Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen

Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X (Reviewed), Switch 2
Release Date: October 9, 2026
Price: $49.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

At one point there was a time that fans of Dragon’s Dogma thought the franchise would never continue and then after over a decade of waiting, Dragon’s Dogma 2 arrived and while it had some rough edges, for many, including myself, loved it for its various issues due to the world, combat, and ever-changing encounters. 

Then, when the creator of the game stepped away from Capcom entirely, it left many wondering if it would ever be given the same treatment as its predecessor and thankfully, two years later, not only has Capcom managed to deliver with Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen but far surpasses Bitterblack Isle and its finite dungeon with Norgan, a sprawling new icy land teeming with plenty of opportunities for fans to enjoy and newcomers to experience for the first time ever with numerous quality of life features that have been made to the title since launch. 

Story

It is worth noting that players will need to get a short while into the base game, at least to the primary city of Vernworth, before they can access the DLC. It is also worth noting that the DLC cannot be accessed from any post-game content in the base-game, meaning players will need to start a New Game+ in order to do so. Either way, as players head to Vernworth they will be able to speak with Captain Brant who has two new pieces of information for the player. The fact that rumors are circulating about yet another Arisen has been found in the frozen wastes and the Queen is planning on sending soldiers to investigate, and that a number of mysterious dungeons have been uncovered throughout the land, ones that only the Arisen, with a proper tool, can open. 

Once players learn of the way they will reach Norgan, they’ll set out into the snowy wasteland and immediately be greeted by a blinding blizzard and hostile enemies that pack far more of a punch than even late-game enemies did, shredding through dragonforged armor and shrugging off dragonforged end-game weaponry as if it were nothing. This rough introduction sees the player getting knocked out and waking up in a small village that has managed to stay strong against the cold and wild harshness of the Norgan wastes, giving players everything they need to make their first foothold in this new dangerous realm as they find themselves acclimating to the villagers and their needs first before beginning to track down the mystery of this “other Arisen” which quickly turns into a fairly complex and far more interesting narrative than most of the base game had to offer.

Dragon’s Dogma 2’s core storyline was always something of a mixed bag despite the way that the narrative could flow all on its own thanks to the way fights could play out and random encounters in the field, but even then while the story started off strong and had a lull in the middle, especially in regards to the Beastren nation, it ended on a very strong note and while players won’t need to get to that point to access Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, it is worth noting that the storyline for Dark Arisen is far more enjoyable and nuanced than the core game’s. While we will avoid spoilers here, by keeping the amount of NPCs that players interact with in a smaller, tight nit group, not only can players feel a bit more like a growing group of allies, especially after completing a number of side-quests for them, but also that every venture out into the frozen wastes of Norgan are a risk worth uncovering the mystery that awaits them.

This mystery is one that is also filled with a fair share of twists and turns as well, something that came as a pleasant surprise and even one that, shockingly, gave the player a choice at one point that would likely play out incredibly differently if players opted for the more destructive route. This adds some extra depth to the main storyline all while still making sure to give players the same organic storytelling that Dragon’s Dogma does better than any other RPG. One minute players might be fighting against a group of barbaric brutes only to be swept down on by a griffon, forced to battle both foes or clinging to the griffon’s back and slashing at its head and wings or, since I played a Wayfarer specialized entirely on rogue skills, planting bombs on its head and detonating them. 

Or in another case, fighting against a Norgan Troll and pulling weapons out of it to deal massive damage only for its wide-ranging attacks to smack into a Snowfoot (a Norgan variation of the Ogre) pitting both monsters against one another with our party caught in the middle, nevermind some other end-stage “large monsters” we won’t spoil here that are brand new. Yet in another case, we found ourselves scouring through the remnants of a ruined castle only to find a set of keys that were completely unrelated to any signified quest and opened the inner doors to discover a plethora of loot and special Arisen-only books that granted special abilities, one of many little side-treks that can uncover special locations or new battles that players may never see without going off the beaten path.

