Dragon Quest Builders

Players build camps out of blocks; the camp gains levels based on how much it has been built up. The player can also build a selection of rooms that contribute to the level of the base. There is also a day/night cycle, with stronger monsters appearing at night. Monsters such as Slime and Dragon from the original Dragon Quest appear in the game. The player has a health bar, and must eat food over time, similar to Minecraft.{{cite web|last1=McWhertor|first1=Michael|title=First Dragon Quest Builders screenshots show off Square Enix's Minecraft-like RPG|url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/7/22/9015417/dragon-quest-builders-screenshots|website=Polygon|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=December 18, 2017|date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814215806/https://www.polygon.com/2015/7/22/9015417/dragon-quest-builders-screenshots|archive-date=August 14, 2017|url-status=live}}

The game is set in Alefgard, the world of the original Dragon Quest. The game is based on a parallel ending of Dragon Quest: before the final battle, the hero accepted the evil Dragonlord's suggestion - each rules a half of the world. The deal turned out to be a trap, leading to the hero's defeat and allowing the land to be dominated by monsters.{{cite web | url = http://www.4gamer.net/games/310/G031098/20150729014/ | script-title = ja:「ドラゴンクエスト新作発表会」詳報。「ドラゴンクエストXI 過ぎ去りし時を求めて」をはじめとする新作の数々を堀井雄二氏が解説 | last = Shinchitsujo | first = Tairiku | website = 4gamer.net | date = July 29, 2015 | access-date = July 31, 2015 | language = ja | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150731185034/http://www.4gamer.net/games/310/G031098/20150729014/ | archive-date = July 31, 2015 | url-status = live }} With time passing by, a new builder (the player character) appears to revive the desolate world for the next hero. Players gather "material" from all over the world in order to rebuild the land of Alefgard from scratch.{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/07/09/dragon-quest-builders-is-set-in-the-first-dragon-quest-game-with-blocks/|title=Dragon Quest Builders Is Set In The First Dragon Quest Game With Blocks|date=July 9, 2015|access-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723032011/http://www.siliconera.com/2015/07/09/dragon-quest-builders-is-set-in-the-first-dragon-quest-game-with-blocks/|archive-date=July 23, 2015|url-status=live}}

The game designers wanted to make an open sandbox game combined with an RPG's purposeful story-driven plot, and since Dragon Quest has always been known for its "pick up and play" accessibility it seemed like the right combination.{{cite web|url= https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/interview-when-dragon-quest-met-minecraft/amp/|access-date=May 4, 2020|title=Interview: When Dragon Quest met Minecraft|date=May 1, 2016|author=MCV Staff|publisher=MCV/Develop}} The original Dragon Quest video game's plot was chosen for its relative simplicity compared to later titles in the series to make the game as accessible as possible to new players.{{cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/how-the-dragon-quest-builders-team-is-crafting-a-new-kind-of-rpg|publisher=US Gamer|access-date=May 4, 2020|date=September 7, 2016|title=How the Dragon Quest Builders Team is Crafting a New Kind Of RPG|last=Parish|first=Jeremy|archive-date=September 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910192437/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/how-the-dragon-quest-builders-team-is-crafting-a-new-kind-of-rpg|url-status=dead}}

