Humans notably make the best rogues in the game thanks to their dexterity, strength and cunning bonuses. Notably, many of these attributes are tied to skill or equipment requirements, giving humans access to them slightly earlier. Humans have a predictably versatile spread of racial bonuses that give them an edge over their rivals in most situations.

There are three races available in Dragon Age. This choice does not affect game statistics, but does have some effect on certain parts of the game's story, such as what romances are available. A character must be either male or female.