Gameplay

Now it is worth noting that, for the most part, Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen still plays and controls the exact same way as the original game, only with additional elements added in the Norgan region as well as within the twelve new dungeons that have been added throughout the core game. That being said, if you are like me and haven’t played the original since completing it back in 2024, there are a number of improvements that have been made right out of the gate. First and foremost players will have access to six skill slots at a time rather than four, something essential for fans who want to get the most out of their class or mix things up with the Wayfarer’s multi-class system. Other improvements include improved ally pawn AI, extra commands such as sending them out to explore the local area to obtain items or return for a high five, and even an Eternal Ferrystone for players who are in New Game+, relieving the worry of having to save ferrystones and make long treks or travel via oxcart.

Of course, once players head to Norgan things take an entirely different turn. Now as mentioned, the game still plays the same as before as there are no new vocations, but enemies in Norgan pack a punch and players will soon find that their best gear is practically nothing compared to the first set of gear that they can have crafted at the blacksmith, nevermind the main aspect of loot drops in Norgan, the artifacts. Artifacts come in a variety of different levels and even come in basic, ancient, and rare forms and must be identified by the town elder at the cost of rift crystals. Players can also sell unidentified artifacts for rift crystals if need be, or if they know they’ll be low quality compared to what they already have or doesn’t fit their playstyle nor their pawns, such as a level 1 aegis artifact.

The artifacts then will be identified in a random roll of the dice it seems like, with higher levels and rarity providing a better chance at obtaining stronger weaponry, armor, or items, including the region’s new collectible. These items will then have varied stats as well as bonuses attached to them but cannot be upgraded in any form, though they can also provide various stat boosts of their own such as increased frost defense, slash resistance, or even improve the amount of damage dealt to certain enemy types. The artifact hunting is all a luck of a draw, to the point that one of the first few missions saw my main character obtaining a pair of daggers that were far superior to anything else I acquired until three quarters through the lengthy DLC campaign. So this means that players are basically gambling with whether they’ll obtain something good or not every time and most often, selling them for cash afterwards or dumping them in storage for later.

It is interesting to note that, as mentioned earlier, Norgan does have its own set of collectables and Port Crystals as well, meaning players cannot bring Waystones from the normal game and use them in the frozen wasteland. The game more than makes up for it however by offering built-in Port Crystals at most important locations and providing players more than a few pretty quickly, giving them plenty of ways to set up their own teleportation routes. As for the collectables, players will now be searching for “Norgan Ducats” that can be traded for rare items at the village inn in the same manner as Seeker Tokens. These rare items range from simple curatives to headgear that allows players to see artifacts through walls, a very expensive and unique looking set of armor we couldn’t obtain yet during our time with the DLC, and even a book that unlocks an extra augment slot for both the Arisen and their main Pawn.

Now, once players are actually out and exploring Norgan they’ll notice quite a few differences. The land is not only ice covered but layered and packed with things to see and do. There are totem-like shrines players can uncover that each relate to one of the game’s classes and can be used to unlock an enhanced skill for said class for free (discipline, but players will likely have tens of thousands to spare), and further boons at the cost of flame offerings that can only be obtained by clearing the mysterious dungeons back at the main game. Players will also make use of grappling hooks to climb up sheer cliff faces to make new paths, deal with harsh blizzards that will literally white-out the player’s map and leave them stumbling in the snow and freezing them if they haven’t equipped freeze-preventing cloaks or are using a heat stone, and plenty of other hazards. 

The world itself can change depending on if there is a blizzard or not, as dangerous death drops can be hidden by mounds of snow waiting for players to step onto them during a blizzard, where they would have been obvious if the skies were clear. Similarly, entire pathways can be opened up should enough snow be on the ground as players can climb the snow or literally take a massive fall into a snowbank and suffer no damage at all, something that is impossible on a clear day. It is also interesting to note that players can also bring a little friend with them on most excursions, who will eventually grow to be quite helpful in fights as players complete more side-quests involving the village. Freki, the village’s resident direwolf, can be taken with the player and while she will initially only sniff out treasures when given meat and retreat from combat, she will actively howl and draw enemy attention, grab and drag downed Pawns to the Arisen to resurrect them, and more once they’ve bonded enough. There is even a unique bonus players can obtain that makes them move quicker and lose less stamina when traveling with Freki.

