Deal | Open-world RPG classic returns to its lowest price – now available for under $5 on Steam

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is an open-world RPG that turns ten this year. Developed by Capcom, the expanded edition launched in 2016, while the original release dates back to 2012. Despite its age, the game continues to stand out thanks to several distinctive features. The story opens with a literal bite – a dragon tears the heart from the chest of a nameless hero, declaring them the “Chosen One.” Against all odds, the protagonist survives and sets out to hunt the beast and reclaim their fate. The world of Gransys deliberately avoids classic heroic fantasy tropes, instead embracing a somber, melancholic tone.

As is typical for the genre, gameplay takes place in third-person and features real-time combat. One of Dark Arisen’s defining features is its class system, referred to as “vocations.” These can be changed freely and continue to evolve as the player progresses. The game begins with three basic roles – Fighter, Ranger, and Mage – which later expand into advanced vocations such as Warrior, Rogue, and Wizard. In addition, hybrid vocations like Mystic Knight, Magic Archer, and Assassin blend physical and magical abilities, enabling more experimental and varied playstyles.

Another defining feature is its AI-driven companions, known as Pawns. Rather than relying on fixed, scripted party members, players assemble a team consisting of their own custom Pawn and others created by the community. These companions adapt to player behavior, offer contextual commentary during combat, and learn over time, giving each party a distinct personality. This results in a group dynamic during battles that remains uncommon among RPGs. The Dark Arisen edition also introduces several enhancements, including balance adjustments, technical improvements such as support for higher resolutions and smoother performance, and a substantial new area – Bitterblack Isle. Designed as a late-game challenge, this zone features more dangerous enemies and some of the game’s most demanding boss encounters.

German gaming magazine GameStar reviewed Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen at launch and praised its challenging combat, innovative AI companions, and large, lively game world – an especially impressive achievement for its time. The flexible class system was also highlighted for providing strong long-term motivation. Criticism, however, was directed at the visuals, which already felt dated in 2016, as well as the slow start and repetitive side quests. GameStar awarded the game 82 out of 100 points. On Metacritic, the RPG holds a metascore of 81 with a User Score of 7.9, while on Steam it has accumulated around 47,000 reviews and maintains an average rating of 88%.

84% discount on Steam

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen usually sells for around $30, but until January 13 it is available on Steam with an 84% discount, reducing the price to roughly $4.80. According to SteamDB, this matches its lowest price to date. If you miss the deal, however, there is little cause for concern, as the game has reached this price point several times in the past. From a technical perspective, Dark Arisen is undemanding and runs smoothly even on lower-end systems. It is also Steam Deck verified (currently around $750 on Amazon), making it well suited for handheld play.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.