Are cities. Lots of cities. Different cities, starting from little cozy (or not) villages to huge and thriving with life metropolises, and in between settlements and towns of various size, culture, occupants and origin.

I am replaying good ol' Skyrim and by the Nine Divines, visiting any cities is such an experience. I love how different they are and how each one of them have a story you can discover and immerse yourself in. Like, you get a city with a dark underbelly, ruled by a corrupt family yet surrounded by a beautiful forest. A small city haunted by a ghost and with a vampire liar nearby. A city with a serial killer on the loose. Slums, market districts, districts for rich folks, districts for non-humans, taverns, inns, houses you can buy, houses you can build. Cities where you could rise to the top and made friends with the power players, be respected by fellow residents and guards. Cities where you could end up being hated by everyone and hunted upon entering. Cities with guilds you could join and made yourself a name or even find a lover in.

I don't know why Bioware has dropped a ball on urban locations in DA:I. Was it because they mistakenly thought people disliked Kirkwall and thus had to go in a complete opposite direction ? Entering the little we see of Val Royeaux the first time was such a disappointment. Same was Redcliffe.