Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen Thumbnail

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen similar games & best alternatives

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3 • 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)

Similar games

    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

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Leadership, Expression.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have freedom to choose vocations, customize characters, switch classes anytime, and explore the open world at their own pace."

    • Competence
      4

      "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."

    • Continuation
      5

      "Many players report hundreds of hours, multiple playthroughs, and high replayability with different classes and builds."

    • Cooperation
      3

      "Unique pawn system encourages cooperation with AI and indirectly with other players by sharing pawns."

    • Creativity
      4

      "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."

    • Escapism
      5

      "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."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Players experiment with different vocations, skills, and party compositions to find effective strategies."

    • Exploration
      5

      "Large open world with secrets, dungeons, and varied environments encourages curiosity-driven discovery."

    • Expression
      4

      "Character creation and pawn customization allow self-expression and personalization."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "Strong fantasy setting with dragons, mythical creatures, magic, and epic storytelling."

    • Fellowship
      3

      "Community interaction through pawn sharing and ratings fosters a sense of belonging."

    • Growth
      4

      "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."

    • Intimacy
      1

      "Some social interaction through pawns and community, but limited emotional depth or close relationships."

    • Leadership
      2

      "Players manage their party and pawns strategically but do not lead other human players."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong emphasis on leveling, gear acquisition, and unlocking new skills and vocations."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Combat can be challenging and tense but also provides flow and satisfaction when mastered."

    • Sensation
      4

      "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."

    • Story
      2

      "Story is serviceable with some twists but not the main focus; gameplay and combat take precedence."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Players must plan party composition, exploit enemy weaknesses, and adapt tactics for success."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Boss fights and climbing mechanics create suspense and excitement, though some find difficulty spikes frustrating."

    • Value
      5

      "High replay value and content volume provide excellent return on time and money invested."

    • Violence
      3

      "Combat involves defeating monsters with weapons and magic, including climbing and attacking large foes."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must manage stamina, exploit weaknesses, and prepare strategically to survive challenging encounters."

    Where to buy

    Last update: 29/04/2026