Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons

Double Dragon Gaiden is another solid addition to a year of excellent brawlers.

77%Game Brain Score

gameplay, music

grinding, stability

85% User Score Based on 699 reviews

Critic Score 20%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

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About

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons is a single player and multiplayer casual hack and slash game with a post-apocalyptic theme. It was developed by Secret Base Pte Ltd and was released on July 27, 2023. It received negative reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

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Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons screenshot

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 699 reviews

gameplay92 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Engaging beat 'em up gameplay with a unique tag-team system allowing players to switch between two characters and chain combo attacks.
Strong replay value due to roguelike elements, including character upgrades, unlockable wide roster, and dynamic stage progression based on level order.
Excellent pixel art style and animation with nostalgic and well-composed soundtrack paying homage to classic Double Dragon games.

Short main campaign length with only a few stages, making the game feel limited without multiple playthroughs.
Sluggish and stiff character movement and combat pacing, including long recovery frames and input lag detracting from game flow.
Reports of technical issues including buggy online co-op, controller input problems, glitches, and occasional game crashes.

gameplay
225 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
50%
9%
The gameplay of Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons blends classic beat-'em-up mechanics with modern roguelite elements, featuring a deep combo system, diverse characters with unique styles, and an engaging tag-team mechanic that adds strategic depth. While praised for tight, responsive controls, satisfying crowd control mechanics, and customizable difficulty sliders, some players find the pacing sluggish, the roguelite mechanics divisive, and the limited level variety a drawback. Overall, it offers a fun, addictive, and nostalgic gameplay loop enhanced by unlockable content, though it may feel repetitive or mechanically shallow compared to other contemporary beat-'em-ups.
- “The deep combo mechanics, loads of characters, dynamic story mode, rad music, and amount of character upgrades are out of this world.”
- “The tag system is great, and combined with the special moves and SP meter mechanics, it leads to a lot of interesting gameplay opportunities.”
- “There is a comprehensive set of sliders that enable you to tweak the difficulty of the story mode, with a decently sized roster featuring many well-known faces that mix up gameplay quite a bit, adding lots of variety and replayability.”
- “The run-based roguelite nature of this game harms every single aspect of its gameplay and just results in a tedious mess with a heavy lack of replay value; the ability to make the game feel good to play is entirely reliant on getting the right combinations of upgrades in a run.”
- “Gameplay is stiff and slow, doesn't feel like a Double Dragon game.”
- “Of course, there are some problems in the game, such as some levels being very long and making the gameplay drag (like the scrapyard level) and the fact that you don't have any invincibility when you fall, which can cause you to be hit by traps in sequence, without a chance to react.”
music
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The music in this game is widely praised for its nostalgic and energetic soundtrack, featuring excellent remixes of classic Double Dragon tunes alongside new compositions that perfectly complement the fast-paced gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, noting its role in enhancing the retro feel and replayability through unlockable tracks in the token shop. While a few critiques mention minor issues with music variety or menu functionality, overall the music is considered a major strength, often described as iconic, charming, and a fitting tribute to the series' legacy.
- “The soundtrack in Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a pulsating mix of retro synth and modern beats that fits perfectly with the fast-paced action.”
- “The soundtrack is an absolute triumph, featuring a blend of retro-inspired tunes and adrenaline-pumping beats that complement the gameplay perfectly.”
- “The music really brings back some old memories with Double Dragon.”
- “Also double dragon is known for its iconic music, there isn't a single track that stands out here and they somehow made the original intro music worse.”
- “[*] The music choices could have been better.”
- “The music also resets when you leave that menu which is kind of annoying, flash games do that type of thing.”
graphics
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
3%
The graphics showcase charming, well-animated pixel art with a strong retro, ‘90s-inspired aesthetic that appeals to fans of classic beat 'em ups, though the chibi/cartoonish art style is divisive. While many praise its vibrant visuals and smooth animations, some players find the art style off-putting or too simplistic compared to modern or previous franchise entries. Overall, the graphics effectively complement the gameplay and nostalgic atmosphere, even if not universally loved.
