DC Universe Online

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 11,831 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
DC Universe Online Game Cover
An exciting new direction for MMOs that's plenty of fun already and should only get better with a few patches under its utility belt.
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"DC Universe Online is a free-to-play MMORPG set in the DC Universe, allowing players to become heroes or villains and fight alongside or against iconic characters such as Batman and Superman. With fast-paced combat and storylines written by DC Comics writers, players can explore iconic locations and customize their character's path to legend. All episodes are now free for players.".

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,831 reviews
story451 positive mentions
grinding263 negative mentions
  • story1,552 mentions

    The story in DC Universe Online is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its engaging comic book-inspired narrative and character interactions, particularly during the initial leveling phase up to level 30. However, the repetitive nature of missions and the reliance on familiar tropes can lead to a sense of monotony, especially as players progress into endgame content, which often feels like a grind. While the game offers a rich lore and the opportunity to interact with iconic DC characters, the overall storytelling can suffer from a lack of depth and variety, particularly after the main storyline concludes.

    • “The storyline is rich and engaging, with quests that draw you deeper into the DC universe.”
    • “The story has cool moving comic book panels for the main missions.”
    • “The story is massive, and if that's not enough, they sell expansions for cheap that are already installed and just unlock.”
    • “The prologue feels promising, but the story is not good; it's full of the same old cliché characters, and details the DC universe is known for. Sadly, there is nothing interesting about the story, even though the prologue made it look like it's going to be.”
    • “The story is just a very long tutorial.”
    • “The story is not much; it's just random missions with their own stories.”
  • gameplay642 mentions

    The gameplay of DC Universe Online (DCUO) is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the character customization and cooperative elements, while others criticize its repetitive nature and pay-to-win mechanics. Combat mechanics are often described as fun but can feel clunky and simplistic, leading to a grind-heavy experience, especially at higher levels. Overall, while the game offers engaging superhero-themed gameplay, it suffers from issues related to outdated mechanics and monetization strategies that can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Great gameplay and customization, loads of content.”
    • “The combination of melee, ranged, and superpower-based combat creates a diverse and engaging gameplay experience that keeps players on their toes.”
    • “Gameplay is fast and fun, moving around the world is fun as you can choose how you move around and what type of powers you have.”
    • “The gameplay cycle is quite boring, along with this combat is not really good either. After all these years with nearly no improvements, it feels quite poor.”
    • “The gameplay is just walk over there, use your abilities until everything is dead, and repeat.”
    • “The gameplay is shallow, repetitive, and the visuals are just way too much, to the point that nothing has any oomph to it.”
  • graphics583 mentions

    The graphics of DC Universe Online have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear dated, especially for a game released in 2011. While some appreciate the comic book-inspired art style and find the visuals engaging, others criticize the outdated textures and animations, suggesting a need for a significant graphical overhaul. Overall, the game's graphics are considered decent for its age, but many players express a desire for modern updates to enhance the visual experience.

    • “The graphics are impressive, and the attention to detail in the environments is remarkable.”
    • “The game's graphics are impressive, with a lot of attention to detail and an immersive world that feels like it's been pulled straight from the pages of a comic book.”
    • “The graphics are stunning and the game features a variety of environments, characters, and settings which are taken straight from the DC Comics universe.”
    • “They murdered this game and the graphics are years out of date.”
    • “The graphics are 100% garbage and they refuse to perform a graphical update.”
    • “The graphics are dated, but get the job done.”
  • grinding278 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly at endgame where repetitive tasks dominate gameplay. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, especially for character customization and progression, others express frustration over the pay-to-win elements and the sheer volume of grinding required to remain competitive. Overall, the game is characterized as highly grindy, appealing primarily to those who enjoy extensive farming and leveling mechanics typical of MMORPGs.

