Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen combines an open fantasy world with action-packed combat and a party of computer-controlled companions. The complete edition includes the original adventure in Gransys and the additional region Bitterblack with special enemies and items.

Your character gains various abilities over the course of the game and can take on large creatures together with their companions. The full version is standalone and does not require an additional purchase of the base game.

The first Dark Arisen version came out in Europe on Apr 26, 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It combined the 2012 action RPG with new game areas and previously released content. In North America, sales began on Apr 23, 2013.

The PC launch followed on Jan 15, 2016. New versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One came out on Oct 3, 2017, and the Nintendo Switch version on Apr 23, 2019. These dates refer to standalone releases, not to an older version running via backward compatibility.

Native versions exist for PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The PC entry on Steam dates from 2016. The revised PS4 and Xbox One versions followed in 2017, and Nintendo brought the complete edition to the original Switch in 2019.

The Xbox One version can also run on newer Xbox hardware, but this does not make it a native Xbox Series version. Likewise, the Switch game is not the same as Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen on Switch 2. The latter is an expansion for the other base game, released in 2024.

In Dragon’s Dogma, the Arisen moves freely through the game world. Enemies are fought in real time with melee weapons, ranged attacks and magic. Particularly large monsters can be climbed to reach vulnerable body parts. This is exactly what sets encounters with dragons, griffins and other creatures apart from simple fights against ordinary enemies.

Equipment, vocation and party makeup matter before a dangerous journey. The AI companions act independently in combat and can cover different roles. Dark Arisen adds challenging extra areas to this core without replacing the basic system with another genre.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen includes the original action RPG and the additional region Bitterblack Isle. There you'll find new enemies, more quests, equipment and abilities. Capcom also bundles numerous previously released add-on content. The game is therefore available as a full standalone version and does not require buying the original first.

The new island is part of the permanent game content. Minor historical bonus content may vary depending on the platform version.

For the Windows version, Capcom lists at least an Intel Core i5 660, 4 GB RAM, a Radeon HD 5870 or a comparable graphics card, and 20 GB of free storage. Recommended are an Intel Core i7-4770K, 8 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 760.

These details come from the original Steam release from 2016. Since the Steam client now requires Windows 10 or newer, the historical OS details should not be equated with the platform's current requirements.

Bitterblack Isle adds a separate, gloomy adventure area to Dragon’s Dogma. Its caves and underground sections confront the party with tougher enemies and new boss fights. Those who push deeper find more equipment and opportunities to develop their character.

The area differs from the open Gransys in its concentrated series of dangerous encounters and the greater importance of suitable equipment. The isle is a fixed part of the Dark Arisen complete edition and not a time-limited event.

Your own Arisen is accompanied by up to three computer-controlled Pawns. You create and develop one main Pawn yourself, while other companions can be chosen from the characters of other players. They fight independently and bring different abilities to the party.

The online system is for sharing AI companions, not for a shared co-op run with other people. That is why Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen remains at its core a single-player role-playing game. Some older console versions have since lost earlier network features.

Character development begins with choosing a vocation, which affects weapons and skills. Three base vocations lead to nine class options in total. This lets you build characters focused on melee, ranged attacks, magic or combined roles.

Your party makeup should complement this choice: a ranged fighter may need different support than a melee fighter. Not every ability is open to every vocation, which makes experimenting with different roles a lasting part of the game.

Fights take place in real time. While some enemies can be controlled with ranged attacks or magic, larger creatures require a different approach. Characters can climb griffins, dragons and other monsters to reach favorable attack points.

The chosen vocation determines weapons and special abilities. Since Pawns intervene independently, combat arises from the interplay of your own actions with the decisions of the computer-controlled companions.

The open fantasy world of Gransys combines larger settlements, roads and dangerous areas. Beyond the main story, players can explore, pursue side quests and collect equipment. Combat and travel require weighing preparation, risk and possible rewards.

Dark Arisen adds the Bitterblack Isle to this open game structure. It focuses more on a series of demanding encounters and expands the scope without replacing the original adventure.

The PC port was released on Steam on Jan 15, 2016. Besides mouse and keyboard, various gamepads are supported. Capcom cites high-resolution display, additional quick access for items and new Steam achievements related to Bitterblack Isle.

The PC version includes the complete edition with the expansion. System requirements and modern compatibility should be considered separately, as the original hardware figures date from the release year.

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is not a classic online co-op game. Other users can share their custom-made Pawns, which travel along as AI companions on other people's adventures. This does not create a jointly controlled human multiplayer party.

For the Xbox 360 version, Capcom confirms that its earlier network service has been shut down. As a result, the online Pawns features of the time and certain network-based rewards are no longer available there as originally. The offline adventure should be considered separately from this distinction.

The Nintendo Switch version was released on Apr 23, 2019. It includes the base game and the expansion and can be played in TV, tabletop or handheld mode.

According to Capcom, the resolution in TV mode is 1600 × 900 pixels and on the go 1024 × 576 pixels. The game is designed for 30 frames per second. On the handheld screen, the map can be opened via touch controls. These technical details apply to the original Nintendo Switch and do not describe a native Switch 2 re-release.