Dragon’s Dogma 2 Review: ‘Tis One for the Ages

In today’s overly saturated landscape of video games, it’s rare to have a gameplay experience break new ground. Whether through an unforgettable narrative, innovative gameplay, or impactful design, only a handful manage to inspire future releases in the same or similar genre. That said, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a decade-old classic that many still adore to this day but didn’t have what it takes to reach an “Elden Ring level” of greatness. Even so, it left a mark in our hearts the size of the Arisen’s scar. With the sequel finally here, the legacy of this breathtaking fantasy experience is a nostalgic memory no more. Dragon’s Dogma 2 has taken the pieces from the original and evolved it into a tapestry of elements embroidered to perfection, easily making it a 2024 GOTY contender and, if not, one of the best games of all time.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 Review

With so many open-world games riddled with bloated, side-quest-infested designs, very few have left a lasting impact on me. Not because they are poorly designed or lack content but because they offer little to no sense of discovery. Rare is the game that made me feel like an adventurer on a fantastical journey in a living, breathing world. Yet, Dragon’s Dogma 2 encapsulates such in-depth immersion perfectly. In my 60-plus-hour playthrough, I always felt like an integral part of this dynamic and vibrantly active fantasy world that reacted accordingly to what I did. In other words, there was never a dull moment during my adventures in Dragon’s Dogma 2.

Story: House of the Dragon

While the gameplay of Dragon’s Dogma 2 will be the main draw for many players, this sequel’s story is nothing short of a marvel and should definitely not be overlooked. You needn’t play the original to understand what’s taking place, but explaining the plot would be like describing a season of Game of Thrones without the gratuitous nudity.

You, the Arisen, have been betrayed and are shipped off as a prisoner to Battahl, the beastren’s nation. After receiving help from your faithful Pawns, otherworldly beings tasked with serving you, you arrive in Vermund, where your adventure begins. Gradually, you become embroiled in a web of lies, political intrigue, and plot twists as you contend for your throne against a false Arisen.

The narrative not only drew me in with its incredible presentation but also offered me extensive freedom of choice during my journey. Many missions might have simple objectives, but I had a blast with being given the liberty of how to progress them. For instance, one quest let me pick from over half a dozen fancy outfits to get into a palace masquerade. Another had me explore the confines of Vermund to find evidence of who was usurping the throne. In both of these circumstances, I was given control over how I could reach each mission’s conclusion. Beyond such main story quests, the world has plenty of side activities to complete with the same level of immersion.

The player’s tale truly begins when your main character leaves the inn. With so many immersive world-building elements at play, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is bound to give everyone a unique experience on their journey. For example, one optional quest had me rescue the daughter of the Elves’ leader. Afterward, the leader entrusted me to escort him on an expedition, but we were attacked by a chimera on the way. He ended up being killed, and I had to look for his corpse in the morgue to revive him. This whole unscripted escapade turned into a five-hour thrill ride that I’ll never forget. It felt like a combination of the memorable, unhinged adventures I had in the randomly generated environment of Valheim but set in the detailed and lustrous fantasy world of an Elder Scrolls game.

Gameplay: The Night is Dark and Full of Terrors

You can be sure, my fellow Arisen, that your favorite moments in Dragon’s Dogma 2 will definitely be engaging in the game’s intense and gloriously fluid combat. With Hideaki Itsuno, the director of the Devil May Cry series and Dark Arisen, at the helm of this sequel, there’s no question why fighting feels so satisfyingly responsive and impactful. It’s a well-oiled system with cogs that fit together perfectly while incorporating enough weapons and magic variety to offer different playstyles the best experience possible. Whether it’s the elaborate enemy AI, your Pawns’ diverse utility, or environmental elements you can use to your advantage, no encounter feels the same, even with recurring mobs.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 offers four starter Vocations with six more that can be unlocked, making a total of ten. Each of these classes can equip four active skills; you’ll gain access to more as you level up. I started as a Thief and equipped skills that set off powder charges that dealt explosive damage and smoke bombs to confuse enemies. Eventually, I swapped skills to make an endgame build focused on evasion and deadly counterattacks. You might pick the same Vocation, but your early-to-endgame builds would evolve entirely differently based on your preferred approach to combat. Such depth for the class system makes Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s already intricate combat mechanics that much better.

On another occasion, a warrior Pawn of mine miscalculated their attack and hurled an explosive barrel into my face, sending me flying off the edge of a cliff to my death. In another game, such an experience might have left me a little salty or even triggered a rage-quit moment. However, these Pawn interactions in Dragon’s Dogma 2 were something I thoroughly enjoyed and couldn’t get enough of. When enemy mob variety was lacking, my Pawns constantly created new scenarios that kept the game fresh every minute of my adventure.

In a nutshell, combat is just as dynamic as the world your Arisen inhabits. The elements of battle were so meticulously designed that it is impossible to feel tedium during an encounter. Similar to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, Dragon’s Dogma 2 features combat that “feels real,” with precise hitboxes, weighty attacks, and impactful collision effects. I only wish there was more variety of enemies to engage in combat with. Even so, the same encounter with the ogre mob never felt like a chore. Instead, I became an OP anime protagonist who eventually was able to finish off enemies in one hit.