Release in the west on the PlayStation Vita was chosen so that whether players had busy lives or had time to dedicate to the game, they could enjoy the title. Producer Noriyoshi Fujimoto has said that Sony Interactive Entertainment's multiplatform PhyreEngine was chosen for ease of development across multiple PlayStation consoles.{{cite magazine|last1=Sugihara|first1=Takahiro|title=30周年のアニバーサリーイヤーに向け、期待が高まる作品ばかり！|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201507/29084506.html|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=GzBrain|access-date=December 18, 2017|language=ja|date=July 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811000833/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201507/29084506.html|archive-date=August 11, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2016/06/17/noriyoshi-fujimoto-on-dragon-quest-builders-and-how-it-came-about/#15531ae31d3c |title=Noriyoshi Fujimoto On 'Dragon Quest Builders' And How It Came About |work=Forbes |date=June 17, 2016 |access-date=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017181712/https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2016/06/17/noriyoshi-fujimoto-on-dragon-quest-builders-and-how-it-came-about/#15531ae31d3c |archive-date=October 17, 2017 |url-status=live }} Protagonists were designed by Akira Toriyama, with Etrian Odyssey creator Kazuya Niinou serving as the game's director.{{cite web|title=Dragon Quest Builders Directed By Etrian Odyssey Creator|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/07/21/dragon-quest-builders-directed-by-etrian-odyssey-creator/|website=Siliconera|publisher=Curse|access-date=December 18, 2017|date=July 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802162841/http://www.siliconera.com/2015/07/21/dragon-quest-builders-directed-by-etrian-odyssey-creator/|archive-date=August 2, 2018|url-status=live}} Part of the release was to "test the waters" for a big game release like Dragon Quest XI.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/square-enix-testing-the-waters-for-dragon-quest-11/1100-6440937/|publisher=GameSpot|access-date=April 24, 2020|date=June 15, 2016|last=Corriea|first=Alexa Ray|title= Square Enix Testing the Waters for Dragon Quest 11 Localization}}

‘’Builders’’ was initially announced in July 2015 to be under development for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.{{cite magazine|title=『ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ アレフガルドを復活せよ』今冬発売決定！ ブロックで世界を創る"ブロックメイクRPG"|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201507/08082703.html|magazine=Famitsu|publisher=GzBrain|access-date=December 18, 2017|language=ja|date=July 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519001829/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201507/08082703.html|archive-date=May 19, 2019|url-status=live}} Media speculation from when the game was first announced was that Dragon Quest Builders would be a Dragon Quest version of Minecraft, and IGN compared the game to Dark Cloud (2000).{{cite web|title=ドラクエ版マイクラ？『ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ』PS3/PS4/PSVitaで発売決定|url=http://weekly.ascii.jp/elem/000/000/354/354401/|website=Weekly ASCII|publisher=Kadokawa Corporation|access-date=December 18, 2017|language=ja|date=July 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051908/http://weekly.ascii.jp/elem/000/000/354/354401/|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=アレフガルドをブロックで作るRPG「ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ」 PS向けに今冬発売|url=http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1507/08/news114.html|website=ITmedia NEWS|access-date=December 18, 2017|language=ja|date=July 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802162636/http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1507/08/news114.html|archive-date=August 2, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Dragon Quest Builders: quando il mattone è l'investimento più sicuro|url=http://it.ign.com/dragon-quest-builders-ps4/115587/preview/dragon-quest-builders-quando-il-mattone-e-linvestimento-piu|website=IGN|date=6 September 2016|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053515/http://it.ign.com/dragon-quest-builders-ps4/115587/preview/dragon-quest-builders-quando-il-mattone-e-linvestimento-piu|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}}

