Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen similar games & best alternatives
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
2016
Related articles
Quick resume
Set in a huge open world, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen presents a rewarding action combat experience.
Global score
88/100
Genres
Action, Adventure, Role-playing (RPG)
Pros
- Engaging and unique combat system
- Deep character and party customization
- Large immersive open world
- High replayability with multiple vocations
- Innovative pawn system enabling indirect multiplayer interaction
Cons
- Dated graphics and ui
- Tedious travel and limited fast travel options
- Some quest design and story elements are confusing or weak
- Pawn ai can be frustrating at times
- Steep learning curve and initial slow pacing
Motivations
-
Autonomy4
"Players have freedom to choose vocations, customize characters, switch classes anytime, and explore the open world at their own pace."
-
Competence4
"Combat is skill-based with unique enemy weaknesses and climbing mechanics; players feel rewarded mastering complex systems."
-
Competition-3
"Focus is on personal progression and exploration; pawn system involves indirect cooperation but no direct player-vs-player competition."
-
Continuation5
"Many players report hundreds of hours, multiple playthroughs, and high replayability with different classes and builds."
-
Cooperation3
"Unique pawn system encourages cooperation with AI and indirectly with other players by sharing pawns."
-
Creativity4
"Extensive character customization, class switching, and party building allow creative playstyles and strategies."
-
Domination-4
"Interactions emphasize shared party dynamics and mutual support rather than exerting control or superiority over others."
-
Escapism5
"Immersive fantasy world, epic battles, and exploration provide strong escape from real life."
-
Expectation-4
"Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, often discovering the game by chance."
-
Experimenting4
"Players experiment with different vocations, skills, and party compositions to find effective strategies."
-
Exploration5
"Large open world with secrets, dungeons, and varied environments encourages curiosity-driven discovery."
-
Expression4
"Character creation and pawn customization allow self-expression and personalization."
-
Fantasy5
"Strong fantasy setting with dragons, mythical creatures, magic, and epic storytelling."
-
Fellowship3
"Community interaction through pawn sharing and ratings fosters a sense of belonging."
-
Growth4
"Players develop skills, learn enemy weaknesses, and improve through leveling and gear progression."
-
Health-3
"Gameplay involves extensive sedentary play and some tedious walking, though mods can alleviate this."
-
Idle-4
"Requires focused attention during combat and exploration; not designed for background or casual play."
-
Intimacy1
"Some social interaction through pawns and community, but limited emotional depth or close relationships."
-
Leadership2
"Players manage their party and pawns strategically but do not lead other human players."
-
Progression5
"Strong emphasis on leveling, gear acquisition, and unlocking new skills and vocations."
-
Relaxation2
"Combat can be challenging and tense but also provides flow and satisfaction when mastered."
-
Sensation4
"Dynamic combat animations, impactful magic effects, and atmospheric music provide rich sensory stimulation."
-
Status-2
"Recognition mostly limited to pawn ratings and community appreciation rather than broad social status."
-
Story2
"Story is serviceable with some twists but not the main focus; gameplay and combat take precedence."
-
Strategy4
"Players must plan party composition, exploit enemy weaknesses, and adapt tactics for success."
-
Thrill3
"Boss fights and climbing mechanics create suspense and excitement, though some find difficulty spikes frustrating."
-
Value5
"High replay value and content volume provide excellent return on time and money invested."
-
Violence3
"Combat involves defeating monsters with weapons and magic, including climbing and attacking large foes."
-
Survival3
"Players must manage stamina, exploit weaknesses, and prepare strategically to survive challenging encounters."
Similar games
Where to buy
Last update: 06/03/2026