    • “Not too much of a paywall, not too grindy, f2p viable.”
    • “The missions are fun and not too tedious, even when replayed.”
    • “Fun gameplay, easy to reach level cap, and virtually no grinding to reach level cap.”
    • “The end game is nothing more than grinding, spending cash, etc., to the game to get more combat rating, simple as that.”
    • “Grinding in this game feels beyond unrewarding; if you're a new player and don't have friends joining you along the way, I wouldn't bother unless you want to spend your day doing 10+ hours of mindless grinding.”
    • “Once you hit level 30, congratulations because it's all farming content for a tier gear upgrade.”
  • monetization122 mentions

    The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as a cash grab due to the prevalence of expensive microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and customization options, the overwhelming focus on in-game purchases and the necessity of spending money to access content or enhance gameplay has left a negative impression, leading to recommendations against investing time or money into the game. Overall, the monetization practices are seen as predatory and detrimental to the gaming experience.

    • “Overall, the game is fun with an enjoyable co-op mode and large amounts of customization, despite all in-game purchases and DLC.”
    • “The microtransactions and DLCs are enticing, but not required for enjoying the game.”
    • “This MMO is one of the few free-to-play games that don't force you into microtransactions in order to play the game it was meant to be played.”
    • “You're incredibly hampered by microtransactions, and there's so much high-level content wandering the game that it's inevitable you'll just be insta-killed by a nearby enemy 50 levels above you.”
    • “Monetization killed it.”
    • “The game operates under one of the most petty, predatory, and frustrating monetization strategies I've seen outside of mobile gaming.”
  • stability77 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs, crashes, and launcher issues that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users find the game enjoyable despite these problems, many express frustration over the frequency and severity of glitches, which can lead to game freezes and mission failures. Overall, the game's stability remains a major concern, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Runs great for the most part.”
    • “Considering how old the game is, the developers are making maintenance updates every day to ensure it's as bug-free as possible.”
    • “I finally quit after a buggy mission screwed up another mission which put me in an endless loop of not being able to start or complete missions.”
    • “The game has been broken ever since release with no attempt to fix the bugs/glitches or even ban the hackers that run speed hacks.”
    • “Don't waste your time, the game is full of bugs; new content (free DLC) comes with bugs and glitches, and some stay forever and become part of the game.”
  • humor55 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying the comedic elements brought by iconic characters like the Joker, voiced by Mark Hamill and John DiMaggio. Many find the absurdity of the game's scenarios and dialogue amusing, contributing to a lighthearted experience, despite some criticisms of the overall quality and voice acting. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with gameplay, making it a fun and entertaining choice for fans of superhero narratives.

    • “It's fun and sometimes it's funny!”
    • “Funny man dressed as a bat needed help to save a little city located inside some clown man's mother's daughter with a habitual fear of bats.”
    • “The storylines in this game are funny and exciting even if you have little to no comic background.”
  • replayability48 mentions

    The game is generally regarded as having high replayability due to its engaging storylines, character customization options, and diverse gameplay modes, including PvE and PvP content. However, some players express frustration with the need for additional purchases to unlock full replay potential and the repetitive nature of certain quests, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, many players find themselves returning to the game for its rich content and varied character builds.

    • “If you experience the game for the first time, you will get an engaging story in the main quest, and there is huge replayability as you want to create a character for each mentor on both sides.”
    • “I recommend that you download this game and at least do one full playthrough choosing a villain and one full playthrough choosing a hero, and even after you have played through the game twice, it has so much content and replay value.”
    • “Coupled with the many combinations of powers and weapons, as well as the two sides, the replayability is immense.”
    • “So while there's some replay value in DC Universe Online's missions, if you want to try a different approach with a character, you basically have to buy a membership and unlock more character slots, or delete a character you like and spent time developing.”
    • “Even if you buy the expansion story missions, you would have to buy replay tokens to play them again with out-of-pocket money, so the replay value is not actually there.”
    • “While the gameplay is easy to pick up and run with, it can also hinder its replay value as the gameplay itself can at times become very redundant.”
  • optimization40 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as frame drops, audio desynchronization, and lag, particularly on higher settings. While some users report smooth gameplay on lower-end systems, the overall consensus indicates that the game suffers from outdated engine limitations and poor coding, leading to a bleak outlook for future performance improvements. Additionally, the lack of proper optimization for PC controls and graphics options has been noted as a drawback, affecting the overall gaming experience.

