Highlights

  • Dragon's Dogma 2 offers a refreshing RPG experience with customizable characters and in-depth vocations system.
  • Despite Baldur's Gate 3 setting the gold standard, Dragon's Dogma 2 competes with its high level of customization.
  • Dragon's Dogma 2's character creator allows for extensive customization through sliders, creating unique player characters.

While RPGs have always been some of the biggest and best games around, the last year or so has seen the release of some of the most innovative, expansive RPGs of all time, some of which have proven to be truly groundbreaking for the genre as a whole. Though Bethesda's long-awaited Starfield was met with a middling reception, 2023 was filled with now-beloved RPG releases, from Sea of Stars and Octopath Traveler 2 to Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty DLC and, of course, Baldur's Gate 3. But while 2024 may not be able to match its predecessor in terms of sheer quantity, it's delivering more than its fair share of quality RPGs, and Dragon's Dogma 2 is no exception.

A sequel 12 years in the making, Dragon's Dogma 2 is more than worthy of inheriting its predecessor's cult legacy, with critics heralding it as one of the most refreshing RPGs in recent memory. That said, Dragon's Dogma 2 has some stiff competition in the RPG market, with last year's Baldur's Gate 3 essentially setting the gold standard for the industry. But Dragon's Dogma 2 isn't afraid of a little challenge, especially when it comes to the game's surprisingly in-depth character creator.

Dragon's Dogma 2 Gryphon
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Dragon's Dogma 2's Vocation Game is Missing a Staple RPG Class

Dragon's Dogma 2's vocations may cover some of the most popular fantasy archetypes, but there is one genre staple that seems to be missing.

Comparing Dragon's Dogma 2's Character Creator to Baldur's Gate 3's

Dragon's Dogma 2's Starting Classes Are More Limited Than Baldur's Gate 3's

Right out of the gate, Baldur's Gate 3's character creator puts a huge emphasis on classes. Possibly the biggest decision of the entire RPG, picking a class in Baldur's Gate 3 determines the type of playstyle that the player will have, as well as what weapons they'll have access to, and what abilities they can use. The importance of this decision is laid on thick at the start of Baldur's Gate 3, with it being the first step of the game's character creator, and arguably its most in-depth.

There are 12 starting classes in Baldur's Gate 3 , each with its own distinct set of abilities and traits that can be used as soon as the player starts the game, along with a unique set of proficiencies and a unique set of starting weapons and armor.

Dragon's Dogma 2, on the other hand, only gives players a total of four classes to start from. Called "Vocations," Dragon's Dogma 2's starting classes are designed to give players access to four basic roles, those being Mage, Thief, Archer, and Fighter. While these starting classes function similarly to Baldur's Gate 3's in that they determine what weapons and proficiencies the player character has going forward, they aren't nearly as complex, giving players access to just one unique ability each at the start.

Baldur's Gate 3 also places a heavy emphasis on the player character's chosen race and subrace, both of which can massively impact their character's place in the story, as well as grant them a unique bonus trait such as the ability to see in the dark. While Dragon's Dogma 2 lets players pick between a human or Beastren player character, it doesn't affect the game's main story at all or the player character's statistics.

Dragon's Dogma 2's Character Creator Has Far More Sliders Than Baldur's Gate 3's

But where Dragon's Dogma 2's character creator really shines is in its absurdly high level of customization. Players can customize practically every feature on their character's body and face, with each element having a whole host of designated sliders that determine color, width, height, size, shape, and position. From facial hair to leg muscles to individual eyebrows, Dragon's Dogma 2's character creator lets players customize the lot, which has already resulted in some impressive custom creations from fans across the world.

Baldur's Gate 3's level of customization is excellent in its own right, but it tends to rely on presets as opposed to letting players customize individual elements via sliders like Dragon's Dogma. That being said, Baldur's Gate 3 does feature a slew of unique customization options for each race and subrace in the game with plenty of room for players to experiment and make their own unique character.