The game was released in Japan on January 28, 2016. PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita versions were released in North America, Europe, and Australia in October 2016.{{cite web|last1=Seto|first1=Dan|title=Dragon Quest Builders Confirmed for North America on PS4, PS Vita|url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2016/05/27/dragon-quest-builders-confirmed-for-north-america-on-ps4-ps-vita/|website=PlayStation.Blog|date=May 27, 2016|publisher=Sony Interactive Entertainment America|access-date=May 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528143841/http://blog.us.playstation.com/2016/05/27/dragon-quest-builders-confirmed-for-north-america-on-ps4-ps-vita/|archive-date=May 28, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web | url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2015/09/15/tgs-2015-dragon-quest-builders-coming-in-january-for-japan | title=TGS 2015: Dragon Quest Builders Coming in January for Japan | work=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | first=Daniel | last=Krupa | date=September 15, 2015 | access-date=September 15, 2015}} An "Ultimate Hit" version was released in Japan on December 1, 2016.{{cite web|title=ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ アレフガルドを復活せよ|url=http://www.square-enix.co.jp/uh/title/pljm-80209.html|website=Square-Enix|access-date=December 18, 2017|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503144502/http://www.square-enix.co.jp/uh/title/pljm-80209.html|archive-date=May 3, 2017|url-status=live}} It was also released for the Nintendo Switch in North America and PAL territories on February 9, 2018,{{cite web|last1=Whitehead|first1=Thomas|title=Dragon Quest Builders Digs Into the Switch on 9th February|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/12/dragon_quest_builders_digs_into_the_switch_on_9th_february|website=Nintendo Life|publisher=Gamer Network|date=December 18, 2017|access-date=December 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221081047/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/12/dragon_quest_builders_digs_into_the_switch_on_9th_february|archive-date=December 21, 2017|url-status=live}} and in Japan on March 1, 2018.{{cite web|title=Dragon Quest Builders for Switch launches March 1 in Japan, demo launches February 1|url=https://gematsu.com/2017/12/dragon-quest-builders-switch-launches-march-1-japan-demo-launches-february-1|website=Gematsu|date=December 16, 2017|access-date=December 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225140634/https://gematsu.com/2017/12/dragon-quest-builders-switch-launches-march-1-japan-demo-launches-february-1|archive-date=February 25, 2018|url-status=live}} Nintendo handled the publishing of the game on the Switch in the Western territories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/dragon-quest-builders-switch/|title=Dragon Quest Builders for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details|website=www.nintendo.com|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322171848/https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/dragon-quest-builders-switch/|archive-date=March 22, 2020|url-status=live}} It was released on PC on February 13, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/dragon-quest-builders-finally-coming-to-pc|title=Dragon Quest Builders Finally Coming to PC|last=Dinsdale|first=Ryan|date=January 30, 2024|access-date=January 31, 2024}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = PS4: 83/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dragon-quest-builders/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Dragon Quest Builders for PlayStation 4 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=September 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005220010/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/dragon-quest-builders |archive-date=October 5, 2018 |url-status=live }}
NS: 81/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dragon-quest-builders/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Dragon Quest Builders for Switch Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Red Ventures |access-date=September 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007085117/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/dragon-quest-builders |archive-date=October 7, 2018 |url-status=live }}

| Fam = 36/40

| GSpot = 8/10

| IGN = 8.9/10

| TA = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2022/05/31/dragon-quest-builders-mobile-review-controller-support-icloud-save-optimization-heat-performance-frame-rate-vs-ps4-switch-vita/ |title='Dragon Quest Builders' Mobile Review – Great on iPhone, Not as good on iPad |last=Madnani |first=Mikhail |date=May 31, 2022 |website=TouchArcade |access-date=June 3, 2022}}

}}

Famitsu{{'s}} panel of four reviewers all rated it a 9, giving the game an overall rating of 36 out of 40.{{cite web|url=http://gematsu.com/2016/01/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1416|title=Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1416 - Gematsu|date=January 19, 2016|access-date=January 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130053156/http://gematsu.com/2016/01/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1416|archive-date=January 30, 2016|url-status=live}} IGN awarded it 8.9 out of 10, saying "Dragon Quest Builders admirably mixes the series' RPG traditions with Minecraft."{{cite web|last1=Smith|first1=Rob|title=Dragon Quest Builders Review|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2016/10/08/dragon-quest-builders-review|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|access-date=December 18, 2017|date=October 7, 2016}} GameSpot awarded it 8.0 out of 10, saying "The excellence of Dragon Quest Builders illustrates the versatility of this 30-year-old franchise as much as it speaks to the engrossing appeal of Minecraft-inspired creation."{{cite web|last1=Concepcion|first1=Miguel|title=Dragon Quest Builders Review|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dragon-quest-builders-review/1900-6416573/|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=December 18, 2017|date=November 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125055436/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dragon-quest-builders-review/1900-6416573/|archive-date=November 25, 2016|url-status=live}} Kotaku listed it as one of 2016's top ten games, describing it as "an incredible RPG more akin to Actraiser" and "way better than Minecraft could ever be."{{cite web|title=Jason Schreier's Top 10 Games Of 2016|url=https://kotaku.com/jason-schreiers-top-10-games-of-2016-1790452286|website=Kotaku|date=24 December 2016|access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052127/https://kotaku.com/jason-schreiers-top-10-games-of-2016-1790452286|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=live}} During 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".{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2017&idGame=1502 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Dragon Quest Builders |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=30 November 2023}}

