Easily the most compelling RPG I've ever played, Bioware once again proves that they can weave together great writing, beautiful graphics, a compelling story, and a versatile battle system to make a game more than the sum of its parts. Even though Bioware already has the critically praised Mass Effect and Knights of the Old Republic series to their credit, Dragon Age represents a major step forward for the genre and a gem of a game. I never thought I'd use the words "innovative" and "fantasy RPG" in the same sentence, but Dragon Age: Origins also earns the words "fun" and "addictive."

[Chris Holt is a Macworld associate editor.]