Summary
- Dragon’s Dogma 2 may be perceived as a remake more than a sequel due to similarities with the first game.
- A potential sequel needs to reinvent the series’ story and gameplay to differentiate itself from the predecessor.
- Capcom should not wait too long for a Dragon’s Dogma 2 sequel to maintain the franchise’s enduring appeal.
While there’s currently no confirmation of a Dragon’s Dogma 2 sequel in the works, Capcom might be remiss to wait too long. Dragon’s Dogma 2 may not have been the most successful game of 2024, but it certainly left its mark on the year, and there’s an opportunity here for the series to capitalize on this momentum and start introducing some fresh ideas into the mix before time gets ahead of it. However, the need for a Dragon’s Dogma 2 sequel sooner rather than later goes beyond hype and sales, and instead has to do with the nature of what Dragon’s Dogma 2 is.
The Dragon’s Dogma franchise is already a different animal when it comes to action RPGs, with gameplay mechanics and narrative tropes that are somewhat unconventional and strange in comparison. As such, capitalizing on any success at all left in the wake of Dragon’s Dogma 2 is almost essential to the franchise’s enduring appeal moving forward. Apart from that being more than enough reason for a new Dragon’s Dogma game to launch soon, though, Dragon’s Dogma 2 brought very little new to the table for the franchise, which a sequel could rectify.
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Dragon’s Dogma 2 Shouldn’t Wait Too Long for a Sequel
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Was Essentially a Remake of the First Game
Dragon’s Dogma 2 may have the title of a sequel, but it’s really more of a remake of the first game than anything else. This isn’t just the sentiment of longtime fans of the franchise either, as even Capcom intimated that Dragon’s Dogma 2 is more of a remake than a sequel. This is largely evidenced by the game’s willingness to essentially keep everything from the first game intact, even the core elements of its plot, and simply refining those characteristics rather than adding a bunch of new to the formula.
The need for a Dragon’s Dogma 2 sequel sooner rather than later goes beyond hype and sales, and instead has to do with the nature of what Dragon’s Dogma 2 is.
Even Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s initial title screen reads only “Dragon’s Dogma,” which Capcom said was an intentional decision. It’s not until players reach Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s endgame that they are finally presented with a title screen that reads “Dragon’s Dogma 2,” suggesting that the true sequel doesn’t even begin until the main story is completed. Capcom would have intentionally made the initial title screen in Dragon’s Dogma 2 only say “Dragon’s Dogma” to reinforce the idea that it is, more or less, a remake of the first game, rather than an entirely new experience.
A Sequel to Dragon’s Dogma 2 Could Reinvent the Series’ Story and Gameplay
In other words, since Dragon’s Dogma 2 was little more than a remake of the first game, it didn’t feel like very much had changed between the two titles, but it worked in the end, due to the 12-year gap between each game’s release. It should be noted that there were some significant quality-of-life improvements made to the original Dragon’s Dogma in Dragon’s Dogma 2, and there were even some new features added, including new vocations like the Warfarer and the Trickster. However, arguably not enough was added to make it an authentic sequel.
This is ultimately why Dragon’s Dogma 2 needs a sequel sooner rather than later, as the series didn’t get its shot at a proper sequel with Dragon’s Dogma 2, despite the improvements it made to its predecessor. A sequel to Dragon’s Dogma 2 would give the series a chance to actually reinvent its story and gameplay, unlike what the second game in the series accomplished. Surely, if Capcom does intend to launch a sequel to Dragon’s Dogma 2 at some point, it won’t wait over a decade this time, but even waiting more than five years might be too long. Of course, no game’s development should be rushed, regardless of necessity, but if there were ever a game in need of all the hands available to make it, it’s Dragon’s Dogma 2‘s sequel.
- Released
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March 22, 2024
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence