more about the history and lore of Dragon Age minus what they give you in-game. Would certainly recommend!
January 24, 2019
The concept art alone makes this worth looking through!
Some pages felt as if they might have been out of order, as there was an attempt to connect thematic concepts but it wasn’t entirely streamlined. Still beautiful as a whole.
Some pages felt as if they might have been out of order, as there was an attempt to connect thematic concepts but it wasn’t entirely streamlined. Still beautiful as a whole.
June 13, 2021
More sumptuous illustrations, rich and varied; from pencil-sketch storyboards to watercolours of vast, sweeping vistas. The concise explanations of context and rationale for each piece also let the creative process at Bioware come alive off the page. Great stuff.
August 14, 2021
Outside of concept art for the characters (and how they evolved between concept and game) there wasn't really anything game changing in here.
Pretty art none the less. It was also nice to look at some of the architecture and designs on the buildings up close.
Pretty art none the less. It was also nice to look at some of the architecture and designs on the buildings up close.
January 21, 2023
I only wish they showed more of the character design and how it evolved. For example it says they had many design ideas for Blackwall, but they only really show one (the final one). Of course they can't add everything, but just a bit more
March 30, 2018
Good art! Still mad that they didn't go through with Solas and Sera's concept art but its okay!
March 10, 2018
I adored this.
December 10, 2018
Just remembered that picture books are also books.
And Dragon Age 4 is coming so...
And Dragon Age 4 is coming so...
November 24, 2019
Beautiful book! Made me miss the game so much!
January 11, 2021
Interesting, hope they use some other things in the next game too. I wonder how the demons differ by type.
February 21, 2021
I love dragon age. 💞😩
April 13, 2021
Really enjoyed the beautiful artwork!
October 2, 2021
beautiful and informative! just perfect !
September 2, 2022
Ugh the illustrations, art work, art concepts are chef's kiss 100%
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews