Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons Reviews

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is ranked in the 51st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
85 / 100
Jul 27, 2023

Have no doubt, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is one of the best beat 'em ups of recent times, and considering the great quality we have had in the genre today, this is more than a compliment.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

6 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2023

It’s doesn’t add a ton to the franchise’s legacy, but it’s easy enough to settle into and be a worthwhile new diversion, especially in co-op.

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7 / 10
Jul 27, 2023

Double Dragon Gaiden is beholden to some unique ideas, and they're fairly well-applied. You can experiment with mix-ups and tag team advantages, and multiplayer makes things altogether more enjoyable, although it's restricted to local co-op. But, being associated with Double Dragon is arguably to its detriment. It's a game that has secrets to uncover, twists to happen upon, and plenty of cash grinding and unlocking to do. While initially fun to work through, how many times you'll feel encouraged to replay the campaign is questionable, especially with its overall pacing and neutered thrill of brutally knee-slamming someone in the face. Still, it's certainly worthy of attention for beat 'em up fans looking for old things in new forms.

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Jul 27, 2023

Double Dragon Gaiden is a new take on a beat ’em up series that refuses to go away and is one of the better Double Dragon games released in a while. While some will be tired of the pixelated look that many retro games have adapted, it fits, and the combat is as apparent as a punch to the face. Tossing in a pinch of nostalgia with some new roguelite elements that don’t break the game, you have a beat ’em up that fans of the genre will gobble up and ask for seconds.

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7.5 / 10.0
Nov 3, 2017

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons enriches the feel of classic beat 'em ups. The basics are supplemented with modern sensibilities that sprinkle in some variety but perhaps not enough longevity for players drawn in by its "roguelite" branding.

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3.9 / 5.0
Aug 7, 2023

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

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7.5 / 10.0
Aug 7, 2023

A well crafted return for the legendary franchise, that mixes in an interesting way its beat'em up soul with some roguelike elements.

Review in Italian | Read full review

7 / 10
Jul 31, 2023

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons adds some interesting ideas to the beat 'em up genre that offer a neat twist on the standard formula the series and genre offers.

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7 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2023

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons revives a fundamental beat-em-up dynasty, with variable paths and multipliers making it a worthy multiplayer investment.

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6 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2023

From the arcadey '80s through the modern day, beat 'em ups are a dime a dozen. But the best of them offers a satisfying gameplay loop with thrilling co-op and unique visual stylings. Double Dragon Gaiden gets some of that right. It's not the worst beat 'em up game you could spend your time on. But it's most definitely not the best, either.

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3.5 / 5.0
Jul 27, 2023

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons blends experimental elements with traditional Double Dragon gameplay.

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7.5 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2023

With fun, bright graphics and a novel approach to level design, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons refreshes the classic beat-em-up genre, even if it can sometimes feel a bit repetitive.

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8 / 10.0
Aug 1, 2023

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons lives up to the legacy of its predecessor, Double Dragon: Neon, while offering a unique and captivating experience. While it may lack the bold and bombastic soundtrack of Neon, Rise of the Dragons compensates with incredibly varied gameplay that keeps players hooked.

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Ben Sellwood
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Jul 25, 2023

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons carves out its own unique character against its predecessors and provides a fantastically edgy game that consistently calls you back for more!

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Jul 27, 2023

Double Dragon Gaiden's got one big problem. It's not what you'd think, but exactly what you should've expected.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2023

A solid sequel in the beloved beat 'em up series with some roguelite elements

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8 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2023

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons brings some innovations that nicely revitalize the gameplay and offer a new experience, but the game somewhat loses its essence from the well-known series. It provides replayability, but it is still relatively short.

Review in Slovak | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2023

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a fun little beat-'em-up that scratches the itch of obliterating a ton of foes at once. The roguelike elements and multiplayer provide some nice added value, but unfortunately, it quickly ends up feeling pretty repetitive. It doesn't quite match the absurd polish of something like Streets of Rage 4, but it manages to be a darn fun time nonetheless.

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8 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2023

A fun and engaging beat 'em up with an interesting progression system and a pack of diverse fighters. If only it had just a few more levels, then almost everything in this game would be perfect.

Review in Russian | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2023

This latest entry in the brawling brothers series employs some sound tactics to keep the gameplay feeling good across multiple playthroughs. Its lack of staying power holds me back from offering a full-throated recommendation, but beat-'em-up fans will definitely be able to squeeze some juice out of this muscle-bound orange. Even if I'll always prefer Bimmy to Billy, Double Dragon Gaiden has enough moves to make it worth a look.

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