Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a delight to play because it’s so easy to get sucked into its world and lose yourself to the flow of every system. No matter how much you play, you always find yourself wishing for more.
I can’t get enough of Dragon’s Dogma 2. The world is absolutely massive and stunning, to boot. Every adventure is a treat because I never know what I’m going to uncover or what fight my Pawns are going to drag me into. Every session with it feels like a D&D session thanks to the plethora of areas to explore, monsters to fight, and crazy ways you can accidentally end up halfway across the map. But there’s always that part of you that wants more.
The best games like Dragon’s Dogma 2 for consoles and PC
In this list, I’ve highlighted ten fantastic games for PC and consoles that I think are very similar to Dragon’s Dogma 2. There are various reasons for each entry to be here, and I’ve explained my reasoning alongside them. If you’re looking for a game like Dragon’s Dogma 2 you can play right now, I’m certain I’ve got one for you in this list.
10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Arguably one of the most popular games in the last decade or more, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim plonks you into a massive open world and lets you go anywhere and do anything. I was instantly taken back to my first playthrough when playing Dragon’s Dogma 2 because both games share this. There’s no reason to go anywhere other than if you fancy it.
Skyrim also allows you to build a character your way with no limitations. Wear what you want, have whatever companions you feel like, and make the choices your character would make. Even in 2011, this game was ahead of its time, and few titles have ever gone as far, which is exactly why it should take up your next 400 hours after finishing Dragon’s Dogma 2.
Of course, we all know there’s more to the similarities than just the world and PRG mechanics. Skyrim is packed with dragons, and now you can hop on them to deal damage or just ride them. There are other large enemies to tackle, too, but it’s the war against the dragons of the world that I think really echoes what you’ll be longing for after finishing with Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s world full of climbable foes.
9. Final Fantasy XVI
Before I delve into the amazing fantasy worlds you can get lost in out there, let’s talk about a game that more than lives up to the incredible monster fights in Dragon’s Dogma 2: Final Fantasy XVI. It’s pretty standard fare for a Final Fantasy game, though it uses real-time combat instead of turn-based.
The thing that makes this game worth playing if you want more of Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the absolutely massive boss fights between Eikons. These are more than summons; they’re behemoths whose shadows cover entire cities, and it looks and feels amazing when they clash. You get to control Ifrit and go to town on a bunch of iconic creatures. Perfect for scratching that massive battle itch.
8. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Part of what I adore about Dragon’s Dogma 2 is its world and how it can pull you in with its endlessly inviting rolling vistas. One of the few games I’ve played that even comes close to that is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. There aren’t many games with worlds that you can head out with an objective in and never reach because they’re so densely packed with random encounters or side activities.
In this game, you’re a mercenary fighting for whatever side you choose. There’s an Assassin’s Creed story for those who want it, but really, it’s just an engine for exploring the incredible open world across various islands and a colossal sea. I keep coming back to this game in the hopes of finishing it and never get there. Whether it’s a camp, a side quest, or a random note, something always distracts me and sends me on an hours-long detour.
7. Monster Hunter World
Okay, look, I haven’t lost my mind here. Monster Hunter World has a ton in common with Dragon’s Dogma 2. Its world is a cohesive ecosystem in which you can track and battle monsters between several biomes and see them clash with other monsters along the way. I know I’ve fought two monsters while they fight each other in Dragon’s Dogma 2, and I’m pretty sure you have at one point, too. I’ve also accidentally ridden across the map on a griffin so I could kill it at its next, but I didn’t know I could do that at the time.
Monster Hunter World has hundreds of missions to tackle, dozens of pieces of armor and weapons to craft, and a level of RPG depth you don’t even realize when you first start. The story might not be the best, but it’s a game more about ripping giant creatures apart.
In both games, you can also bring along companions who are just in it for the ride. Everyone gets stuck into the brutal combat, and we all love battling titanic creatures until they fall down dead. Finally, a hearty meal goes a long way in both of these games. The similarities are almost too obvious here; just play it and thank me later.
6. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is very different from Dragon’s Dogma 2, but it’s the feeling of possibilities that makes it worthy of being on this list. You begin the game as a nobody and work your way up to the top, doing it all in first person in a colossal, incredibly unforgiving world.
While this game is extremely grounded in reality, the fact that you never know what you’re going to end up doing when you leave a settlement, sometimes even just sleeping in a settlement, is what Dragon’s Dogma 2 fans will love. If the Dragonsplague didn’t put you off of playing, you should be fine with the intense combat and tricky mechanics this throws your way.
5. Greedfall
Greedfall is very similar to BioWare’s Dragon Age and Mass Effect series. It’s a story-driven RPG where your choices affect the outcome of quests and the main story, but there are also smaller, sillier side quests to engage with. The thing that drew me to this game, and the reason I think Dragon’s Dogma 2 fans will enjoy it, is the unique world.
In Greedfall, you play a character in a world where fantastical creatures and the concept of magic are just starting to be exploited by the more modern and industrial world continents away. They suffer from a mystical ailment and are attempting to find a cure while also leading the charge on capturing every fantasy creature and bringing order to the chaos of an unknown region of the world the empire feels entitled to.
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
You don’t need to have played the first two games, read the books, or watched the TV show to get into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This game is Geralt of Rivia’s latest adventure across a wild fantasy world that’s out to kill anyone who ventures too far from a settlement.
The story roughly follows that of the books and is filled with political intrigue, zany side quests, and consequences. Your actions have meaning here, and you’re going to regret everything you do. However, it’s complimented nicely with a wide-open world to explore, something a lot of games in this list can’t offer if they’re more story-focused. I’d say this is the game for Dragon’s Dogma 2 fans who really enjoy the exploration side of the game.
3. Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that shouldn’t need an introduction. It’s one of the best RPGs ever made and is nestled nicely in the lore of Dungeons & Dragons. The world is interesting to explore, with many characters to meet, enemies to fight, and places to explore, but it’s the story you’re playing for here.
I can’t remember the last time I was hooked on a game as much as Baldur’s Gate 3 at launch. The title pulls you in, and you can’t escape because you just want to test every possible situation. You can do almost anything, and there’s a planned outcome for all of your actions, no matter how devious they are. It feels a lot like Dragon’s Dogma 2, but the combat is much slower-paced, and the heart is definitely the story.
2. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
When it was first released, Dragon’s Dogma didn’t make waves as its sequel did. Instead, it was more of a slow burn that those who played it adored and everyone else couldn’t get their heads around. I distinctly remember loving the look of the combat, grabbing enemies and crawling over them specifically, but not being that excited about the deep RPG world.
However, thanks to Dragon’s Dogma 2, I’m completely sold on the series and plan to go back to play the best version of the first game: Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen. This version includes a post-launch DLC that I’ve heard adds many quality-of-life improvements and endgame content that makes it much more worth playing than the base game alone.
Obviously, this is the game that pioneered the Pawn system. For that alone I think it’s well worth playing, but everything else you see refined in the second title began life here, and to be able to return to a world so close to the one you love right now is a real treat.
1. Dragon Age: Origins
I could probably include any entry from the Dragon Age series here, but I’m going for the original: Dragon Age: Origins. This BioWare fantasy RPG was my introduction to big, beautiful fantasy worlds, and I adore it. You play as a Grey Warden, one of the few people in the game’s world who is capable of fighting back the endless evil attempting to overrun it, the Darkspawn.
Just like Dragon’s Dogma 2, it’s got deep RPG mechanics and fantastic combat. Your companions have more personality and add a lot of flavor to the experience too. Regardless of whether you’re playing through one of the dozens of side quests or agonizing over dialogue choices, there’s so much to enjoy here across multiple playthroughs.
Published: Apr 7, 2024 11:00 am