I tend to view the core Dragon Quest games as being like a donut. It might be glazed or have sprinkles, or perhaps be twisted into a knot, depending on where you buy it, but deep down, you know just what to anticipate when you take a bite. You expect a delightful fried dough treat, sweet, and usually topped with various goodies, and similarly with Dragon Quest, you anticipate a turn-based, grindy RPG, the iconic designs of Akira Toriyama, and the frustration of trying to beat smiling metal blobs. That familiarity feels comforting, and the changes feel exciting, simultaneously. Dragon Quest is like that, and even after almost 40 years, the most recent entries still feel like a DQ game. After immersing myself in the upcoming Dragoon Quest VII Reimagined, defeating slimes and resolving mysteries, this newest one appears to retain that same DQ appeal.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is the third version of Dragon Quest VII, the top-selling game in Japan, following the original 2001 PlayStation release just before the PS2, and the 3DS remake from the mid-2010s.
Wandering through the somber town of Wetlock, where my demo was set, I got a good look at Dragon Quest VII Reimagined’s new art style. After the sprite-based charm of the HD-2D Erdrick Trilogy remakes of Dragon Quests I & II, this new handcrafted style was quite a sight. Using actual materials as textures for the main characters’ clothing and gear, thanks to the very detailed puppets that were created and scanned, gives this version of DQVII, and Prince Kiefer’s wide chin, its own distinct vibe and feel.
Speaking with Reimagined’s producer, Takeshi Ichikawa, he said that this style change was made to better represent the unique proportions and style of the characters in Dragon Quest VII. “They’re shorter than the other main Dragon Quest characters, so we wanted to make use of that. We considered many visual styles that highlight the adorableness and cuteness of these short characters.”
Putting aside my love for sprite-based games, Reimagined’s new style is impressive, but for me at least, it needed some getting used to, and I’m not entirely convinced by it yet. As you’d expect from a DQ game, Akira Toriyama’s unique art is expertly rendered in this new way, but using real-world materials like the weave of the Bag O’ Laughs enemy, or more pronounced scales, felt… strange? It’s hard to explain, but it’s that “off” feeling when you see a more realistic version of a favorite cartoon or anime character, like seeing actual hair strands on Goku. Maybe it’s not that weird, but you understand my point.
I also noticed that the colors seemed somewhat muted compared to what I expect from these games and Toriyama’s Dragon Quest artwork. The green of the hero’s hat and outfit, which I’m used to seeing as a vibrant spring-time green, looked more like a cloak color – like something a sneaky elfish ranger would wear to blend in. I’m also a little disappointed that we’re missing party members changing their appearance based on their equipped vocation, which was in the 3DS version, but making that many outfits for the puppets and then scanning them in would have taken a lot of time, so I’m willing to overlook that.
Trimming the Fat
Square has mentioned that, for Reimagined, the team has removed non-essential storylines and content, including Grondal, El Ciclo, Providence, and the Casino, to make the experience more streamlined and accessible. The team has focused particularly on the opening hours, which, from my experience, really drag on, with the first slime encounter not happening until almost three hours in. This was a barrier that even made Ichikawa-san give up on the game when he played it as a child. Thankfully, he promises that you will be fighting your first monster within an hour of starting the game this time.
I understand that terms like “streamlining” or “more accessible” – along with cut content – might sound off-putting to some, or even make them worry that Reimagined will be a “diet” version of Dragon Quest VII. The small part I got to try doesn’t give me much insight into how the cut and adjusted narrative content affects things. From a gameplay perspective, at least, Reimagined feels like a Dragon Quest game should, with the new mechanics and features feeling right at home.
Get a Second Job
Dragon Quest VII is in the small group of series, along with Dragon Quests VI, IX, and III, that has a vocation system where you can switch jobs and, as a result, your party members’ abilities. Reimagined expands on this with Moonlighting, letting each character have two jobs, with abilities to choose from and level up, reminding me of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age. I love job systems, and even though many jobs were locked and hidden in the part I played, I could have spent all my time experimenting with different role combinations and seeing how they worked together. I also liked that Reimagined clearly shows the requirements to unlock new vocations, so I can really aim for the ones I want when Reimagined is released!
After fights, I earned vocation points that leveled up the vocations I had equipped. Reimagined seems to use the 3DS version’s school of vocations, as my characters could only use skills from their equipped jobs. Vocations also have “Perks”—special actions they can take when specific criteria are met, like a Limit Break. These can be big attacks, heals, or buffs that help you win tough boss fights, which Dragon Quest games always have.
Finding Fragments
I was most interested in checking out and seeing how this new version handled the magical fragments, arguably the most defining mechanic of this seventh game. These artifacts, which you collect and put together like LEGO bricks to reveal new locations, can be hard to find. The previous 3DS remake had a finder on the bottom screen that alerted you when one was nearby, reducing the frustration of tracking them down, so I was curious how this new game would handle it.
Now, fragments appear on your minimap. When you collect them, they appear grayed out, with a support system with the strange Caretaker and adjusted locations for the tablets to make the hunt easier. I hope there is still some challenge in finding fragments in the final version. I don’t need to feel like Indiana Jones uncovering a lost artifact, but I don’t want to feel like a toddler picking a square from circles and triangles either.
Tweaked for You
There were other useful tweaks and additions that helped me find missing townsfolk around Wetlock. I found Goddess statues where I could save and heal, making them great places to level up and grind jobs. Reimagined includes help options from the HD-2D remakes, like fully healing when a character levels up and adjustable difficulty settings, to bring this story into the modern era with modern expectations. One thing Ichikawa-san and the team couldn’t figure out was how to use the lizard-gecko creature, never getting past early discussions. But our favorite little critter has returned to the character art for the hero after being absent from the 3DS release.
When Dragon Quest VII came to the West in 2001, a year after the PlayStation 2, its old sprites on 3D backgrounds were up against Final Fantasy X’s RPG leap that year. The 3DS version had a similar release window in the States, coming to the old handheld just six months before the Switch started taking over the world with Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Super Mario Odyssey, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which redefined handheld gaming. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is the first time this story has been told knowing it’s already outdated on arrival in the West.
After my 45 minutes, I had solved the mystery of Wetlock’s missing people, climbed a tower to avoid a flood, and defeated the monster behind it. Just a typical day for a Dragon Quest hero and friends. While many things about Dragon Quest VII Reimagined are still unknown, the qualities and personalities that have kept this series going for almost 40 years are still there. I’m excited to see everything this new version offers and how the removed and added story parts affect the overall campaign, and what the new gameplay mechanics add to the Dragon Quest DNA. 2026 might be the year that the world sees why Dragon Quest VII is the top-selling game in Japan, finally giving it a chance to shine.
