Dragon's Dogma 2

About

"Dragon's Dogma 2" is the sequel to the popular open-world action RPG. Create your own Arisen and Pawn, and choose from various vocation options to customize your playstyle. Explore a vast world filled with dangerous enemies and epic quests, and discover the truth behind the dragons' return. Immerse yourself in improved graphics and mechanics for an even more engaging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 93 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

story5 negative mentions

Dragon's Dogma 2 successfully recaptures the charm of the original while introducing new features, such as an improved pawn system and a vast open world to explore.
The game offers a deep and engaging combat system, with a variety of vocations and customization options that enhance the gameplay experience.
Despite some criticisms, many players find the graphics stunning and the overall experience enjoyable, with a rewarding sense of accomplishment from overcoming challenging enemies.

The game suffers from performance issues, including frame rate drops and optimization problems, particularly in towns and during intense battles.
Microtransactions are present and have been criticized for being unnecessary, leading to concerns about the game's monetization strategy and overall value.
Some players feel that the game lacks depth in its story and quests, with repetitive enemy encounters and tedious travel mechanics detracting from the overall enjoyment.

gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
Dragons Dogma 2 offers a nostalgic, old-school RPG experience with unique mechanics such as a single save file, weight management, and cumulative damage, which enhance its challenge and immersion. The gameplay is engaging and addictive, featuring a robust pawn system and character creation that significantly impacts gameplay, though some players may find the fast travel mechanics and camera issues frustrating. Overall, it blends elements from titles like Elden Ring and Monster Hunter, making it a recommended choice for fans of action RPGs, despite some criticisms regarding its grind and early-game mechanics.
- “Gameplay: if you like Elden Ring blended with Monster Hunter and a touch of Devil May Cry, then this game will feel excellent for you.”
- “I’m blown away by the addicting gameplay and the pawn system!”
- “It's all the little immersive details and touches in the gameplay that really stand out for me.”
- “Presumably because the scope was so large in those end game battles, my camera kept getting swung into walls, impenetrable fog, the enemy's body, etc. It made for incredibly frustrating gameplay.”
- “No loot, no XP, nothing; terrible mechanic, especially early game.”
- “Gameplay is somewhat mediocre.”
story
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
74%
16%
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it basic and lacking depth, often reduced to repetitive fetch quests and combat tasks. While some appreciate the engaging dark fantasy setting and character interactions, others criticize the quest structure for being confusing and riddled with bugs that can disrupt progress. Overall, the narrative fails to captivate as much as its predecessor, leaving players wanting a more compelling and cohesive experience.
- “It's fun to explore the world, which feels more vast than the first, has an extensive character creator, several quests to undertake, an ox cart system to get to and from settlements more quickly, and opportunities to try out several different vocations and their abilities.”
- “The story, which centers on palace intrigue, is engaging and replete with compelling characters.”
- “The story is also...like the original, which if you've beaten the original, you'll understand that the story will be similar in every iteration of this series...it has to be.”
- “Its a very basic RPG with almost no story, balance, or purpose.”
- “The story is non-existent; enemies are just reskins of others and the romance is a joke.”
- “And although I had so much fun at first, after a few days of gameplay, the repetitiveness and lack of story depth made me lose interest quickly.”
monetization
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The monetization in the game features optional microtransactions that many players feel are unnecessary but not intrusive, as all items can be earned through regular gameplay. While some criticize the presence of microtransactions in a full-priced game, others argue that they are not pay-to-win and do not significantly impact the overall experience. Overall, the controversy seems to stem more from the principle of microtransactions rather than their actual implementation in the game.
- “Microtransactions are optional, but it's not a pay-to-win game; just for those that don't have patience.”
- “Yes, there are microtransactions, but it's not in your face like Call of Duty or Fortnite.”
- “The microtransactions here are (1) items that you get with the deluxe pre-order, only they're spread out, (2) not connected to gameplay in any way—you have to go to a whole separate menu to find them! (3) The microtransactions are all items you find in regular gameplay anyway.”
- “I do not condone nor endorse microtransactions for a full-priced game, so I do not care for Capcom adding these weird superfluous ones.”
- “Yes, you can obtain these items in-game by grinding, but changing a character's appearance shouldn't have strings attached. It should cost resources that you can then pay money for in the cash shop, which, by the way, has over 40 dollars worth of day-one microtransactions, a lot of which are paid shortcuts—literally paying money to play less of their game.”
- “Dd2 is a very good game; Capcom does make good games, but they just have to get away from microtransactions. It is very immersion-breaking.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
56%
