Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Reviews
The Norgan expansion is exactly what a DLC should be. It doesn’t just tack on a few extra hours of quests and a couple of reskinned monsters; it dares to upend established mechanics, stripping players of their certainties. The new randomized relic system spectacularly revitalizes build-crafting, while blizzards and environmental hazards turn traversal into a harrowing yet beautiful test of survival. The brutal difficulty, balanced by generous XP rewards, alongside the systemic chaos of the combat, create moments of pure gaming ecstasy. With an intriguing 30-hour campaign and an endgame loop that will keep you glued to the screen hunting for the perfect slot for your bow or greatsword, the journey into Norgan is a frigid, unforgiving odyssey that no Arisen should miss. The cold bites hard, but the satisfaction of conquering it warms the heart.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While the base game offered the fun of slowly exploring a vast world, it was bound to be divisive due to its slow progression and convenience issues. It seems this expansion pack chose to increase gameplay density with richer content rather than altering the unique characteristics of the base game. In that it more clearly demonstrated the charm of combat and exploration that 'Dragon's Dogma 2' possesses.
Review in Korean | Read full review
"Dark Arisen" is especially recommended for those who enjoyed the adventurous feel of the main game and wanted more narrative coherence, more rewarding exploration, and new challenges.
Review in German | Read full review
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is another win for Capcom in a very successful year.
This version shows how a solid knowledge of the RE Engine can make a game that formerly pushed powerful home consoles to their limits a surprisingly seamless experience on hybrid technology.
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen feels less like a small addition and more like a substantial second adventure. It brings together Norgan's survival demands, the challenge of the Lost Rites, new vocation skills, a flexible loot chase, and an endgame that can keep you busy after the story concludes.
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen delivers tougher combat, rewarding relic hunts, and smoother performance. Predictable storytelling and familiar enemies hold it back, but the expansion remains a worthwhile return to the Arisen's world.
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen offers a substantial amount of (endgame) content wrapped in a decent story and set in an attractive new location. More than anything, though, it depends on how much you enjoyed the original game, as Capcom has failed to fully learn from its shortcomings.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is to Dragon’s Dogma 2 what Dark Arisen was to the original Dragon’s Dogma. Wow, they really should’ve gone with a simpler name. Something like Dark Arisen 2, perhaps? Anyhow, beneath the baffling naming convention lies a substantial expansion that builds on the base game’s strengths and softens its rough edges. An essential purchase for all owners of Dragon’s Dogma.
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen was the final piece needed to bring this sequel to its peak; however, I believe the quality of the narrative and side quests could have been handled better. On the other hand, the expansion delivers a beautiful, challenging new realm, offering an exploration experience that truly captivates thanks to its distinct atmosphere.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Dark Arisen expansion is enjoyable; it introduced a beautiful new region packed with locations well worth exploring, alongside enemies and bosses that offered an engaging challenge and added more variety to the gameplay experience. Furthermore, the technical improvements, loot system, and new crafting additions added solid value to the overall experience. However, certain aspects of the experience needed greater variety (particularly the weapons and armor). Overall, Dark Arisen is an excellent expansion for fans of the game and is well worth playing.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is an expansion that’s heading in the right direction. It addresses the limitations of the original game with systems that have a tangible impact on gameplay. The new equipment, enhanced abilities, and six available slots enrich the action, while Norgan seems to have all the necessary qualities to reignite the joy of discovery. Some questions remain regarding balance and enemy behavior, but the direction seems promising. Furthermore, performance is finally excellent. But above all, we always want to keep exploring. And there’s nothing better for an expansion that focuses on the endgame.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dark Arisen is a adventure we know already, but it's been upgraded in almost every aspect. This is how Dragon's Dogma 2 should look on release day — a real Definitive Edition and an awesome game.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen delivers a substantial and rewarding expansion, with a beautifully crafted new region, memorable monsters and excellent exploration. Some overly convenient changes dilute the original game's unique sense of adventure, but Norgan remains a compelling reason to return.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen makes its comeback, and it does so in the best way possible. This definitive edition addresses all the shortcomings of its initial launch by introducing a massive new region, fresh dungeons, and a brand-new relic system. It is a absolute treat for anyone who thrives on adventure games and longs to get lost for hours in a magical, sprawling world.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Dragon Dogma 2: Dark Arisen gives you a good reason to jump back in, with Norgan’s snowy landscape, dangerous enemies and new gear keeping me busy beyond the main storyline. Climbing massive monsters whilst attempting to keep myself and my Pawns alive made for some hectic fights.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is such a rich and well-crafted expansion that it could have been sold as a standalone title, and any fan would have been extremely satisfied with it. Not only does it add a new region with an exclusive storyline, introduce a brand-new looting system, and further refine the combat system, but it also goes back to the drawing board to improve certain aspects of the base game that had previously received quite a bit of criticism. It’s the expansion Dragon’s Dogma 2 has been waiting for, finally realizing a potential that, until now, had only been partially realized.
Review in Italian | Read full review
With Dark Arisen, Capcom has released a particularly strong expansion that adds a whole new dimension to Dragon’s Dogma 2.
Review in French | Read full review
Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is an excellent expansion. It adds a massive new landmass packed with fun content that makes an already great game even better.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is a fantastic new expansion that improves the base game in many ways. While some of the base game’s worst parts impact the overall experience, the negatives aren’t enough to overshadow its amazing elements.