Dragon's Dogma 2 (Cross-platform, 2024)

Release date: Thursday 21st March 2024

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Published by: CAPCOM

Developed by: CAPCOM

Genres: Action, Adventure, RPG

Story Drive📖 14/20
Accessibility🚪 12/20
Depth🤿 12/20
Challenge💀 13/20
Duration⌛ 15/20
Freedom🌎 19/20
Review Scores
7xDB9
Fouttaf Score
Dimension: 7
The dual nature of Dragon’s Dogma 2 lies in its ambition, which feels caught between two worlds. On one hand, it carries the weight of a massive AAA production, yet on the other, it often feels more like a refined remake than a true numbered sequel. Despite the years that have passed since the original, this game doesn’t introduce groundbreaking changes or major evolutions to its formula. Instead, it opts for a “crank up the specs and let it ride” approach, keeping much of its core identity intact.
The Flair: D
On a technical level, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is stunning. The game’s landscapes and environmental detail frequently demand your attention, making you stop just to admire the sheer beauty and fantasy of its world. However, while the environments impress, character models—especially NPCs and facial animations—feel notably average in comparison. Musically, the soundtrack is a standout, avoiding the overused epic orchestration typical of RPGs and instead leaning into tense, eerie, and atmospheric themes that give the game a unique identity. That being said, performance issues do arise. We encountered several bugs, and default settings caused severe stuttering, requiring manual adjustments to lock the framerate at 60 FPS for a smoother experience.
The Feel: B
This is not a game for everyone, largely due to its old-school mechanics, which feel more in line with RPGs from decades past than a modern 2024 release. At first, the gameplay feels restrictive, with grindy progression and extensive backtracking that can be jarring. However, as you adapt, the game’s deep immersion and raw adventure become its greatest strengths. Dragon’s Dogma 2 refuses to hold your hand, forcing players to take extra steps for even basic tasks like healing properly or fast traveling. Where the game truly shines is in its combat system and vocation mechanics. The ability to seamlessly switch between multiple classes within a single playthrough is exceptionally well-executed, and the combat’s chaotic, physics-driven nature makes for intense and unpredictable battles. Encounters frequently turn into full-blown brawls with six to ten characters on-screen at once, between enemy gangs, pawns, and your Arisen, leading to dynamic, often spectacular moments. However, Dragon’s Dogma 2 stumbles hard with its monetization choices. While microtransactions have become an industry norm, locking basic features like “New Game” behind a paywall feels downright predatory. Many modern games feature optional paid content, but when it involves charging for something as fundamental as restarting your adventure, it’s impossible not to call it out as a greedy move.
The Fuel: 9
If there’s a common sentiment about Dragon’s Dogma 2, it’s frustration. Despite having a strong world and immersive gameplay, the game lacks compelling hooks to drive the player forward. The open world is vast and varied, with iconic locations and some genuinely impressive level design, but beyond that, there’s little motivation to keep exploring. The game’s difficulty and survival elements—which could have felt rewarding in a more engaging world—often lean more into tedium than challenge. One of the game’s biggest letdowns is its narrative. The dialogue is flat, and even major story beats fail to leave an impact. Neither main nor side quests ever feel meaningful, lacking any emotional weight or character-driven depth. The Arisen, once again a mute protagonist, feels void of personality or conviction, making it difficult to feel invested in their journey. Beyond the story, the enemy variety is disappointingly limited, with the same foes appearing repeatedly in slightly altered forms. This issue, combined with quests that rarely feel rewarding, drains much of the motivation to keep pushing forward. And when exploration starts to feel sterile, it delivers a fatal blow to a game of this kind.
Solid
74
Classic Score
Conclusions
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a divisive title, one that will likely split players between devoted fans and frustrated critics. It’s a solid, highly unique game—and at times, even a great one—but it’s hard to shake the feeling that it could have been so much more. It’s absolutely worth experiencing, but whether it captivates or disappoints will depend entirely on what you’re looking for. For us, the lingering taste is more bitter than sweet.
Dragon's Dogma 2
