46.1 hours in, mastering the art of being a Griffon's favorite takeout meal. 10/10 - would absolutely get abandoned on a mountain peak by a flying lion-bird again while my pawns helpfully shout "A GRIFFIN, MASTER!"

Prettier than a Chimera's three faces combined, but you'll mostly see it as a blur while running away from everything that moves after sunset. Less cutting-edge than Unreal Engine 5, but more atmospheric than your local haunted castle.

Like Dark Souls met Monster Hunter at a parkour competition, had a baby, and then that baby decided everything was its personal jungle gym. Think Elden Ring, but with more climbing and helpful companions who won't shut up about fire being hot.

You're the Arisen, chosen one with a slight cardiac condition, destined to climb every large creature in existence while making world-altering decisions that nobody bothered to mark with a giant "IMPORTANT CHOICE" banner.


Dragon's Dogma 2 strikes a beautiful balance between "wow, that vista is breathtaking" and "wow, that Cyclops is way too detailed for something about to turn me into a pancake." While it might not push the boundaries of modern graphics like some triple-A titles, the art direction makes up for it with atmospheric lighting that turns every sunset into a countdown to terror. Character models are detailed enough to capture every exasperated eye-roll as your pawns share their profound wisdom about goblins ill-liking fire – for the hundredth time today.

Remember when games used to ask "can you jump?" Well, Dragon's Dogma 2 asks "can you climb it?" And the answer is always yes, whether it's a dragon, a chimera, or your own poor life choices. The combat system is deep enough to drown in, with a stamina bar that loves to remind you of its existence at the worst possible moments – usually while you're dangling from something very tall and very angry.
The class system lets you evolve from "basic adventurer" to "master of questionable climbing decisions," with each advancement bringing new ways to accidentally launch yourself off cliffs. The skill-based combat feels like Elden Ring's sophisticated cousin who decided that regular attacks were too mainstream – everything's a special move here, darling.

You're the Arisen, a chosen one whose job description includes "heart optional" and "must love heights." The narrative unfolds like a beautiful tapestry, assuming that tapestry is regularly interrupted by griffons using you as their personal chew toy. What makes it special is how it handles choice – no glowing markers or obvious "YOUR DECISION MATTERS" prompts. Just you, making potentially world-altering decisions while your pawns discuss the weather.

The world of Dragon's Dogma 2 is like a Jekyll and Hyde situation – serene, beautiful landscapes by day transform into a horror show at night that would make Resident Evil blush. The second region apparently took inspiration from people who thought dark souls was "too easy." The attention to detail in world design means everything has its place and purpose, even if that purpose is usually "find new ways to terrify the player."

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a masterclass in making you question every life decision that led you to climbing a dragon at midnight while your pawns provide running commentary. It's deep, engaging, and occasionally terrifying, but most importantly, it's a game that knows exactly what it wants to be a fantasy RPG where every bigger enemy is a potential climbing object and night time is the wrong time.

P.S.: If you hear wolves howling, don't worry your pawns will remind you exactly how they hunt. Every. Single. Time.

[h1]TL;DR[/h1] 46.1 hours in, mastering the art of being a Griffon's favorite takeout meal. [b]10/10[/b] - would absolutely get abandoned on a mountain peak by a flying lion-bird again while my pawns helpfully shout "A GRIFFIN, MASTER!" [h2]Graphics TL;DR[/h2] Prettier than a Chimera's three faces combined, but you'll mostly see it as a blur while running away from everything that moves after sunset. Less cutting-edge than Unreal Engine 5, but more atmospheric than your local haunted castle. [h2]Gameplay TL;DR[/h2] Like Dark Souls met Monster Hunter at a parkour competition, had a baby, and then that baby decided everything was its personal jungle gym. Think Elden Ring, but with more climbing and helpful companions who won't shut up about fire being hot. [h2]Story TL;DR[/h2] You're the Arisen, chosen one with a slight cardiac condition, destined to climb every large creature in existence while making world-altering decisions that nobody bothered to mark with a giant "IMPORTANT CHOICE" banner. [h1]Full Review:[/h1] [h2]Graphics[/h2] Dragon's Dogma 2 strikes a beautiful balance between "wow, that vista is breathtaking" and "wow, that Cyclops is way too detailed for something about to turn me into a pancake." While it might not push the boundaries of modern graphics like some triple-A titles, the art direction makes up for it with atmospheric lighting that turns every sunset into a countdown to terror. Character models are detailed enough to capture every exasperated eye-roll as your pawns share their profound wisdom about goblins ill-liking fire – for the hundredth time today. [h2]Gameplay[/h2] Remember when games used to ask "can you jump?" Well, Dragon's Dogma 2 asks "can you climb it?" And the answer is always yes, whether it's a dragon, a chimera, or your own poor life choices. The combat system is deep enough to drown in, with a stamina bar that loves to remind you of its existence at the worst possible moments – usually while you're dangling from something very tall and very angry. The class system lets you evolve from "basic adventurer" to "master of questionable climbing decisions," with each advancement bringing new ways to accidentally launch yourself off cliffs. The skill-based combat feels like Elden Ring's sophisticated cousin who decided that regular attacks were too mainstream – everything's a special move here, darling. [h2]Story[/h2] You're the Arisen, a chosen one whose job description includes "heart optional" and "must love heights." The narrative unfolds like a beautiful tapestry, assuming that tapestry is regularly interrupted by griffons using you as their personal chew toy. What makes it special is how it handles choice – no glowing markers or obvious "YOUR DECISION MATTERS" prompts. Just you, making potentially world-altering decisions while your pawns discuss the weather. [h2]Worldbuilding[/h2] The world of Dragon's Dogma 2 is like a Jekyll and Hyde situation – serene, beautiful landscapes by day transform into a horror show at night that would make Resident Evil blush. The second region apparently took inspiration from people who thought dark souls was "too easy." The attention to detail in world design means everything has its place and purpose, even if that purpose is usually "find new ways to terrify the player." [h2]Conclusion[/h2] Dragon's Dogma 2 is a masterclass in making you question every life decision that led you to climbing a dragon at midnight while your pawns provide running commentary. It's deep, engaging, and occasionally terrifying, but most importantly, it's a game that knows exactly what it wants to be a fantasy RPG where every bigger enemy is a potential climbing object and night time is the wrong time. P.S.: If you hear wolves howling, don't worry your pawns will remind you exactly how they hunt. Every. Single. Time.