Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is a substantial expansion that adds a new region, dungeons, enemies, gear, progression systems and story content, while arriving alongside a series of technical improvements to the base game. Capcom has spent considerable time addressing the rough edges of the original release, and it shows. This is a far more polished experience than the one I played at launch.
I played Dark Arisen on both PC and PS5, with PS5 being my main platform. Performance is in a much better place now. The PS5 version can reach 60 FPS, while the PC version has also improved significantly, meaning you no longer need an extremely high-end system to run the game at higher settings. Capcom has added PSSR support alongside several graphics and performance options. Balanced Mode offers a good mix of image quality and frame rate, while the 120Hz option unlocks the frame rate and pushed the game above 60 FPS in my testing. Graphics Mode was also considerably more stable than I expected. PSSR did not noticeably compromise image quality, particularly in Balanced and Graphics modes.
The biggest addition is Norgan, a new region built around vertical exploration. Its cold environment introduces another layer to exploration, as low temperatures drain stamina. Thermal Gear and Heat items help counter the effect, while blizzards can reduce visibility and make navigation more difficult.
Norgan is made up of multi-level structures, caverns and branching routes. Climbing hooks let you reach otherwise inaccessible areas and create shortcuts between different levels. Obelisks scattered throughout the region provide permanent combat skill upgrades, with some Lost Rites dungeons rewarding special flames that can activate them.
The expansion introduces 12 Lost Rites dungeons to the main map. These dungeons have a different structure compared to the game’s regular areas and can be replayed after they are completed. Upon your first clear, you will receive rewards in the form of gear and materials. In Dark Arisen, enemies can drop a randomized variety of relics, and additional relics can be discovered in chests. These relics can be appraised into proper gear at the central settlement, with rarer tiers becoming available as you progress through the story.
Fast travel has also been improved. The Eternal Ferrystone provides unlimited fast travel, while Portcrystals are easier to obtain, reducing the need to rely on Oxcarts when travelling across the main map.
The expansion features stronger equipment that is complemented by tougher enemies. While there are new enemy types introduced, some are simply reskinned versions, which means the variety remains somewhat limited. Additionally, the previously added Hard Mode is now available, addressing one of the major criticisms of the original game, which was often viewed as too easy.
The story is one of Dark Arisen’s stronger aspects. I felt Dragon’s Dogma 2 leaned too heavily on the structure and ideas of the original game, whereas the expansion’s narrative feels more distinct. Norgan has been devastated by a mysterious disaster and is now home to a Cursed Dragon and another Arisen. Much of the story revolves around uncovering what happened to the region and understanding the motivations of those involved.
The two Arisen have distinct themes and motivations, helping the narrative avoid feeling repetitive. NPCs are also given more attention. Several characters appear repeatedly throughout the main quests, giving them more room to develop and making their involvement feel more meaningful.
There is a healthy amount of content here, although the length depends on how you play. The main expansion content can take around 20 hours to complete, while a more thorough playthrough can stretch considerably longer. Hard Mode can extend that further.
Dark Arisen has its issues, including the need for a grind to obtain Relic gear and some lingering bugs. However, Norgan is a valuable addition to the game, the Lost Rites dungeons offer meaningful side content, and the expanded progression systems provide experienced players with more incentives to continue exploring.
More importantly, the technical improvements have made Dragon’s Dogma 2 a much stronger game than it was at launch. PS5 players in particular now have a significantly better-performing version with useful graphical options and improved image quality. Dark Arisen therefore feels worthwhile not only because of what it adds, but because it arrives when Dragon’s Dogma 2 is finally much closer to the experience it should have been from the beginning.
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Game Information
- Price: $29.99
- Publisher: Capcom
- Developer: Capcom
- Platform: PC/PS5 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher
