DaRmaZat It’s no secret that Dragon’s Dogma II had a less-than-perfect launch when it was released in early 2024. Not only did it suffer from significant performance issues, but the save system also frustratingly got in the way when you wanted to start a new game. On top of that, fast travel through oxcarts and Portcrystals was also heavily restricted. This meant that you sometimes had to spend hours traversing the same routes, fighting endlessly respawning enemies, all while the difficulty balance was already way out of whack. In hindsight, I also have to admit that Dragon’s Dogma II’s main plot left me somewhat disappointed, as its overall progression was ultimately very similar to that of its predecessor.
With the brand-new Dark Arisen expansion, Capcom is now attempting to give the action RPG a second life through a variety of QoL features, while also introducing an entirely new storyline, Forsaken Dominion, which aims to immerse you more deeply in the game’s lore. It’s important to note, however, that if you choose to use an existing character for this expansion, all quest progress from your previous playthrough will be reset.
The Dark Arisen expansion truly begins once you arrive in Vernworth – something that already requires more than an hour of playtime in the base game – and unlock a new dialogue option when speaking with Ser Brant. He has learned through a letter sent to Queen Regent Disa that a new Arisen has appeared, and believes it would be a missed opportunity not to investigate. The problem? This new Arisen is located in the icy northern region of Norgan, known for its harsh, and at times almost completely uninhabitable, environment. Either way, once again, you’re soon sent off on another incredibly long and challenging journey.
Before you and your Pawns board a Griffin bound for the Norgan area, you meet a Robin Hood-esque character named Pekdre, who gives you one final check to make sure you’re actually ready for the task. Once you land there, you’re almost immediately put to work with a fetch quest: tracking down ancient relics for Jiera, the matron of the Norgandian Settlement. And there’s a good reason for it. The region is filled with mysterious relics, and by having them appraised using Rift Crystals, you can unlock random weapons and pieces of armor with unique stats and abilities. By this point, you’re generally expected to have a properly geared build and a party of well-equipped Pawns with strong stats and abilities – see a little further down – but nevertheless, it’s a nice attempt at making the rather dull hunt for loot somewhat interesting again.
A little later, you join forces with a mysterious new character named Eir to uncover the secrets of a terrifying, immortal Fallen Dragon – one that is missing its heart, and this is where the new storyline truly gets underway. The Forsaken Dominion story provides roughly 15 to 20 hours of additional gameplay and has a wonderfully dark and mysterious atmosphere, with Norgan’s icy setting reminding me a lot of Skyrim. This time around, however, the enemies roaming the region are anything but pushovers. It’s no surprise, then, that a pop-up that appears during the conversation with Ser Brant recommends being around level 40 before taking on this quest.
And no, that recommendation is far from excessive. You’ll have to deal with bone-chilling blizzards that drain your stamina through the Chilled status effect and affect combat through their constantly shifting wind directions. There are also new enemies such as giants, ice dragons, and ghouls, not to mention the Beorcan warriors. These warriors, accompanied by white wolves, can take you down with just a few well-placed hits or arrows if you’re not properly prepared.
Your gear also matters more in this expansion than your exact level, so you’ll want to make sure your weapons and armor are properly upgraded before venturing into the frozen wilderness. Portcrystals are also of no use in this region. Instead, Norgan has its own crystals, with a maximum of five that can be placed on the map. However, if you’re at a lower level and are already thinking that a large portion of this expansion simply isn’t meant for you, don’t panic. Starting at level 20, you can already take on the Lost Rites. These are twelve new and challenging dungeons spread across both kingdoms, Vermund and Battahl, each taking up to an hour to complete.
But let’s rewind a bit first and focus on one of the biggest issues surrounding the base game: the framerate. With this expansion and the preceding updates to the base game, Capcom has heavily optimized the RE Engine, resulting in the game now running considerably more smoothly. On PC, the controversial Denuvo anti-tamper software has been removed, which directly improves CPU performance and overall stability.
Personally, I noticed that exploring cities and rotating the camera no longer produced the infamous hiccups that were so common shortly after launch. A wide range of additional graphics options has also been added. With upscaling technologies such as DLSS and FSR, you can now achieve a stable 60 FPS at the recommended specifications in 1080p, while even minimum-spec systems can reach a smooth 45–60 FPS. A free camera photo mode is also now available, allowing you to capture the game’s beautiful and desolate landscapes.
And that’s not all. You finally have three save slots instead of just one. Fast Travel has also become less frustrating thanks to reduced costs for Ferrystones and inns, while the stamina penalty for sprinting outside of combat has been completely removed. There’s now even an item that can cure the dreaded Dragon’s Plague, as well as Freki, a tameable direwolf found in the wilderness who can help you track down loot.
These are definitely not the only improvements when it comes to accessibility. The expansion makes several other significant concessions when it comes to gameplay mechanics. While no completely new vocations – the classes in DD II – have been added, many existing mechanics have been substantially reworked. You now have six Skill Slots, allowing you to equip six active weapon skills simultaneously instead of four. This opens the door to a wide variety of new combos. Every vocation also has access to new and devastating upgrades. Sorcerers, for example, can use Grand Magic, while the more physical classes gain access to powerful attacks surrounded by a red aura. Finally, for the hardcore fans, there’s also a brand-new Hard Mode, making the already challenging combat even more punishing.
Final Thoughts
Dragon’s Dogma II: Dark Arisen is pretty much what I hoped this expansion would be. The game is still just as demanding and occasionally grindy as ever, with plenty of long journeys and time sinks, but the difference is that many of the new additions genuinely make the experience better. The improved performance, extra skill slots, expanded combat options, cheaper fast travel, additional save slots, and the new relic hunt all make a noticeable difference, while Norgan provides a fantastic yet bone-chilling challenge for those willing to brave it. It’s not a complete overhaul, but after everything that has been added and improved, it’s hard not to feel that Dragon’s Dogma II is finally closer to the game it should have been at launch.
Additional Information
Release Date: October 9, 2026
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: CAPCOM
Publisher: CAPCOM
Relevant Links: Available on Steam.
