"Dragon's Dogma 2: The Dark Arisen" is now available, and overseas reviews have been published. Many media outlets praise the new story, exploration content, and playtime, but opinions on the combat experience vary. This expanded version of "Dragon's Dogma 2" adds new story and gameplay content, continuing the experience of exploring a fantasy world alongside self-directed Pawns.
RPG Fan gives it a 95, believing the expansion makes the base game a more complete work. Push Square awards it a 90, praising the playtime offered by the story, exploration, and combat; covergeek mentions the new areas and over twenty hours of additional content.
Opinions on the combat are divided. Wccftech believes the story structure and characters have improved, but the combat remains chaotic and lacks tactical depth. PSX Brasil praises the new challenges and exploration, while noting the absence of new vocations and that some side quests feel lackluster. Screen Rant gives it a 70, expressing a more negative view on the repetitive combat.
"Dragon's Dogma 2: The Dark Arisen" has received "Very Positive" reviews from players on Steam, with an 85% positive rating out of 203 reviews. However, the situation is completely different in the Chinese region, where current reviews are "Mixed," with a 67% positive rating:
Negative reviews from users in the Chinese region mainly focus on pricing. Launch-day customers are unhappy with Capcom "backstabbing" veteran players years later. Nowadays, new players can buy the Deluxe Bundle including the DLC and base game for just 248 yuan, whereas the game's launch price was 348 yuan, and even after this year's permanent price drop, it remains at 198 yuan. Existing users still need to spend an additional 148 yuan to play the DLC, meaning launch-day players spent 348 + 148 = 496 yuan to get the full experience, which is 248 yuan more than the Deluxe Bundle.
Player complaints:
Base Game: 348 yuan, permanently reduced to 198 yuan at the end of June 2026
DLC: 148 yuan
DLC + Base Game Deluxe Bundle: 248 yuan
Is my math wrong, or does Capcom really think launch-day customers are worthless? We spent hundreds extra to buy at launch and deal with their optimization garbage, only to be asked to pay even more for the DLC. Capcom, you're damn shameless. If you were a launch-day player and could tolerate Capcom's tactics, you'd be this 🤡