As for the various enemy types that players encounter, it must be said that there is a very good difference between what players encounter in the base game and what is offered in Dark Arisen. Yes, some foes are the exact same such as the Griffon, Gorechimera, and Goreminotaur, but other larger foes have been entirely reworked with new movesets, weaknesses and afflictions that they can unleash on the player and their team. Brand new smaller enemies also appear and are quite vicious to the point that running on ahead can be quite dangerous, as they’ll aggressively target the player if they aren’t careful and dodging around incoming blows. This makes for a new and satisfying level of challenge that players will find satisfying as they test their old skills against new foes, especially once they’ve gotten themselves re-equipped with a full set of Norgan designed gear.

There are two notable elements that have also been added in this DLC and that is a Spirit Compass and the “Eye of the Sphinx.” The Spirit Compass is something that will help guide players to their objective through a blizzard, so it is usually situational at best, but the Eye of the Sphinx is a real treat thanks to the fact that it literally highlights the location of every “massive enemy” currently available and where they are on the map. It does not say what enemy they are, but it does make hunting down the big epic fights all the easier, rather than simply hoping to stumble upon them.

The new Lost Rites dungeons that players will acquire the offering flames in as well as special set weaponry and armor that is specific to each dungeon have their own unique traits as well. While the first of these dungeons are simple affairs of fighting through enemies and taking on a boss at the end, other dungeons require players to take on very specific requirements to even enter them, be it venturing in with only the Arisen and their Main Pawn, no hired pawns with them to assist, another requiring players have no attribute skills to make it so they must utilize scattered explosive barrels and poison jars to eliminate physically immune foes. These little dungeons offer a taste of what players can expect before entering into Norgan as well as items required for unique permanent buffs from totems in the region, making them useful to visit and an appropriate challenge at the same time.

Audio & Visuals

The graphics for Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen remain fairly the same as they did in the base game but the design of Norgan, the new enemy types both small and large, and the armor are exceptionally well done. The region is a real treat as treading through the snow covered land can make players feel truly lost at times, especially amidst a blizzard where their only guide is a compass or the flames of enemy torches at a distance, ready to pounce. The various pieces of equipment are all brand new and feature a nice variation compared to what is found in the base game and while most of it is specifically designed to look like heavy-clothing or padded armor for the cold, there are exceptions that are more eccentric and enjoyable looking as well. 

One thing that is worth noting is that some of the spell effects for “grand” spells that have been unlocked by obtaining their upgrades through totems are absolutely gorgeous looking and have new lingering effects on the terrain. In fact, one of the best elements of the terrain in the game is fighting in the snow. Battling against a slew of enemies and nailing one with a grappling hook to send it flying into a snow drift, pouncing on them for a ground execution, all while leaving a divot in the snow is a sight to see and this is especially true when fighting large monsters who will carve massive swathes in the snow as they attack wildly or cast high-grade spells in an attempt to take down the player.

The voice work for the game is handled well enough, though players shouldn’t expect too much difference from the type of voice work they had in the base game. The set NPCs in the town are voiced well and so are some of the key characters that make up the game’s story. As for the soundtrack, it didn’t appear that there were any new pieces of background music during my time with the game, though that may have been due to my time between both games, but either way the same theme songs and epic fight music that players are treated to, especially upon slaying a massive foe, are as enjoyable as they were originally.

Overall

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen takes the strengths of the base game and focuses on them to make a tight, more coherent story that not only keeps players engaged by offering numerous locations to explore and a smaller location with decently handled NPCs, including a pet direwolf, but also plenty of new foes to challenge along the way and new obstacles that will force players to challenge themselves at the same time if they wish to succeed. Of course, the same friction and janky elements from the base game still remain, but for many these are part of what made Dragon’s Dogma 2 so enjoyable and that remains true here, making this DLC a must have for anyone that enjoyed the original game and also delivering a well-paced narrative for newcomers who have yet to touch the game in any way.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.