Dragon's Dogma 2 (Cross-platform, 2024)
Badge Cabinet
Release date: Thursday 21st March 2024
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Published by: CAPCOM
Developed by: CAPCOM
Genres: Action, Adventure, RPG
Trait Chart
Story Drive 📖 14/20
Accessibility 🚪 12/20
Depth 🤿 12/20
Challenge 💀 13/20
Duration ⌛ 15/20
Freedom 🌎 19/20
Review Scores
7xDB9
Fouttaf Score
Dimension: 7
The dual nature of Dragon’s Dogma 2 lies in its ambition, which feels caught between two worlds. On one hand, it carries the weight of a massive AAA production, yet on the other, it often feels more like a refined remake than a true numbered sequel. Despite the years that have passed since the original, this game doesn’t introduce groundbreaking changes or major evolutions to its formula. Instead, it opts for a “crank up the specs and let it ride” approach, keeping much of its core identity intact.
The Flair: D
On a technical level, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is stunning. The game’s landscapes and environmental detail frequently demand your attention, making you stop just to admire the sheer beauty and fantasy of its world. However, while the environments impress, character models—especially NPCs and facial animations—feel notably average in comparison. Musically, the soundtrack is a standout, avoiding the overused epic orchestration typical of RPGs and instead leaning into tense, eerie, and atmospheric themes that give the game a unique identity. That being said, performance issues do arise. We encountered several bugs, and default settings caused severe stuttering, requiring manual adjustments to lock the framerate at 60 FPS for a smoother experience.
The Feel: B
This is not a game for everyone, largely due to its old-school mechanics, which feel more in line with RPGs from decades past than a modern 2024 release. At first, the gameplay feels restrictive, with grindy progression and extensive backtracking that can be jarring. However, as you adapt, the game’s deep immersion and raw adventure become its greatest strengths. Dragon’s Dogma 2 refuses to hold your hand, forcing players to take extra steps for even basic tasks like healing properly or fast traveling. Where the game truly shines is in its combat system and vocation mechanics. The ability to seamlessly switch between multiple classes within a single playthrough is exceptionally well-executed, and the combat’s chaotic, physics-driven nature makes for intense and unpredictable battles. Encounters frequently turn into full-blown brawls with six to ten characters on-screen at once, between enemy gangs, pawns, and your Arisen, leading to dynamic, often spectacular moments. However, Dragon’s Dogma 2 stumbles hard with its monetization choices. While microtransactions have become an industry norm, locking basic features like “New Game” behind a paywall feels downright predatory. Many modern games feature optional paid content, but when it involves charging for something as fundamental as restarting your adventure, it’s impossible not to call it out as a greedy move.
The Fuel: 9
If there’s a common sentiment about Dragon’s Dogma 2, it’s frustration. Despite having a strong world and immersive gameplay, the game lacks compelling hooks to drive the player forward. The open world is vast and varied, with iconic locations and some genuinely impressive level design, but beyond that, there’s little motivation to keep exploring. The game’s difficulty and survival elements—which could have felt rewarding in a more engaging world—often lean more into tedium than challenge. One of the game’s biggest letdowns is its narrative. The dialogue is flat, and even major story beats fail to leave an impact. Neither main nor side quests ever feel meaningful, lacking any emotional weight or character-driven depth. The Arisen, once again a mute protagonist, feels void of personality or conviction, making it difficult to feel invested in their journey. Beyond the story, the enemy variety is disappointingly limited, with the same foes appearing repeatedly in slightly altered forms. This issue, combined with quests that rarely feel rewarding, drains much of the motivation to keep pushing forward. And when exploration starts to feel sterile, it delivers a fatal blow to a game of this kind.
Conclusions

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a divisive title, one that will likely split players between devoted fans and frustrated critics. It’s a solid, highly unique game—and at times, even a great one—but it’s hard to shake the feeling that it could have been so much more. It’s absolutely worth experiencing, but whether it captivates or disappoints will depend entirely on what you’re looking for. For us, the lingering taste is more bitter than sweet.

Solid
74
Classic Score