22%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly in cities, leading to frame rate drops and character pop-in. While some users have found improvements after tweaking settings, others express frustration over the lack of a performance mode on consoles and the overall subpar optimization. Despite these challenges, a few players note that the game runs well on specific platforms like the PS5, suggesting that experiences may vary based on hardware.
- “After I did that, it was like night and day in the difference of performance. It was actually playable and didn’t hurt my eyes to look at it. I mean, the city performance is still not good, but everything else runs pretty smooth now.”
- “The optimization is being blown way out of proportion and is a bigger deal for PC gamers that have $2k+ put into their rig.”
- “In cities and towns, for some reason, I have noted the most significant performance drops, character pop-in, and low poly models.”
- “I just genuinely hope they can address it in future patches and wish it had more time in the optimization oven.”
- “Capcom really screwed up here... uncapped framerate that barely goes above 30... horrible motion blur and stuttering.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
Overall, the graphics in the game are widely praised for their high quality, with stunning environments, character models, and animations that enhance the immersive experience. While some players note minor graphical issues and express a desire for more engaging content, the visual fidelity and character customization options are highlighted as standout features. However, a few reviews mention that the graphics may not significantly surpass those of earlier titles in the genre.
- “Graphically, like many games Capcom makes, it looks excellent. The environments, character models, monsters, and animations are all of immensely high quality.”
- “Graphics are incredible, and whoever modeled the cutscene for the meat being cooked at your campfire really went 120%.”
- “I have to say, the graphics in this game are just beyond beautiful. I love the character customization and just how real everything looks!”
- “The NPCs are uninteresting, the quest log is utterly unhelpful, games from 2015 have better graphics, and the combat is so dull.”
- “The visuals and performance are lackluster.”
- “Feels like a step down from the first, with the only improvement being the graphics; altogether not a bad game, but better if you haven't played the first.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a mixed experience, with some players finding it tedious due to repetitive enemy encounters and lengthy travel times. While items can be obtained through grinding, the presence of microtransactions for in-game unlocks has drawn criticism, as it feels like a step back from traditional gameplay. Overall, those averse to grinding may find the experience challenging and frustrating.
- “Yes, you can obtain these items in-game by grinding, but changing a character's appearance shouldn't have strings attached. It should cost resources that you can then pay money for in the cash shop, which, by the way, has over 40 dollars worth of day-one microtransactions, a lot of which are paid shortcuts—literally paying money to play less of their game.”
- “There is no real loot or gear or interesting drops; it’s the same 8-10 enemies varying in difficulty, and the tedious cart travel is what really did me in.”
- “If you don't like grinding in an RPG, then this game could prove challenging.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing significant glitches that can disrupt quest lines and require reverting to earlier saves. However, others report that the game runs smoothly on the PS5, suggesting that performance may vary by platform. Overall, while some users find it bug-ridden, others appreciate its stability on specific systems.
- “First things first, the people leaving bad reviews can have their opinions, but many of those are wrong regarding this platform, such as performance issues... it runs great on PS5.”
- “They need to understand what platform it runs well on; it runs great on PS5.”
- “I liked a lot about this game, but what I liked a lot less was how easy it was to break a quest line without being aware of it, or the number of weird glitches that forced you to go back to an inn save and replay a bunch of hours.”
- “Bug-ridden waste of time.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of absurdity and predictability, particularly through the portrayal of exaggerated character archetypes, such as slim, large-chested blonde mages and fighters, which some players find amusing while others see as a cliché.
- “The number of slim, large-chested, blonde, blue-eyed girl mages (sometimes fighters) was either hilarious or exactly what you would expect (or both).”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in the game is primarily available through a sound collection DLC, which is the only form of downloadable content, and players note that the presence of microtransactions does not create a pay-to-win scenario.
- “The microtransactions do not make it a pay-to-win game; the music and sound collection is the only DLC aspect in the game.”
- “The microtransactions do not make it a pay-to-win game, but the music and sound collection is the only DLC content in the game.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The atmosphere of the game is noted for its immersive and well-crafted environment, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the effective setup that enhances the game's mood and engages players.
- “The atmosphere in this game is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
- “The combination of sound design and visuals creates an atmosphere that is both captivating and eerie.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
- “Despite the potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any emotional response.”
- “The game's atmosphere is inconsistent, often breaking the immersion with jarring transitions.”