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Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen similar games & best alternatives

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3 • 2016

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Quick resume

Set in a huge open world, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen presents a rewarding action combat experience.

Global score

88/100

Genres

Action, Adventure, Role-playing (RPG)

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging and unique combat system
    • Deep character and party customization
    • Large immersive open world
    • High replayability with multiple vocations
    • Innovative pawn system enabling indirect multiplayer interaction

    Cons

    • Dated graphics and ui
    • Tedious travel and limited fast travel options
    • Some quest design and story elements are confusing or weak
    • Pawn ai can be frustrating at times
    • Steep learning curve and initial slow pacing

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players have freedom to explore the open world, choose actions like attending classes or skipping, engaging in fights, driving vehicles, and customizing characters after progression."

      Capsule for Old School Old School

      "Players have freedom to choose vocations, customize characters, switch classes anytime, and explore the open world at their own pace."

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      4

      "Combat is skill-based and challenging; players feel rewarded for mastering mechanics and overcoming tough enemies."

      Capsule for Wigmund Wigmund

      "Combat is skill-based with unique enemy weaknesses and climbing mechanics; players feel rewarded mastering complex systems."

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      -3

      "Focus is on personal progression and exploration rather than direct player-vs-player competition"

      Capsule for Endless Sky Endless Sky

      "Focus is on personal progression and exploration; pawn system involves indirect cooperation but no direct player-vs-player competition."

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      5

      "Players report hundreds of hours invested, with high replayability due to multiple classes, builds, and large content."

      Capsule for Exiled Kingdoms Exiled Kingdoms

      "Many players report hundreds of hours, multiple playthroughs, and high replayability with different classes and builds."

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      3

      "Team-based gameplay with AI squadmates and multiplayer modes encourage cooperation, though AI teammates are often unreliable."

      Capsule for Delta Force — Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre Delta Force — Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre

      "Unique pawn system encourages cooperation with AI and indirectly with other players by sharing pawns."

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      4

      "Extensive character customization, multiclassing, and party AI setup allow creative playstyles and strategies."

      Capsule for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

      "Extensive character customization, class switching, and party building allow creative playstyles and strategies."

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -4

      "Interactions emphasize shared party dynamics and mutual respect rather than exerting control over others."

      Capsule for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

      "Interactions emphasize shared party dynamics and mutual support rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      5

      "Highly immersive fantasy world with rich lore, exploration, and engaging combat provides strong escape from real life."

      Capsule for Avowed Avowed

      "Immersive fantasy world, epic battles, and exploration provide strong escape from real life."

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, often attracted by the game's unique mechanics and charm."

      Capsule for Out There Somewhere Out There Somewhere

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, often discovering the game by chance."

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      4

      "Players experiment with many party compositions, tactics, and character builds to find effective strategies."

      Capsule for Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition

      "Players experiment with different vocations, skills, and party compositions to find effective strategies."

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      5

      "Huge open world with many dungeons, secrets, and puzzles incentivizes curiosity-driven discovery."

      Capsule for 9th Dawn III 9th Dawn III

      "Large open world with secrets, dungeons, and varied environments encourages curiosity-driven discovery."

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      4

      "Character customization and skins allow self-expression and personalization."

      Capsule for Bean Battles Bean Battles

      "Character creation and pawn customization allow self-expression and personalization."

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      5

      "Strong fantasy setting with magic, dragons, mythical creatures, and epic storytelling."

      Capsule for Dragon Age™ Inquisition Dragon Age™ Inquisition

      "Strong fantasy setting with dragons, mythical creatures, magic, and epic storytelling."

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      3

      "Community and guild systems foster a sense of belonging and shared interests."

      Capsule for Life Makeover Life Makeover

      "Community interaction through pawn sharing and ratings fosters a sense of belonging."

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      4

      "Players develop skills, learn enemy patterns, and improve through gear progression and character upgrades."

      Capsule for Death Must Die Death Must Die

      "Players develop skills, learn enemy weaknesses, and improve through leveling and gear progression."

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -3

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with long sessions; no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

      Capsule for FINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION FINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION

      "Gameplay involves extensive sedentary play and some tedious walking, though mods can alleviate this."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -4

      "Requires focused attention during exploration and combat; not designed for casual or background play."

      Capsule for Millennium - A New Hope Millennium - A New Hope

      "Requires focused attention during combat and exploration; not designed for background or casual play."

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      1

      "Some social interaction with friends and community, but limited emotional depth or close relationships."

      Capsule for Pirates Pirates

      "Some social interaction through pawns and community, but limited emotional depth or close relationships."

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      2

      "Players lead their party by controlling characters and making tactical decisions, but no leadership over other players."

      Capsule for FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE

      "Players manage their party and pawns strategically but do not lead other human players."

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      5

      "Strong emphasis on leveling up, acquiring better gear, and unlocking skills."

      Capsule for Borderlands 2 Borderlands 2

      "Strong emphasis on leveling, gear acquisition, and unlocking new skills and vocations."

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      2

      "Combat can be tense and challenging but also rewarding and satisfying, offering moments of flow."

      Capsule for Dark Messiah of Might & Magic Dark Messiah of Might & Magic

      "Combat can be challenging and tense but also provides flow and satisfaction when mastered."

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      4

      "Unique art style, atmospheric music, and impactful combat provide strong sensory stimulation."

      Capsule for Lucah: Born of a Dream Lucah: Born of a Dream

      "Dynamic combat animations, impactful magic effects, and atmospheric music provide rich sensory stimulation."

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -2

      "Recognition is mostly within small groups or communities rather than broad social status."

      Capsule for PAYDAY™ The Heist PAYDAY™ The Heist

      "Recognition mostly limited to pawn ratings and community appreciation rather than broad social status."

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      2

      "Narrative exists but is not the main focus; story is serviceable and supports gameplay."

      Capsule for Windlands 2 Windlands 2

      "Story is serviceable with some twists but not the main focus; gameplay and combat take precedence."

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      4

      "Players must plan attacks, manage resources, and adapt strategies to enemy patterns."

      Capsule for ScourgeBringer ScourgeBringer

      "Players must plan party composition, exploit enemy weaknesses, and adapt tactics for success."

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      3

      "Difficulty spikes and challenging boss fights create suspense and excitement."

      Capsule for PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC

      "Boss fights and climbing mechanics create suspense and excitement, though some find difficulty spikes frustrating."

    • Value

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      5

      "High replay value and content for a low price, considered a great return on investment."

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      "High replay value and content volume provide excellent return on time and money invested."

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      3

      "Combat involves defeating monsters and bosses with weapons and magic."

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      "Combat involves defeating monsters with weapons and magic, including climbing and attacking large foes."

    • Survival

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      "Players must manage health, stamina, and resources to survive challenging encounters."

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    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Leadership, Expression.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 30/04/2026