The game sold over half a million copies in the first few days of its release. It sold 700,000 copies in Japan across all three platforms.{{cite web|author1=Sato|title=Dragon Quest Builders Surpasses 700,000 Units In Total Sales|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2016/05/30/dragon-quest-builders-surpasses-700000-units-total-sales/|website=Siliconera|publisher=Curse|access-date=December 18, 2017|date=May 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520161545/http://www.siliconera.com/2016/05/30/dragon-quest-builders-surpasses-700000-units-total-sales/|archive-date=May 20, 2017|url-status=live}} In November 2016, worldwide sales surpassed 1.1 million copies.{{cite web|title=PS4/PS3/PS Vita「ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ アレフガルドを復活せよ」が世界販売本数110万本を達成！一部特典アイテムが無料配信|url=https://www.gamer.ne.jp/news/201612010014/|website=Gamer|publisher=ixll|access-date=December 18, 2017|language=ja|date=December 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204171552/http://www.gamer.ne.jp/news/201612010014/|archive-date=February 4, 2017|url-status=live}}

{{Clear}}

A sequel, Dragon Quest Builders 2, was released for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in Japan on December 20, 2018, and worldwide on July 12, 2019.{{cite web|last1=McWhertor|first1=Michael|title=Dragon Quest Builders 2 coming to PS4, Nintendo Switch|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/6/16103996/dragon-quest-builders-2-announced-ps4-nintendo-switch-square-enix|website=Polygon|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=December 18, 2017|date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125200035/https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/6/16103996/dragon-quest-builders-2-announced-ps4-nintendo-switch-square-enix|archive-date=November 25, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Dragon Quest Builders 2 coming west in 2019 |url=https://gematsu.com/2018/10/dragon-quest-builders-2-coming-west-in-2019 |website=Gematsu |date=October 30, 2018 |access-date=16 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116131458/https://gematsu.com/2018/10/dragon-quest-builders-2-coming-west-in-2019 |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Lane |first1=Gavin |title=Battle And Build When Dragon Quest Builders 2 Launches On Switch This July |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/02/battle_and_build_when_dragon_quest_builders_2_launches_on_switch_this_july |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=14 February 2019 |ref=dpb2-switchrel |date=14 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215020401/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/02/battle_and_build_when_dragon_quest_builders_2_launches_on_switch_this_july |archive-date=February 15, 2019 |url-status=live }} It includes cooperative gameplay for up to four players, and had developmental assistance from Koei Tecmo's studio Omega Force.{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Alistair |title=Dragon Quest Builders 2 Is Set To Come Out On December 20, 2018 In Japan |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2018/08/29/dragon-quest-builders-2-is-set-to-come-out-on-december-20-2018-in-japan/ |website=Siliconera |date=August 29, 2018 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829173539/http://www.siliconera.com/2018/08/29/dragon-quest-builders-2-is-set-to-come-out-on-december-20-2018-in-japan/ |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://dragonquest.square-enix-games.com/builders/us/}}

{{Dragon Quest series}}

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Category:2016 video games

Builders

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Category:Open-world video games

Category:PhyreEngine games

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Category:Single-player video games

Category:Square Enix franchises

Category:Video games developed in Japan

Category:Video games scored by Koichi Sugiyama

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