The mark of a masterpiece expansion is that it becomes an essential part of the playthrough. Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty, The Witcher 3’s Blood and Wine, and Skyrim’s Dragonborn are some examples. Dark Arisen for Dragon’s Dogma 2 will be treated the same as those legendary DLCs I mentioned, and right now, you can get the entire experience at a great price.
For those unaware and currently missing out on one of the best RPGs in recent years, Dragon’s Dogma 2 puts you in the starring role as your own Arisen--a character whose heart has been eaten by a dragon and who is destined to defeat it. Sadly, someone else has taken the role of Arisen as a false leader, meaning you and your party (a main Pawn and some stragglers you hire from the Rift) have to deal with a variety of issues. That means proving the false Arisen is, well, false, as well as fighting a bunch of creatures and, inevitably, killing a dragon.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a mix of gameplay systems from other titles that, surprisingly, works extremely well. You have a more action-oriented skill system, and the Pawns add a layer of strategy based on the Vocations you hire (effectively, party roles). Bigger creatures require climbing up them à la Shadow of the Colossus before pummeling their weak spots and watching them crash. As a Thief, the bigger they are, the more fun it is to use Draw and Quarter on them. Trust me, it’s better to watch than describe.
Dark Arisen works alongside the main story, naturally falling into the narrative as if it was always there. Apparently, another Arisen has appeared in the frosty region of Norgan, but while you can access this expansion fairly quickly, I wouldn’t recommend it. You need to be at least level 40, and the loot you can find is ridiculously powerful compared to the base game. So, you don’t want to overpower yourself for the main story on an initial playthrough.
Dark Arisen’s new content isn’t just a small bonus DLC--it’s a massive expansion that adds a new narrative, a new region, better loot (and a better loot system with the inclusion of Relics), and the excellent Lost Rites dungeons to the main map. It’s now a must-play part of the experience, and as someone who rated the base game highly, I consider Dark Arisen an essential part of the Dragon’s Dogma 2 experience.
If you haven’t played the main game, you can get Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen--which includes both the game and the DLC--for just $41.99 / £37.79 at Fanatical. That’s the lowest price the bundle has been, but if you already own the main game, you can also buy the Dark Arisen expansion at a discount from Fanatical, netting you a Steam key for less than you’d pay through Valve’s app.
Also, leave a marker on the map where you find your first Finder’s Token. Trust me on this one.
Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. This story was created in collaboration with Fanatical’s deals team.