Skyrim vs Baldur’s Gate 3 vs Dragon Age: Companions
Skyrim, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Dragon Age: Inquisition all feature memorable companions, but they serve very different gameplay and narrative roles. In short: Skyrim’s followers are mostly functional allies with thin personalities, while Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dragon Age: Inquisition treat companions as central characters with deep personal quests, relationships, and moral conflicts.
Background: How Each Game Approaches Companions
These three RPGs come from different design eras and studios, which explains why their companions feel so different.
- Skyrim (2011) – Bethesda’s open-world sandbox. Followers are optional helpers you recruit from a pool of about 50 characters. Most have a few lines of dialogue, a basic background, and no personal questline. They exist to carry loot, fight, and trigger stealth mechanics.
- Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014) – BioWare’s party-based RPG. Nine companions (plus advisors) each have unique banter, personal quests, romance options, and approval ratings. They react to your choices in dialogue and world events, and they can leave or turn against you.
- Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023) – Larian’s adaptation of D&D 5e. Ten origin companions (plus hirelings) are fully voiced, have extensive personal storylines, can romance you, and can even be played as the main character. Their approval, choices, and even their lives are tied to major plot decisions.
How Companions Work in Each Game
The mechanical role of a companion differs drastically across the three games.
In Skyrim, followers are essentially combat assistants. You can have one at a time (plus a pet or summon). They have simple AI: they attack enemies, can be commanded to interact with objects, and have a carry weight limit. They cannot die permanently unless you kill them yourself. There is no approval system, no banter, and no meaningful dialogue choices with them.
In Dragon Age: Inquisition, you control a party of four. Each companion has a specialization, a personal quest triggered by approval or story progression, and a romance arc. They have approval ratings that change based on your dialogue and decisions. They also banter with each other while you explore, which builds relationships between them.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, companions are full party members with deep mechanics: each has a class, subclass, spells, and a personal quest that can span all three acts. They have approval ratings, but more importantly, they have their own agency—they may act on their own in dialogue, leave if you betray their values, or even become hostile. You can also play as any origin character, which changes the story perspective entirely.
Depth of Characterization and Story Integration
The biggest difference is how much the story revolves around the companions.
In Skyrim, followers are mostly interchangeable. A few have unique backstories (e.g., Serana from the Dawnguard DLC is a notable exception with her own questline), but most are just generic NPCs with a name. The game does not track your relationship with them beyond a simple disposition value, and they rarely comment on your actions.
In Dragon Age: Inquisition, each companion has a personal quest that ties into the main narrative. For example, Sera’s quest deals with her distrust of authority, and Iron Bull’s quest involves a choice between his mercenary company and the Inquisition. These quests can change their behavior and even their loyalty.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, companions are the heart of the story. Each has a personal connection to the main plot (the mind flayer tadpole), and their quests often intersect with major choices. For instance, Shadowheart’s faith is central to the game’s second act, and Astarion’s vampirism leads to a major moral dilemma in act three. Their approval can lock or unlock romance options, and they can permanently leave if you make choices they find unforgivable.
How to Choose Which Game’s Companions Suit You
Your preference depends on what you value in an RPG party.
- If you want freedom and minimal party micromanagement: Skyrim’s followers are perfect. You can play solo, and followers are optional. They never impose their opinions on you.
- If you want rich character arcs and meaningful choices: Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dragon Age: Inquisition both offer deep personal stories. BG3 gives companions more agency and reactivity; Inquisition gives a more traditional BioWare structure with approval and romance.
- If you want to play a character who is also a companion: Only Baldur’s Gate 3 lets you pick a companion as your main character, which changes the narrative significantly.
- If you want party banter and inter-companion relationships: Dragon Age: Inquisition excels at this—companions talk to each other constantly, and some even become friends or enemies.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
A frequent misconception is that Skyrim’s followers are useless. In fact, they can be extremely powerful if you give them good gear and perks. However, their AI can be frustrating: they trip traps, block doorways, and sometimes refuse to attack enemies you are trying to sneak past.
Another issue in Dragon Age: Inquisition is that approval can be opaque. Some players accidentally lock themselves out of romances because they didn’t realize certain choices lowered approval. The game does show approval changes, but only after the fact.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, a common complaint is that companions sometimes act on their own during dialogue, which can lead to unintended consequences. For example, a companion might attack a NPC you wanted to talk to, or they might approve/disapprove of a choice in ways you didn’t anticipate. This is by design, but it can feel chaotic.
Comparison of Romance and Relationship Systems
Romance is a major part of both Dragon Age and Baldur’s Gate 3, but Skyrim has no real romance system.
In Skyrim, you can marry NPCs (including some followers) by wearing an Amulet of Mara and completing a simple quest. Marriage gives a daily gold bonus and a home-cooked meal, but there is no deep relationship mechanic.
In Dragon Age: Inquisition, each romanceable companion has a series of dialogue scenes, a personal quest, and a final romance scene. Approval thresholds and dialogue choices matter, and some romances are only available to certain races or genders.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, romances are more complex: they require approval, specific dialogue choices, and sometimes completing personal quests. There are multiple romance scenes, and some companions are polyamorous or have specific preferences. The game also tracks your relationship with each companion, and you can break up with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which game has the most companions?
Skyrim has the most recruitable followers (over 50), but most are shallow. Dragon Age: Inquisition has 9 companions plus 3 advisors, and Baldur’s Gate 3 has 10 origin companions plus hirelings. In terms of depth, BG3 and Inquisition are far ahead.
Can companions die permanently in any of these games?
In Skyrim, followers can only die if you hit them with a killing blow (or they are essential NPCs, which cannot die). In Dragon Age: Inquisition, companions can die in the final battle if you make certain choices. In Baldur’s Gate 3, companions can die permanently if they are killed in combat and you don’t revive them, or if you make choices that lead to their death.
Do companions in Skyrim have personal quests?
Most do not. The only followers with unique questlines are Serana (from Dawnguard DLC) and the companions from the Companions guild (like Farkas and Vilkas). The rest are generic.
Which game has the best companion banter?
Dragon Age: Inquisition is often praised for its banter. Companions talk to each other during exploration about their pasts, opinions, and relationships. Baldur’s Gate 3 also has banter, but it’s less frequent and more tied to specific story beats.
Can you play as a companion in any of these games?
Only Baldur’s Gate 3 allows you to choose an origin character (like Astarion or Shadowheart) as your main character. This gives you their personal quest as your main quest, and you see the world through their eyes.
Are companions essential to the main story in each game?
In Skyrim, followers are completely optional. In Dragon Age: Inquisition, you must have at least one companion in your party, but the story doesn’t depend on any specific one. In Baldur’s Gate 3, companions are central: you need them to survive, and their personal quests are intertwined with the main plot.
Final Thoughts
If you want companions who feel like real people with their own agendas, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dragon Age: Inquisition are the clear winners. Skyrim’s followers are more like tools—useful, but not memorable. The choice ultimately comes down to whether you want a party of characters or a solo adventure with occasional help.
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