Dragon's Dogma 1 vs 2
For the first game on PC, choose Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, Steam app 367500, released January 15, 2016. Dragon's Dogma 2 is a separate sequel, app 2054970. Its 2026 Dark Arisen expansion does not replace or upgrade the older game.
Practical differences
| Question | First game's Dark Arisen | Dragon's Dogma 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Which Steam product? | App 367500; PC release January 15, 2016. | App 2054970; US release listing March 21, 2024. |
| What comes with it? | The older base adventure, prior DLC and Bitterblack Isle expansion content. | Base campaign; Norgan and Lost Rites require the 2026 expansion or a complete package. |
| Party system | Single-player with three AI pawns and online pawn sharing. | Single-player with your main pawn and up to two hired pawns; not official live co-op. |
| Vocation choice | Nine vocations advertised by the older Steam product. | A different vocation roster, including Mystic Spearhand, Trickster and Warfarer; use the vocation hub for unlocks. |
| Hardware footprint | Steam lists 20 GB of storage and 4 GB minimum RAM. Legacy OS listings are not a promise of current Steam-client support. | The current official PC requirements list Windows 11, 16 GB RAM and newer graphics hardware. |
| Which Dark Arisen region? | Bitterblack Isle. | Norgan plus Lost Rites challenges on the base-game map. |
Which one to play
Choose the older Dark Arisen if you specifically want Bitterblack Isle or the first game's vocation lineup. Its lower listed hardware requirements also make it a separate option for an older PC; check present operating-system and store-client support before buying.
Choose DD2 if you want the sequel's campaign and current vocation systems. For Norgan, a new Steam buyer should compare the $49.99 complete package rather than pay $39.99 plus $29.99 separately. Existing DD2 owners can buy just the expansion.
You do not need an ownership licence for the first game to buy or launch the sequel. Neither product upgrades the other one's save data or grants its expansion automatically. Check the app ID as well as the subtitle, because the original PC edition displays 2016, not the first console edition's 2013 date.
Questions
Is Dragon's Dogma 2 the same as Dark Arisen?
No. The first game's expanded edition launched on consoles in 2013 and PC in 2016. The sequel is the 2024 game with a separate 2026 expansion using the same subtitle.
Can I play the first game on PC?
Yes. The Steam PC product is Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, app 367500, dated January 15, 2016. It is not the Dragon's Dogma 2 expansion.