Dragon's Dogma 2

Dragon's Dogma 2 is an action RPG from Capcom and a direct sequel to the cult classic from 2012, expanding on the concept of the Pawn — an AI-controlled companion who exchanges gathered knowledge and advice between different players' games. The player, in the role of the Arisen, journeys through a vast fantasy world, forges a pact with a dragon, and battles giant monsters in a way that resembles physical interaction — climbing onto beasts — more than the classic turn-based or combo systems of other RPGs. Nighttime travel through a landscape full of ghouls and dangerous werewolves adds tension to exploration that you barely feel during the day.

On Xbox Series X and S, where the game launched simultaneously with other platforms in 2024, it benefits from the advanced RE Engine, which makes the open world look detailed and dynamic, though even on the new generation of consoles the game occasionally takes a toll on frame rate in busy cities. The music and sound design emphasize a sense of danger and majesty when encountering large enemies, one of the defining traits of the whole series. Nine distinct vocations, from the classic Fighter to the mysterious Mystic Archer, also let you completely transform your playstyle with a single visit to the right guild.

Dragon's Dogma 2 was received on release as a faithful yet modernized sequel that retained the series' distinctive, mildly inconvenient approach to quests and travel, without free fast travel. Fans of the first game appreciated the return of the Pawn system and the greater freedom in character building through vocations, though there was also discussion about microtransactions offering minor convenience items, as well as technical dips in large cities. On Xbox Series, it's one of the most distinctive action RPGs of the generation, unafraid to go against the grain of modern genre convenience.

Why play it: Anyone looking for an action RPG unafraid to go against the grain of modern genre convenience will appreciate Dragon's Dogma 2's return of the Pawn system and its distinctive freedom in character building.