Dragon's Dogma 2

Dragon's Dogma 2 is an action RPG with a heavy emphasis on combat that is both thrilling and entertaining.

76%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

optimization, monetization

66% User Score Based on 109,434 reviews

Critic Score 84%Based on 68 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $2.42

Buy NowGet on Steam$69.99

About

"Dragon's Dogma 2" is an open-world, single-player action RPG with a deluxe edition including a new journey pack. The game offers excellent graphics, music, and unique atmosphere, with the potential for hilarity and bug encounters. Customize your Arisen and Vocation for a personalized adventure, complete with camping gear, lure items, and a thoughtful gift. However, expect grinding and optimization issues. The game's narrative-driven experience promises a wholesome story and the chance to restore the dead to life.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 109,502 reviews

story6.8k positive mentions

optimization11.7k negative mentions

The graphics are stunning, featuring detailed environments, improved character models, and breathtaking landscapes that enhance exploration.
The gameplay is engaging and fun, with a unique pawn system that adds depth to combat and interactions.
The humor from the pawn system provides a lighthearted atmosphere, leading to many hilarious moments during gameplay.

The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to poor performance, frame rate drops, and frequent crashes, especially in populated areas.
The story is largely criticized for being lackluster, disjointed, and filled with repetitive quests that fail to engage players.
Character development is shallow and rushed, leaving players feeling disconnected from the narrative and its characters.

