The game’s story is split into four chapters, each featuring its own village in need of repairs. But most players will spend their time focused on blueprints and block placement. You’ll still swing a sword from time to time - monsters did take over pretty much everything after the DQ hero’s betrayal - and have the option to challenge the Dragonlord’s most powerful minions (they’re mostly dragons) if you really enjoy combat.

The game is best described as a sandbox RPG one that emphasizes building and improving small settlements over grinding through hundreds of combat encounters. And you’ll have to rebuild a few of Alefgard’s towns along the way. Now, it’s up to you, the recently resurrected (and apparently legendary) Builder, to teach humanity how to build again.

One where the hero joined forces with (and was betrayed by) the evil overlord, leaving the rest of Alefgard defenseless against the Dragonlord’s monsters. Now, Square Enix has the resurgent sandbox genre in its sights and Dragon Quest Builders seems like the perfect game to continue spreading the Dragon Quest gospel to new audiences.ĭragon Quest Builders is set hundreds of years after the events of the original Dragon Quest, which saw an unnamed hero defeat the Dragonlord and save Alefgard, but the game takes place in an alternate timeline. Last year, Dragon Quest Heroes reset our expectations for the musou genre. Sure, Dragon Quest VII hit Nintendo 3DS this year, providing a fix for those itching to get their hands on some new DQ, but most of Square Enix’s recent attention has been diverted to new takes on the series. It’s a strange time for Dragon Quest fans.

Dragon quest builders game informer