The 3D open-world fantasy action RPG genre was already crowded in 2012, yet Capcom still managed to create a cult-classic experience with Dragon’s Dogma. Proving that director Hideaki Itsuno could strike gold a second time more than a decade later in 2024, Dragon’s Dogma 2 shone just as brightly as the first – offering a narrative with surprises, a creative pawn system, and RPG foundations that might not have been flawless but offered versatility and challenge in equal measure. Now, two years on, Capcom has released Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, what could be called the ‘definitive’ edition of the game, offering the same experience alongside a new suite of weighty content that puts it well beyond what one would usually expect from a ‘definitive edition’. How did this new content fare? Was it worth revisiting my save file from a couple of years ago? Read on to find out!
When I think back on my experience of playing Dragon’s Dogma 2 in 2024, the thing that stood out to me most was the game’s lack of willingness to guide you step by step. You start off as an amnesiac Arisen in a cell alongside a number of pawns, and the plot quickly takes a turn into a royal rebellion, introduces a mysterious power that can corrupt pawns, and throws at you a seemingly endless number of side mysteries which only come to light if you’re in the right place at the right time. If you simply follow the main quests in order, you’ll only manage to discover about half of what Vermund and Battahl have to offer. Which is one of the reasons exploration was so satisfying, particularly since the quests sometimes included alternative routes and on occasion an unpleasant consequence for sticking to the prescribed path. The way the game was presented was similar in this regard. It wasn’t going to win any awards for its graphical detail, and I truly wish that the creator of an Arisen or a Pawn had 10 times the options as those available currently. Nevertheless, the game was very well optimised and had a pleasing art direction, the lighting playing a major role in establishing its dark fantasy atmosphere. While trudging through the desert by lantern light, I would often stop to enjoy the view, even though the rather basic pawn creator and the absence of a cosmetic outfit system were minor flaws in an otherwise beautiful world.
It was in the gameplay that Dragon’s Dogma 2 really deserved my praise. The pawns once again took centre stage, each one having its own personality, sense of humour, and knowledge of the quests they had witnessed in other players’ worlds, even though a bit more dialogue would have been useful. The vocation system provided ten combat styles for the Arisen and six for their pawns, each of them contributing in a smooth manner during smaller skirmishes and excelling in bigger, more important battles. That said, I wasn’t entirely satisfied. The gradual reduction of maximum health, the strict stamina bar, and the fact that carry weight is linked to your character’s size could turn the simple task of travelling into a chore, and since there were no difficulty options the game remained as it was. A number of players noticed that the challenge diminished as their Arisen became stronger, and since the last update Capcom has been spending two years patching, making adjustments, and it appears to be getting ready for something much bigger.
And that something is Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, which takes a similar approach to the Dark Arisen expansion that came with the original release, offering endgame “side” content for players on their second playthroughs, not just a few scraps to justify buying the game a second time around. Accessing this content is easy: speak with Captain Brant in Vernworth after dark, and you are on your way. One word of warning, however. If your playthrough has already reached the Unmoored World, you will need to start New Game+ to access the new content. I will also admit that picking up my save from where I left off two years ago wasn’t the seamless return I had hoped for, and it took a while for the controls to feel like second nature again. If you are in the same boat, I would recommend spending some time reacquainting yourself with Vermund, your vocation and your pawns before heading north.
Regarding the story, rumours of a second Arisen, something that should not exist, draw you to Norgan, a kingdom long since swallowed by snow, with only one small village left standing. Alongside Eir, whose connections to Norgan’s past you will have to find out for yourself, you begin the search for the Fallen Dragon. The story here is more assured than in the original game. Because the same small group of characters accompanies you through most of the main quest, you get to know them, and the background information includes some genuinely interesting consequences for the series. It isn’t entirely free of unnecessary content, with a few sections filled with routine tasks, side quests that never go beyond filler, and a finale that could have been shorter. Nevertheless, it represents a clear improvement.
Norgan is where Dark Arisen shines most, focusing on depth rather than breadth. Tunnels dig under the snow and reappear in surprising places, ruins sit atop other ruins, and climbing hooks provide shortcuts between levels. It rewards the same sense of curiosity as the base game, and even more so by occasionally throwing in a new biome or hazard when you least expect it. The weather also contributes to the experience. Whiteouts can hit with little notice, disrupting your minimap and draining your strength unless you wear thermal gear or carry Heatstones. This introduces a pleasant level of tension during long journeys without turning it into a full-scale survival mechanism. That said, it might be less forgiving for people who always struggle to manage their inventory properly (I am guilty of this). Fortunately, Norgan has its own extensive network of portcrystals, so travelling further north usually means you don’t have to backtrack on foot. Visually, it is by far the best the game has ever looked; glacial cliffs, snow-laden pines, and the crumbling stonework of a long-forgotten kingdom often made me stop mid-journey just to take in the view. The new boss themes also deserve mention, as they add a lot of impact to the bigger encounters.
So, how does Dark Arisen actually play? If you found the base game a bit too easy, the good news is that Norgan counteracts this. Even with a high-level Arisen, the difficulty ramps up almost immediately. The free Title Update 3.2 also introduces a Hard Mode that addresses one of my own complaints from 2024. The environment gets involved too, whether you drop icicles on unprepared enemies or turn a hillside into a temporary bowling alley. Although the bestiary is mixed, many encounters are regional variations of familiar creatures.
Nevertheless, new monsters such as the Lesser Demons, Blackdogs, and Beorcan raiders provide a much-needed change, and the boss battles offer some of the expansion’s most memorable moments. This time, there are no new vocations, which might disappoint some. However, each existing vocation gains new skills from Obelisks distributed throughout Norgan, along with permanent stat increases, and the update also raises your skill slots from four to six.
Where Dark Arisen is likely to split opinion is its approach to loot. For better or worse, most of what you find in Norgan is Relics: unidentified items you must appraise back in the village to reveal their tier, stats, and bonus traits, with results weighted toward your current vocation. That alone isn’t new for the action RPG genre, let alone anyone who’s played the dozens of popular gacha games that have some form of it. The randomness comes at a cost, though. Gear rarely sticks around long enough to feel special; prying open a chest after a long detour to find something unique is largely a thing of the past, and blacksmith upgrades from the base game quickly become redundant. Back on the mainland, twelve Lost Rites dungeons offer a change of pace, some with entry conditions such as bringing only your main pawn, capping equipment weight or requiring a specific vocation. Their quality varies. The more inventive ones stand well above others that are over almost before they begin, and anyone arriving overpowered will breeze through them. Still, they are worth seeking out, not least for their unique gear and the flames needed to activate those Obelisks.
So, was it worth dusting off my save file from two years ago? Absolutely, even if it took a little while to get back on my feet. In a genre that’s only grown more crowded since 2012, Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen reminds you why this series earned its cult following in the first place. Norgan is a beautifully dense playground to explore, and the story is more engaging than the base game’s. The renewed challenge, new skills and standout boss fights give veterans plenty of reason to sharpen their blades once more. Randomised loot, recycled enemies, and uneven Lost Rites keep it from perfection, but they are easy to forgive when the rest of the package is this strong – even without the extra expansion content, the base game is more than worth a play. Capcom didn’t just bundle the base game with a few extras; it delivered new content substantial enough to stand on its own, and the result is the best way to experience Dragon’s Dogma 2 to date.
Final Score for Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen
This review for Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen was based on the PlayStation 5 edition of the game. A review code was provided by Australian distributor, Five Star Games, to facilitate this review.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is now available to purchase (depending on platform) as either or both a complete collection or standalone expansion for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. Ensure that you are buying the correct version for your needs.