optimization
44,532 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
63%
26%
The optimization of "Dragon's Dogma 2" has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, particularly in densely populated areas like cities. While some users with high-end systems have managed to achieve stable frame rates, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite recent patches aimed at improving performance, many players still recommend waiting for further updates before purchasing the game.
- “The graphics and performance are decent, especially after the updates it has received; HDR implementation is effective, and I have not encountered a single game crash during my entire 70-hour playthrough.”
- “Performance is good, and the gameplay is entertaining.”
- “This game has improved significantly since the last update, and this is good for optimization performance on my mid-end PC.”
- “The optimization is completely utter garbage, like not even effort was put into making this game run well.”
- “The performance of this game is absolute dog shit.”
- “This is the worst optimized game I've ever played.”
story
38,470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
70%
12%
The story in "Dragon's Dogma 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lackluster and poorly executed compared to its predecessor. While some appreciate the game's exploration and combat mechanics, they criticize the main narrative for being short, disjointed, and filled with fetch quests that lack depth and engagement. The quests often feel repetitive, and the absence of clear guidance can lead to frustration, with players frequently needing to consult guides to progress. Overall, the game is seen as a fun experience for combat and exploration, but the story fails to captivate or provide a satisfying narrative arc.
- “The story is more intricate this time, with layered characters and moral ambiguity.”
- “The story might have a big slow start but by the end I can assure you it'll make more sense and hopefully it'll be a bit more appreciated by the bittersweet true ending.”
- “The story is captivating, weaving together personal stakes and epic battles with a sense of wonder and mystery.”
- “The story is trash (I can't stress enough how bad it is), the characters are one-dimensional (think of a big booba anime girl whose personality is only her clumsiness), the quests are boring, and the optimization is completely utter garbage, like not even effort was put into making this game run well.”
- “The story is a mess, and it is irremediably filled with the most NPCs that ever NPCed. The quests are just standard 'go there, kill that, save him' nonsense.”
- “The story is incredibly lackluster, and I know there's a big thing with microtransactions, but this game does tempt you big on purchasing ferrystones especially later on when missions start telling you to go to Florida to New York and then back in the same mission.”
gameplay
18,337 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
The gameplay of "Dragon's Dogma 2" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging combat mechanics and the unique pawn system that enhances the experience. However, players have noted significant issues such as repetitive enemy encounters, a lack of enemy variety, and frustrating mechanics like the dragonsplague and limited fast travel options, which detract from the overall enjoyment. While the game offers a satisfying gameplay loop and exploration, it is often criticized for its technical performance and the perceived lack of innovation compared to its predecessor.
- “The gameplay is incredible, but there's some aspects about it that might irk you.”
- “The gameplay is practically identical, with a lot of modern best practices respected in the second title.”
- “The gameplay is fun and engaging but the performance is so bad.”
- “The gameplay itself is a bit boring.”
- “The gameplay is annoying; I'm not sure I would say there is a storyline at all. The controls are absolutely terrible, perhaps the worst I've seen in a game in over a decade.”
- “The gameplay loop is insultingly repetitive.”
monetization
12,992 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
78%
16%
The monetization strategy in "Dragon's Dogma 2" has drawn significant criticism, primarily due to the presence of microtransactions in a full-priced single-player game. While many players acknowledge that these microtransactions are largely unnecessary and can be easily avoided, they express disappointment over their inclusion, viewing it as a cash grab by Capcom. Overall, the consensus is that while the microtransactions do not impact gameplay significantly, their existence raises concerns about the direction of monetization in the gaming industry.
- “While there are microtransactions available, you can finish the game without buying any.”
- “Don't listen to anything about monetization; about halfway through the game, you'll have more money than you can use.”
- “The microtransactions, while scummy, are meaningless as everything is easily obtainable in-game.”
- “I just can't recommend it in good conscience due to inconveniences added to it for the benefit of the microtransactions.”
- “The presence of microtransactions in a single-player game feels like an unnecessary and greedy move from the developers, although it thankfully doesn’t severely impact gameplay.”
graphics
11,166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The graphics of "Dragon's Dogma 2" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning visuals, detailed environments, and improved character models compared to its predecessor. However, significant concerns have been raised regarding optimization, as players report poor performance, especially in densely populated areas, leading to frame rate drops even on high-end systems. Overall, while the graphics are visually appealing, the game's performance issues detract from the experience, prompting some players to recommend waiting for patches or adjusting settings to achieve a smoother gameplay experience.
- “The improved graphics engine delivers stunning lighting effects, detailed textures, and fluid animations.”
- “The graphics are stunning, with beautifully crafted environments that make exploration a delight.”
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning, with gorgeous landscapes and highly detailed character models that bring the world to life.”
- “The game just feels very unpolished; the graphics are choppy due to the high CPU requirements.”
- “Running a 4070 or higher doesn't really improve visuals or quality; it just makes it more bearable.”
- “The graphics in general, even at max settings, look really outdated and old; even for an art choice, it simply looks bad in 2024.”
stability
2,190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
1%
75%
The stability of "Dragon's Dogma II" has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users with high-end systems report smooth performance, others experience severe issues, particularly in populated areas, leading to frustration and lost progress. Overall, the game is seen as needing substantial optimization and bug fixes to reach a stable state.
- “Despite what many people write here, I haven't had a single performance issue in 100 hours of playing. No crashes, no frame drops in the capital; it runs great on my PC and I don't have a 4090!”
- “The game is excellent, pretty bug free and one of the most stable releases I've seen this year.”
- “The game runs great on my system, there are no microtransactions in the game and the single saved state is the way the first game was, so it's not a surprise.”
- “Have the game on the PlayStation and is a lot of fun to play, but can't have multiple saves so got it on PC to try a different gameplay but it was so buggy it made it unplayable on the PC.”
- “The only issues that my wife and I have experienced is frequent game freezes: when you are in the vocation guild equipping skills or switching vocations, pausing after quest completions, and rare when pausing after encountering a boss or creature.”
- “There's a good game in there somewhere but in its current buggy state, it is a technical mess.”
grinding
2,112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
5%
94%
The grinding aspect of "Dragon's Dogma 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive. Critics highlight the lack of enemy variety, excessive backtracking due to limited fast travel options, and the frequent encounters with the same mobs, which can make exploration feel like a chore. While some appreciate the grind as a core part of the gameplay experience, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, especially when combined with poorly designed quests and inventory management systems.
- “You can earn everything in the game, and it's not grindy; everything comes naturally.”
- “No grinding required, you just find it lying on the ground.”
- “You can get everything you need in-game with little to no grinding, and there are other systems in place that make it very easy to never want them.”
