Dragon Quest Builders is a 2016 game created by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita. It was later made available on the Nintendo Switch in 2018, Android and iOS devices in 2022, and Microsoft Windows in 2024.
The game takes place in Alefgard, the world from the original Dragon Quest video game. Players control a character called the builder, whose goal is to rebuild the world after it was destroyed. The game uses a simple, block-like visual style and includes activities such as collecting materials and building structures, similar to games like Minecraft. A follow-up game, Dragon Quest Builders 2, was released in 2018.
Gameplay
Players create towns using blocks; the town earns levels as it grows larger. Players can also build specific rooms that help increase the base's level. The game includes a day and night cycle, with stronger monsters appearing during the night. Monsters like Slime and Dragon from the original Dragon Quest are in the game. The player has a health bar and must eat food regularly, similar to how it works in Minecraft.
Plot
The game takes place in Alefgard, the world from the original Dragon Quest. It follows a different ending of Dragon Quest, where the hero agrees to a deal with the evil Dragonlord before the final battle. According to the deal, the hero and the Dragonlord each rule half of the world. However, the deal was actually a trap, causing the hero to lose and allowing monsters to take control of the land. Over time, a new character, called the builder, appears to restore the ruined world in preparation for the next hero. Players collect resources from across Alefgard to rebuild the land from the beginning.
Development
Game designers aimed to create a game that combines open exploration with a story-driven plot, similar to role-playing games (RPGs). Since Dragon Quest is known for being easy to start playing, this combination seemed suitable. The original Dragon Quest video game's story was selected because it is simpler than later games in the series, making it easier for new players to enjoy.
The game was released on the PlayStation Vita in the West so players could play it whether they had a lot of free time or only a little. Producer Noriyoshi Fujimoto explained that Sony Interactive Entertainment's PhyreEngine software was chosen because it makes development easier across different PlayStation consoles. Akira Toriyama designed the game's main characters, and Kazuya Niinou, the creator of Etrian Odyssey, directed the game. This release was part of an effort to see how players would react to a major game like Dragon Quest XI.
Release
The game "Builders" was first announced in July 2015. It was being developed for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita. Some people guessed that Dragon Quest Builders would be similar to Minecraft, and IGN compared it to a game called Dark Cloud from 2000.
The game was released in Japan on January 28, 2016. Versions for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita were released in North America, Europe, and Australia in October 2016. A special version called "Ultimate Hit" came out in Japan on December 1, 2016. It was later released for the Nintendo Switch in North America and PAL regions on February 9, 2018, and in Japan on March 1, 2018. Nintendo was responsible for publishing the game on the Switch in Western regions. The game was finally released for PC on February 13, 2024.
Reception
Famitsu's group of four reviewers each gave the game a score of 9, resulting in a total score of 36 out of 40. IGN gave the game a score of 8.9 out of 10, stating that "Dragon Quest Builders combines the series' RPG elements with Minecraft." GameSpot awarded it 8.0 out of 10, noting that "the quality of Dragon Quest Builders shows how adaptable this 30-year-old series is, as well as how enjoyable a Minecraft-style creation can be." Kotaku included the game in its list of the top ten games of 2016, describing it as "an amazing RPG similar to Actraiser" and "much better than Minecraft." At the 20th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Dragon Quest Builders for "Handheld Game of the Year" and "Family Game of the Year."
The game sold more than 500,000 copies in the first few days after its release. It sold 700,000 copies in Japan across all three platforms. In November 2016, worldwide sales exceeded 1.1 million copies.
Sequel
A follow-up game called Dragon Quest Builders 2 was available on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in Japan on December 20, 2018, and in other countries on July 12, 2019. The game allows up to four players to work together, and the Koei Tecmo studio Omega Force helped with its development.