Speaking of which, atmosphere is perhaps the most essential element of a virtual place feeling palpable - of it being emphatically a place as opposed to just a space. These are a bit creepy, mind, but that’s just a testament to how evocative their pervasively eerie atmospheres are - they’re supposed to make you go, “Oh no oh no oh no oh no.” Meanwhile, luxurious but deserted mansions like Chateau d’Onterre and Villa Maurel can be found in the Emerald Graves. Sure, the Arbor Wilds is distinct from the Storm Coast, but they each have their own sublime monuments and landmarks within them, like the Temple of Mythal and Dragon Island, respectively.

The best and most seldom appreciated part about Inquisition is that these aren’t just individual biomes. Related: Dragon Age Origins Is Still The Best BioWare Game Ever Made For a game so obsessed with tarot cards, Inquisition was dealt a rough hand.

Then The Witcher 3 came out and open world games changed forever. Compared to Inquisition’s other locations, though? It’s like mixing up Andy Warhol with Blandy Boreballs. Don’t get me wrong - I love the Hinterlands, too. When Inquisition originally launched back in November 2014, the vast majority of players - particularly people who were new to Dragon Age - literally never left the Hinterlands, despite the fact you can leg it off to other regions almost immediately. I’m here to say that if you’re included in the “I hate the Hinterlands” demographic, you should reinstall Inquisition and just, you know… go somewhere else. Unfortunately, a lot of people never get to see this aspect of Inquisition, which is a real shame. From the serene snowscapes of Emprise du Lion to the towering trees of the Emerald Graves, to the oppressive emptiness of the Western Approach and the absurd variety of moods and hues between, Dragon Age Inquisition remains one of the most aesthetically inspired games in recent memory.

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