- “But the fun and excitement you will feel at what seems to be a full and fleshed-out world will quickly fade as the combat doesn't evolve, the enemies get reused, and the exploration becomes a grindy, repetitive slog.”
- “The lack of a mount or decent fast travel option is really tedious and the story and quests are pretty bland.”
- “The game is a journey focused back and forth which sounds worse than it actually is, since your quest journeys are really for grinding your levels higher and the map appears larger than in-game movement.”
music
2,042 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The music in "Dragon's Dogma 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it lacks the memorable quality of its predecessor's soundtrack. While some tracks are praised for enhancing the atmosphere during combat and exploration, others describe the overall score as generic and forgettable, often failing to evoke strong emotions. Additionally, the absence of iconic themes from the first game, such as the electric guitar motifs, has disappointed fans, leading to a general sentiment that the music, while decent, does not live up to the high standards set by "Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen."
- “The soundtrack complements the adventure perfectly, setting the tone for both quiet moments of exploration and high-stakes battles.”
- “The music is incredible.”
- “The music, the combat, the dialogue .... all of it was rendered so perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack is extremely disappointing and the game is too easy compared to its predecessor as it is still lacking hard mode several months after launch.”
- “The music is so forgettable that I would actually recommend dropping a measly $3 to import the DD1 soundtrack which is vastly more emotive and enjoyable.”
- “The music feels like a step down from the original game, both the background music intrinsic to the majority of the game and the score for climatic moments.”
humor
1,383 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Dragon's Dogma 2" is a standout feature, primarily driven by the game's quirky pawn system, which leads to numerous hilarious moments and unexpected interactions. Players frequently find themselves laughing at the chaotic antics of their AI companions, from their clumsy mishaps to their amusing dialogue, creating a lighthearted atmosphere amidst the game's serious themes. While some may find the humor repetitive over time, the overall comedic charm, especially in combat and character interactions, adds a unique flavor to the gameplay experience.
- “Since most pawns are player-made, you can be sure to find some hilarious creations out in the world or in the riftstones.”
- “Smacking goblins into the air never gets old; I find myself laughing often at the chaotic situations.”
- “The pawns are hilarious; they react to your gameplay and adapt to your tactics.”
- “It's not funny around the 50th time.”
- “I loved the first game, but this is just an unfunny joke.”
- “Would refund if I didn't play for too long. I was unaware of the pay-to-win status of this game. Also, if you enjoyed the pawn banter in the first one, get ready for nonstop forced obnoxious banter all the time. It reminded me of Oblivion at first when everyone is talking at the same time; it's just not funny.”
replayability
630 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
68%
13%
The replayability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant decline compared to its predecessor, Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen. While some appreciate the variety of classes and quest outcomes that encourage multiple playthroughs, others criticize the lack of meaningful endgame content, enemy variety, and difficulty scaling, leading to a perception of minimal replay value. Overall, players express a desire for additional content and challenges to enhance the game's longevity and replayability.
- “No two interactions or situations are ever the same; the replay value is endless.”
- “The ability to share pawns online and use others’ creations adds a communal aspect to the game that enhances replayability.”
- “Every quest can be approached in multiple ways and has several outcomes depending on the player's choices, which adds even more replay value to the game.”
- “Replayability: nearly nonexistent.”
- “The game is in dire need of more content to give it longevity and replay value.”
- “After 100 hours, I have no reason to go back and play this game as it has little to no replay value at all.”
emotional
546 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
85%
15%
The emotional aspect of "Dragon's Dogma 2" has received mixed feedback from players. While some found the true ending to be deeply moving and capable of evoking tears, many criticized the overall narrative for being boring, lacking depth, and failing to create meaningful emotional connections with characters. The game's atmosphere and the bond with companions, particularly the pawns, were highlighted as positive elements that contributed to emotional moments, but overall, the storytelling was seen as rushed and underdeveloped, leaving players feeling disappointed.
- “Such an emotional rollercoaster.”
- “I cried at the ending.”
- “The true ending was such an amazing way to end this awesome adventure, so emotional and philosophical too!”
- “This game is awful in every way possible, trash performance, bad combat, boring world, boring story, terrible dialog and looks bad.”
- “Cons: truly the most pathetic boring story of any game I've ever played.”
- “You can see the potential throughout but it is wasted at every corner with poor game design decisions (no fast travel in an empty and boring world, repetitive enemies, terrible AI, NPCs almost never react to anything around them or things that just happened, boring story, I can go on), this is not an open world (just in case, to manage your expectations) more like a multitude of corridors you can take.”
atmosphere
470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
37%
5%
The atmosphere in Dragon's Dogma 2 is a mixed bag, with many players praising its stunning visuals, dynamic weather, and immersive sound design that create a captivating world to explore. However, some reviewers feel that despite the beautiful environments, the game lacks depth and engaging content, leading to a sense of emptiness in the atmosphere. Overall, while the game excels in graphical presentation and atmospheric elements, opinions vary on its ability to maintain a consistently engaging experience throughout.
- “The atmosphere is engaging and fun to explore... or if you prefer to follow guides and look up where things are it is unrestricted in its openness to achieve what you desire to accomplish.”
- “The attention to detail in Dragon's Dogma 2 is truly commendable, with breathtaking landscapes, intricate character designs, and atmospheric soundscapes that transport players to a world brimming with wonder and peril.”
- “The atmosphere when you're roaming the countryside at night and a wraith comes out from behind a foggy brook and ambushes you with hordes of zombies and skeletons is peak fantasy.”
- “I had high hopes for this one and something to play when bored but I was disappointed there wasn't much to explore about this game for me personally, the gameplay sucks, mechanics are far from smooth, the atmosphere of the game is just not there for me and to be quite honest it doesn't even seem like this is the finished game. If they improved anything I would be happy to see it, but paying something like €40 for this is just not worth it at all.”
- “No epic fight music, no melancholic exploration music - atmosphere is just completely dead.”
- “However, it also feels dead and robotic, lacking the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere that brings a game world to life.”
character development
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
56%
16%
Character development in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players expressing disappointment over its lack of depth and engagement. While the character customization options are praised for their variety, the overall narrative and character arcs are described as shallow and rushed, leaving players feeling disconnected from the story and its characters. Despite some glimmers of potential in quest lines, the consensus is that the game fails to deliver a compelling character development experience.
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- “The storytelling is barebones and character development is non-existent.”
- “It's quite apparent a lot of story content was cut because the pacing is bad and it feels like the protagonist and every major character have literally no sort of character development, and there was barely enough content to feel connected to anyone.”
- “Character development feels shallow, and the stakes never feel quite as high as they should even in the true ending.”

84%Critics’ scoreBased on 68 critic reviews

Buy Dragon's Dogma 2

15h Median play time

36h Average play time

5-50h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1,952 analyzed playthroughs

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