Exploration

Even without the engaging combat and dynamic mechanics of the open world, the exploration in Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a sensational experience on its own. Once you complete the brief tutorial, the world is free for you to explore. “See that mountain? You can climb it.” While Todd Howard’s words have aged like fine wine for Bethesda’s latest endeavors, the possibilities for exploration are not an illusion in Dragon’s Dogma 2. Exploration simply feels perfect. I loved Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, but there were parts where I felt there was a lot of open space with little content to offer. Here, it’s the complete opposite. Every nook and cranny is packed with enemies to fight, treasures to find, and secrets to uncover.

For example, I decided to traverse an unexplored part of the map just for fun. At a fork in the road, I met an NPC who asked me to escort him to nearby ruins. Along the way, I battled ogres, wolves, and hordes of skeletons residing in the buildings’ worn-down remains. After finishing the quest, I ventured further and found a staircase that led me to more ruins. After fighting past cyclopes and harpies, I stumbled upon a secret cave. Inside, I faced off against a magic golem and found another cavern that led me to another dungeon. I finally ended up in a mysterious swamp enveloped by mists and crawling with undead creatures. The whole exploration experience was just a non-stop thrill.

While Dragon’s Dogma 2 points you in the general direction for your journey, how you reach your destination is up to you, with plenty to happen along the way. While I tried my best to follow the main story, I often got distracted for hours in one location, fighting random mobs, searching for loot, and exploring for fun. Even after spending over 60 hours in the regions of Vermund and Battahl, I’ve only but scratched the surface of all the secrets these zones hold.

Questing

Beyond the exploration, quests aren’t handed to you willy-nilly; they don’t magically appear and flood your map. To start many missions, you need to talk to the right NPCs, after which two things happen: the NPC will tell you what to do, or a hired Pawn will guide you based on their prior experience in another player’s world. Dragon’s Dogma 2 does not feature a modern fast-travel system, which means that each mission has to be taken seriously. This isn’t like the Elder Scrolls series, where you’ll often have over two dozen quests active in your log at once.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 reminded me of how to experience a fantasy adventure — enjoy gradual, immersive progression instead of rushing to the endgame. Nowadays, RPGs bombard you with hundreds of quests and fast travel points to make sure you’re traveling as efficiently as possible to grind out your character’s levels and gear. That’s not the case here. Dragon’s Dogma 2 invites you to a slower, methodical experience, pulling you away from the “fast-food modern RPGs” and instead taking you out on a fancy dining date. Some missions only advance at night, while others are timed. You might experience unexpected encounters in some quests. Given that, when you take damage, your HP bar is reduced until you rest, is it wise to rush everything? No. Dragon’s Dogma 2 encourages you to take your time. 

I could go on for hours about how amazing the world-building of Dragon’s Dogma 2 is and why the questing system is the best in the genre. But it’s an adventure that’s best experienced without too much knowledge or guidance. Looking for solutions removes the thrill of discovery and uncovering mysteries. Instead, take your time. Explore every town, store, and cave at your leisure. Just like a fancy dinner, enjoy every bite to savor every flavor on your plate.

Graphics & Audio: Fantasy Magnificence

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Are there performance problems on consoles? Based on experience with the PS5 version, yes, quite a few. I’m not tech-savvy, but the framerate and NPC rendering were the most noticeable. The game flows between 30 FPS in demanding situations and up to 60 FPS in certain places and cutscenes, with no graphics modes to choose from. Still, the graphics quality is fantastic, and all textures look stunning. Whether it’s the forests full of flora or the deserts that contrast shades of orange with green, everything is one of the most beautiful in an open-world game of the current generation.

Even so, the graphic issues stand out for a game that gives so much immersion in everything it does. The rendering of the NPCs is another quite noticeable thing. On the road, they appear without a problem and can be seen from a distance. But in a city, they can spawn in front of you in a second, which is unrealistic for a game that wants to simulate fantasy immersion. Fortunately, these two things were the only ones I can say that failed in the game. But, if by not having a steady 60 FPS mode, you choose not to buy it, you are going to miss out on one of the best ARPG experiences ever.

As for the audio, it was the icing on the already mouthwatering cake. From the voices of each Pawn to the main characters and NPCs to the creatures in the game, the audible experience was a well-performed orchestra from start to finish. One of my favorite moments was entering a dark cave and hearing the ominous echo of a growling ogre. Keep in mind, though, that your Pawns do speak up every ten seconds, like in Dark Arisen. However, in Dragon’s Dogma 2, they provide better tips and interact with each other, which makes the journey with them more memorable.

Conclusion: An Unforgettable Adventure

Dragon’s Dogma 2 takes the open-world RPG design to immeasurable heights. I have rarely felt the thrill of experiencing a virtual fantasy world where I’m left to resort to my wits to survive and thrive. It is one of those games that come once on a blue moon. While I’ve already had my adventure, I can’t wait to see all the Arisen take up arms and experience this fantastical world.

After more than a decade, Dragon’s Dogma 2 was well worth the wait. From start to finish, it is an enthralling adventure that will enchant you from its opening sequence and hold your attention captive until the credits roll. I have no doubt that it is an experience that will go down in gaming history as one of the best RPGs of all time.