- “Always fun with some nostalgic gameplay, and sweet pixel graphics accompanied by awesome music.”
- “The pixel art style is beautifully executed, blending old-school charm with contemporary flair.”
- “While the game retains the pixel art style of previous Double Dragon games, the animations are smoother, and the overall design feels more dynamic, with some cool visual effects during special moves and combat.”
- “The art style is horrid, there's 4 stages, 5 if you go down the "true path" and the gimmick of being able to do each of the stages in whatever order you want really just means playing the game 4 times to get the 4 achievements and then picking the least annoying stages to play while you grind tokens to get characters that barely change up how the game is played.”
- “As another of the people who played the old original double dragons games I can only view this as a sloppy attempt of a cash grab and a terrible addition to the franchise as the graphics are worse than the first 3 double dragons games, the fan games and others that are much older. I'll keep it short: don't buy if you're nostalgic about the series (old games and cartoons) but it's at best an ok beat-em-up that should never have been given the double dragon label.”
- “Bad gamefeel, very average pixel graphics that don't look nice and don't have any dithering.”
story
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
83%
3%
The story in Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a straightforward, nostalgic beat-'em-up plot featuring the Lee brothers battling gangs to save the city, with lighthearted yet occasionally serious moments. Though relatively short and simple, the story mode includes branching mission orders and multiple endings, adding replayability, supported by a notable soundtrack and classic franchise elements. However, many find it lacking depth and could benefit from more content to fully engage fans beyond the core brawling action.
- “Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons keeps the franchise's classic plot intact—Billy and Jimmy Lee are back in action to save the city from a new wave of criminal gangs and supernatural threats.”
- “The story basically takes the Lee brothers, Marian (in another game where she isn't the damsel in distress!), and Uncle Matin (the Lee brothers' guardian and Marian's uncle) on a quest to rid the city of the four main gangs that have taken over the city.”
- “The story lets you play the stages in whatever order you want and that affects what happens to the other stages along the way.”
- “The story is short and could benefit from a bit more.”
- “Double Dragon has never been very story heavy; this one could have offered more.”
- “There is nothing but a threadbare story mode that, even with all the difficulty leaps and frustrating design, will take you just over 2 hours to complete.”
replayability
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
4%
Despite its relatively short length, the game offers impressive replayability through its roguelite elements, multiple stage orders that alter level layouts and bosses, and a broad roster of unlockable characters with unique playstyles. The progression system, character upgrades, and dynamic level changes keep each playthrough fresh and engaging, appealing especially to fans of classic beat 'em ups. While some note the limited number of stages, the variety of modes, characters, and strategic choices provide substantial motivation for repeated play.
- “I especially am a big fan of the rogue-lite elements that are present in this game, which make the game insanely replayable; obviously not including the content that is constantly being added to it as well as the survival mode, which really should be a necessity when it comes to replay value in beat 'em ups.”
- “Levels change and evolve depending on the chosen order, and different mid-level bosses appear each playthrough again adding a ton of replay value.”
- “The ability to tackle any stage in any order and the extra challenge which comes with them makes each run unique, and mixed with how many characters you can play with, the sky's the limit with replayability.”
- “Okay, yes, it's some kind of disappointing that the game really consists only of 4 levels (after which you seem to be able to choose some kind of "bad ending" - and I will play through again only to see what happens at the "good one". 4 levels means 2 hours of gameplay, and that truly isn't much. There is a character unlocking (Abobo and other well-known protagonists), and that kind of adds to the replay value, but still: there are only these 4 levels.”
- “Purchased upgrades also do not fundamentally change how you play so there really is not the replay value and variety that you would expect to see when a game is listed as a roguelite.”
- “The run-based roguelite nature of this game harms every single aspect of its gameplay and just results in a tedious mess with a heavy lack of replay value and the ability to make the game feel good to play is entirely reliant on getting the right combinations of upgrades in a run.”
grinding
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
Grinding is a significant part of the game, primarily for token farming needed to unlock characters and stages, which many find tedious and time-consuming. While some players appreciate the rewarding feeling despite the grind, others feel it detracts from the gameplay, making it slower and less engaging. The roguelite token-farming and repetitive boss fights further contribute to a sense of tediousness and limited replay value.
