Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons

 Xbox Series X
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 6 Ratings

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  • Summary: It's the year 199X, and nuclear war has devastated New York City leaving its citizens to fight for survival as riots and crime engulf the streets. The city has been overtaken by criminal gangs who terrorize its ruins as they fight for total dominance. Unwilling to endure these conditions anyIt's the year 199X, and nuclear war has devastated New York City leaving its citizens to fight for survival as riots and crime engulf the streets. The city has been overtaken by criminal gangs who terrorize its ruins as they fight for total dominance. Unwilling to endure these conditions any longer, young Billy and Jimmy Lee take it upon themselves to drive the gangs out of their city.

    Tag in and out as the classic duo Billy and Jimmy, switch it up with Marian and Uncle Matin, or experiment with 9 additional unlockable characters, each with their own special moves and unique playstyles. With 2 player local co-op, the action quadruples as you and a friend clean up the mean streets.    … Expand
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Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons - Gameplay Announcement Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Windows Central
    Jul 27, 2023
    90
    As a longtime fan of beat ‘em ups, I absolutely adored Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons. The combat system is extremely in-depth and addictive, the huge roster of characters is fun to play with and the roguelike elements massively improve the replay value. I highly recommend this game if you’re a fan of Double Dragon or beat ‘em ups in general as this is one of the best examples of the genre.
  2. Xbox Tavern
    Jul 28, 2023
    88
    Double Dragon Gaiden: ROTD is a perfect addition to the series keeping what made the originals memorable and enhancing the experience without going fully 3D. The fast-paced action and different play move sets keeps things fresh as well as playing the stages in a different order to enjoy new challenges. I appreciate the effort that has gone into keeping the game fresh with the rogue-lite elements, the unlockables in the shop and the variety of characters you can play as I think this is well worth picking up.
  3. Gamers' Temple
    Aug 14, 2023
    85
    Double Dragon Gaiden is a great game, but it just needs some fine-tuning here and there and it really needs an online co-op option. Just watching the game through trailers, I didn’t think that much of it, but once I actually played it, the game blew me away with how good it is. Thanks to the rogue-lite elements, this game can last for quite a while. There is a lot of variety in its gameplay and just enough in its overall difficulty for each playthrough. Overall, Double Dragon Gaiden is a fantastic beat’em up and one that I highly recommend.
  4. Worth Playing
    Jul 27, 2023
    80
    Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a fun little beat-'em-up that scratches the itch of obliterating a ton of foes at once. The roguelike elements and multiplayer provide some nice added value, but unfortunately, it quickly ends up feeling pretty repetitive. It doesn't quite match the absurd polish of something like Streets of Rage 4, but it manages to be a darn fun time nonetheless.
  5. SECTOR.sk
    Jul 27, 2023
    80
    Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons brings some innovations that nicely revitalize the gameplay and offer a new experience, but the game somewhat loses its essence from the well-known series. It provides replayability, but it is still relatively short.
  6. Gamer Escape
    Jul 28, 2023
    70
    Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons isn’t dragged down by the classic problem of doing too many things at once and not succeeding at any of them. Instead, we’re left with a solid experience that can stand alongside the best in the series while also being a good entry point for those who might want a less demanding roguelike in their lives. Having accessible entry points into new genres is good. Having fun multiplayer experiences are even better. Don’t ignore Rise of the Dragons, because there are some classic-laced-with-modern shenanigans here that are worth checking out.
  7. GamingBolt
    Jul 27, 2023
    60
    It’s not the worst beat ‘em up game you could spend your time on. But it’s most definitely not the best, either.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 2 out of 6
  1. NU668
    Aug 31, 2023
    10
    It's a very interesting game with a strong sense of impact. I love playing with my good friends and reminiscing about our childhood
  2. laoyu2100
    Aug 31, 2023
    10
    It sounds like your initial hesitation about the roguelike elements in the game turned into a positive experience once you gave it a try. It'sIt sounds like your initial hesitation about the roguelike elements in the game turned into a positive experience once you gave it a try. It's great to hear that you had a blast playing the game! The challenging nature of the final boss level adding a lot to deal with can indeed be frustrating yet incredibly satisfying when you manage to overcome it.

    Your observation about the fighting mechanics and the wish for more safe options like invincibility frames during grappling is noted. Feedback like this can be valuable for both players and developers to understand how to enhance the gameplay experience.

    Your recommendation to give the game a try is valuable for others who might be considering playing it. Each player's experience can vary, but your positive outlook on the game and its fun mechanics can inspire others to explore and enjoy it as well.    … Expand
  4. LOBEI
    Aug 4, 2023
    9
    Really fun game. Remember you have to cancel your attacks recovery into run or jumps in order to have good mobility. Try to get as muchReally fun game. Remember you have to cancel your attacks recovery into run or jumps in order to have good mobility. Try to get as much special KOs and crowd controls too.… Expand
  5. Jt0429
    Aug 3, 2023
    6
    Good-
    Co-op gameplay; Upgradeable stats; Characters with distinct abilities.
    Bad- Bland visual design; Somewhat hollow gameplay compared    Good-
    Co-op gameplay; Upgradeable stats; Characters with distinct abilities.

    Bad-
    Bland visual design; Somewhat hollow gameplay compared to modern genre offerings; Very short campaign; Sluggish movement speed.

    Thoughts-
    At the end of the day, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons does what it sets out to do – provide a capable couch co-op beat ‘em up for fans of the classic NES and SNES titles within the franchise. Unfortunately for Gaiden, it exists in a world where we have Fight ‘N Rage, River City Girls, and Streets of Rage 4. And while most beat ‘em ups are rather short, Gaiden manages to be the shortest one yet. However, there is a certain replay appeal available here as the boss characters and difficulty circumstances in each of the four gangs’ territories change depending on the order in which you tackle them. While there is certainly fun to be had here, especially if you have a friend to enjoy co-op with, Gaiden is neither the best nor the worst experience you can find in the genre.    … Expand
  6. Nilderius
    Aug 2, 2023
    0
    I made an account just to warn other players of playing this game, it's a dreadful experience you want to avoid at all costs.
  7. Mind_Flayer
    Aug 2, 2023
    0
    Don't waste your money in this game, it is a complete mess, slow movements no enemy variety, boring bosses, awful music and a mediocre pixelDon't waste your money in this game, it is a complete mess, slow movements no enemy variety, boring bosses, awful music and a mediocre pixel art. I have never regretted a purchase so much. This is not the Double Dragon game we deserved.… Expand

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Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Best Xbox Series X Game of 2023
42
#42 Most Discussed Xbox Series X Game of 2023