I’m an open-world action RPG fan, and Dragon’s Dogma 2 is unlike anything I’ve played

MOST open-world games today rely on a tried and tested formula, and if you’ve played one or two, you know what you’re getting into when you pick up the next one in the genre.

There’s usually a massive map you can traverse, dotted with quest markers and fast-travel points that unlock more quest markers.

You get a relatively linear main story and side quests to level up your character between important story bits.

Most of the time, open-world games hold your hand, making sure you know where to go next, so you don’t miss out on content.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 takes most of these mainstays of the genre and throws them away, proving that not sticking to what everyone else is doing is the way to go.

The game forces you to think through your every move, rather than brainlessly follow a quest mark on your screen.

It rewards you for preparing well for your next adventure, making sure you’re well-rested and equipped properly for the task at hand.

You’re encouraged to switch your character’s vocations, and hire the right pawns into your party.

Yet, the game will always punish you as soon as you do something outright stupid.

This gives it an almost Monster Hunter-like feel, as Capcom’s other celebrated series is also more about preparation than the actual battles.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 doesn’t distinguish between main and side quests, as oftentimes even the most mundane task can quickly turn into an adventure with important consequences.

The game wants you to own your decisions, good or bad, so there is only one save file per playthrough, and it autosaves after important bits.

Fast travel is mostly limited to oxcarts between select major locations, and even that system is not as straightforward as long-pressing a button, as things may happen on your way.

You can also travel between Portcrystals you find or place in the world, but this option is limited by the number of Ferrystones you hold.

Everything in the game requires you to prepare and think, if you want to avoid any unpleasant surprises, or tackle them successfully.

Even safe areas, like camps and cities, are not entirely safe, as random events, which I’ll not spoil, may occur.

Your own careless actions may turn a city against you, while aimless button-mashing during combat will get you nowhere.

Unlike many other games in the genre, the world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 is designed to be explored rather than fast-traveled.

The game doesn’t reveal its secrets but challenges you to find them yourself, and trying to get the most out of it is infinitely more rewarding than following a question mark on your compass.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is no walk in the park and may seem quite challenging at first, but once figure out what it wants from you, all its systems and peculiar design choices fall into place.

Once that happens, it’s a true sandbox game that invites you to experiment with its mechanics to see how its complex world responds as you explore every corner.

Dragon's Dogma 2 releases on March 22, 2024, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Score: 5/5

If you want to know more about other recent and upcoming games, check out our Alone in the Dark review.