- “The earning token part of the game for me was just way too grindy and the variety just wasn't there for me.”
- “A lot of grinding to unlock characters which add dubious value to the play style.”
- “The run-based roguelite nature of this game harms every single aspect of its gameplay and just results in a tedious mess with a heavy lack of replay value and the ability to make the game feel good to play is entirely reliant on getting the right combinations of upgrades in a run.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from frequent bugs and stability issues, including freezing during special moves, character glitches in online play, and occasional soft locks that can force restarts or block progress. These problems significantly impact the gameplay experience, especially in multiplayer and boss fights.
- “This game is a social 2 player game; however, that function is so buggy and broken it can't be played.”
- “1st run is 2 hours long, then it soft locks and glitches out on the final boss, just outside of the refund window.”
- “Every time you kill 3 or more enemies using a special move (something that happens very frequently), the game freezes to pop an image on your screen for far too long.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The humor in the game is lighthearted and cleverly integrated through tongue-in-cheek Easter eggs and nostalgic callbacks, avoiding harsh irony or pop culture mockery. It contributes to an enjoyable play experience without overshadowing gameplay, though occasional bugs can unintentionally create humorous moments. Overall, the humor complements the game's charm without being the main focus.
- “While there are some tongue-in-cheek Easter eggs throughout, the humor is not a mockery of the franchise's core themes or based on snidely ironic fourth wall breaking pop culture 'gotchas'.”
- “Playability is the high point, really good and funny.”
- “Weapon pickup limitation: only Bimmy and Jimmy (yes, Bimmy—a callback to the original game’s hilariously bad translation) can pick up weapons.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development is highlighted mainly through colorful, exaggerated, and visually appealing designs that contribute to a fun, cartoonish atmosphere, though opinions on the visual style vary. The fluid animations and unique character aesthetics enhance the gameplay experience, making actions engaging and enjoyable to watch.
- “The character designs are colorful and exaggerated, giving the game a fun, cartoonish vibe that keeps the action from ever feeling too grim or serious.”
- “The character designs are delightfully goofy and over the top, and again, the music was 10/10.”
- “The character designs and enemy sprites are visually appealing, and the fluid animations make every move and attack a treat to watch.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users criticize the monetization of the game as a blatant and lazy cash grab, with frequent reliance on ads and quick, unsatisfying gameplay designed to prompt spending. Many feel it undermines the franchise's legacy and reduces the overall quality of the experience.
- “It's too short... it needs to be a lot longer. This is a cheap cash grab.”
- “As someone who played the original Double Dragon games, I view this as a sloppy cash grab and a terrible addition to the franchise. The graphics are worse than the first three games and older fan games. Don't buy if you're nostalgic about the series.”
- “It's a quick cash grab and lazy as hell in design.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its unique and diverse locations that bring the world to life with a sense of both vibrancy and danger. Additionally, the combination of music, art style, and overall flow enhances the immersive and engaging environment.
- “Each location has its own atmosphere, making the world feel diverse and full of life (and danger).”
- “I love the flow, the music, the art style, the atmosphere of this game.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization aspect highlights strategic gameplay elements, such as using upgraded gear and resource management to maximize effectiveness. Players find that optimizing character builds and crowd control can significantly enhance performance, especially in late game.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's emotional impact is modest, with the main mode feeling like it could benefit from refinement, but overall it delivers a satisfactory experience through its variety of characters and playful interactions.

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20%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews

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3h Median play time

6h Average play time

2-13h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons is a casual hack and slash game with post-apocalyptic theme.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons was released on July 27, 2023.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons was developed by Secret Base Pte Ltd.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons has received negative reviews from players and negative reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Streets of Rage 4, Fight'N Rage, River City Ransom: Underground, The TakeOver, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate and others.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons

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