# BioWare: The Best RPG Developer Ever

> BioWare created iconic RPGs from Baldur's Gate to Mass Effect, ending its 31-year run.
- Title: BioWare: The Best RPG Developer Ever · IGN | Shortify
- Summary: BioWare created iconic RPGs from Baldur's Gate to Mass Effect, ending its 31-year run. BioWare, the studio behind Baldur's Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the…
- Keywords: bioware, dragon age, mass effect, baldur's gate, star wars knights of the old republic, rpg, xbox 360, ign, gaming, entertainment, Best, Developer
- Source: IGN — https://ign.com/articles/bioware-was-the-greatest-rpg-developer-ever
- Author: Ryan McCaffrey
- Published: 2026-10-21T22:38:17.443+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bioware, dragon age, mass effect, baldur's gate, star wars knights of the old republic, rpg, xbox 360, ign, gaming, entertainment
## BioWare's Legacy
BioWare, founded by doctors Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, created iconic RPGs over 30 years.

> BioWare is dead, and my feelings are a strange cocktail of anger, sadness, and Jack’s Complete Lack of Surprise.
## Baldur's Gate 1
Baldur's Gate 1 won IGN's Game of the Year in 1998, beating Half-Life.

> Baldur’s Gate 1 took home IGN’s Game of the Year award in 1998 … over Half-Life.
## Neverwinter Nights
Neverwinter Nights, a CRPG, was IGN's Best Role-Playing Game of 2002, behind Morrowind.

> It was the runner-up for IGN’s Best Role-Playing Game of 2002, finishing behind just one game: a little project you might have heard of called The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind.
## Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was BioWare's Xbox exclusive and a top-3 Star Wars game.

> Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, which happens to be my personal favorite role-playing game of all time.
## Jade Empire
Jade Empire, a Chinese mythology RPG, received a 9.9 out of 10 from IGN in 2005.

> IGN gave it a 9.9 out of 10 (on a 100-point scale!) back in 2005
## Mass Effect Trilogy
Mass Effect, a space opera trilogy, spanned over 100 hours of gameplay across five years.

> It took the time to really let you, and your Shepard, say goodbye to the friends you’d made along the way
## Dragon Age Series
Dragon Age, a four-game series, won IGN's Game of the Year Award in 2014.

> 2014’s Dragon Age Inquisition, taking home IGN’s Game of the Year Award
## Anthem and Remasters
Anthem was BioWare's live-service attempt, and Mass Effect was remastered in 2021.

> BioWare cleaned Mass Effect up nicely for an excellent remaster of the trilogy in 2021
## BioWare's End
BioWare was shut down after canceling its fifth Mass Effect game and being bought by a private investment group.

> After announcing a fifth Mass Effect game that fans hoped would redeem the series after Andromeda, that project is now canceled alongside the studio being shut down.
## Why BioWare Stands Out
BioWare created the most influential RPGs in history, spanning over 30 years of gaming.

> With respect to CD Projekt Red, Larian, and Bethesda Game Studios, there’s never been a better RPG developer over a longer period of time than BioWare.
## Key takeaway

BioWare, the studio behind Baldur's Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Mass Effect, was the greatest RPG developer ever.