    • “The game runs smoothly on my PC, which is nowhere near a workstation, and I experience no lag.”
    • “The game is very fun and excellently optimized; you'll always have a solid, high frame rate.”
    • “The customization is impressive, graphics detailed, and performance generally good.”
    • “The game is also poorly optimized; my system is more than capable of running this yet, I constantly run into frame drops and audio de-sync issues.”
    • “This game can be so much fun, but it is marred by bloated, unoptimized code, either bad server hosting or poor network coding and poor QA.”
    • “Even on up-to-date computers, the game suffers from texture and screen tearing, major lag spikes, and other problems tied to poor optimization of the engine.”
  • character development27 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and variety, offering extensive customization options that allow players to create unique characters with diverse abilities. While some users note that the character design could benefit from more options and a more engaging story, the overall quality of graphics and character animations is highly regarded. The modular nature of character development provides players with significant control over their characters' stats and appearance, enhancing the gameplay experience.

    • “Character development is great and so is customization.”
    • “Yes, it looks somewhat dated, but the combat, interactivity, and depth of character development is surprisingly satisfying, even more so than I remember it being 10 years ago.”
    • “Character development is very much modular, and the player is given a lot of control over stats to modify/increase, given the effort, and the equipment looks cool too.”
    • “The tutorial mission and early character development do not seem to make any sense now.”
    • “I wish it had a more unique story and more involved character development.”
    • “The voice-over cast is iconic and all the character designs are straight out of the comics, but it doesn't make up for the incredibly boring gameplay and tiny world map.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players highlighting the powerful soundtrack and effective voice acting that bring the world to life. However, some users find the music forgettable or mediocre, suggesting a mixed reception overall. While the soundtrack contributes positively to the immersive gameplay, opinions vary on its memorability and impact.

    • “It's an MMORPG with massive maps and a musical score that works perfectly with the voice acting, all of which are beautifully done.”
    • “The game's sound design is also excellent, with a great soundtrack and voice acting that brings the characters to life.”
    • “The gentle soundtrack immerses you into the world of DC Universe Online.”
    • “The music is forgettable.”
    • “Good graphics, mediocre sound and music (some voiceovers are really good, some are just horrible).”
    • “The music isn't irritating, and it has its moments.”
  • atmosphere19 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its immersive qualities, featuring excellent music, voice acting, and art that resonate well with DC Comics fans. While the game offers a distinct and engaging environment, some players note that the atmosphere can become frustrating due to the "pay to win" elements and inconsistencies between different zones. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a strong point, particularly for those familiar with the DC universe.

    • “Music is very atmospheric with good voice acting and great art: new content, costumes, accessories, and collectibles being introduced constantly.”
    • “DC Universe Online has a distinct flavor that separates it from its peers, while espousing the super heroic atmosphere required for this genre of MMO.”
    • “It was fun fighting the Joker alongside Batman, and I enjoy Gotham more than Metropolis; the atmosphere is just more immersive and dark.”
    • “So... I like the game except for a few things... the very 'pay to win' atmosphere.”
    • “I feel like the bottom line here and what makes this game fun or not is how much do you like DC Comics. As for myself, I'm a fan; I love DC, but I couldn't make my friends play it because they're not familiar with the atmosphere. That being said, I only recommend it if you're familiar with DC Comics in some way.”
    • “General gist of things is, you enter the game as one of a wave of new heroes or villains brought about by an alternate timeline, Lex releasing a swarm of nanomachines that he stole from Brainiac, containing information from all the superhumans he'd digitized in the process of conquering Earth, into the atmosphere.”
  • emotional11 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as initially immersive and unique, effectively drawing players into the DC universe. However, this emotional connection tends to diminish over time, with some players feeling that the experience devolves into a grind lacking meaningful storytelling. Despite this, moments of empowerment and character relatability, such as the journey of Joey, still resonate with players, evoking strong feelings during gameplay.

    • “Seamlessly immersing you into the DC universe in a unique and emotional experience.”
    • “10/10 would cry again.”
    • “Joey was a good wholesome average man, with lots to live for.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

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Play time

40hMedian play time
714hAverage play time
8-642hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 60 analyzed playthroughs

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