Dragon Quest Builders Reviews
While I certainly respect Minecraft, I prefer Dragon Quest Builders. It doesn’t offer the sheer depth that Minecraft does, of course, and there will be no “educational edition” of the game being sold into schools, as there is with Minecraft. What it is, however, is a down-to-earth and genuinely entertaining little game that shares far, far more in common with its JRPG roots than even the game itself wants to admit. And as a long-suffering Dragon Quest fan, that makes Builders special indeed.
Dragon Quest Builders is an excellent example of a game that can take after something more popular but retain its own personality. There's no mistaking the Minecraft lineage, but there's just as much Dragon Quest in Dragon Quest Builder's DNA as there is Minecraft. It's charming, it's funny, it's accessible, it's easy to play, and it has enough of its own strengths to be worth playing even for die-hard Minecraft fans. Only some nagging flaws and annoying camera issues drag it down slightly, but it's still worth playing. For Dragon Quest fans, it's a great introduction to the genre, and even for those who aren't, it offers a structure and sheer playability that many Minecraft clones don't.
It is sandbox gaming on rails, giving players just enough freedom to deserve its genre placement without exposing them to an overwhelming array of resources and recipes. Gating some content behind the game’s narrative progression may irritate those with substantial genre experience. But the system provides a streamlined sandbox experience for those of us with less time; a design philosophy that clearly sets Dragon Quest Builders apart from the competition.
One of the most surprising gems of the year. Every part of Dragon Quest Builders is a real joy, filled with the sort of addictive gameplay that just seems to make the hours disappear. While the hardcore Minecraft fans may consider this as sacrilege, this feels superior in many ways. The Dragon Quest style, the RPG elements, and the entertaining story, all elevate it over its progenitor. Absolutely superb.
Marrying the best ideas from 'Minecraft' with the structure and charm of 'Dragon Quest', 'Builders' had its work cut out for it from the start. The team behind it, however, have gone the extra mile in developing a game that feels wholly unique and endlessly endearing. It's by no means perfect, and has ideas that could stand to be improved upon when the game eventually gets a sequel, but what could've ended up as a cynical cash in has instead wound up as one of 2016's most interesting games.
Dragon Quest Builders is not your typical Minecraft clone. It stands on it's own as an enjoyable Dragon Quest adventure that offers enough to scratch the building and battling itch.
Dragon Quest Builders is a great action RPG at its core mixed with the world building and exploration aspects of Minecraft. It is an excellent spin-off from the Dragon Quest series that has an easy learning curve and should be a fun experience for everyone.
Solid gameplay and simple storytelling give players a reason to keep coming back, simply put, Dragon Quest Builders is a game for those that enjoy structured creative freedom, even if that is an oxymoron.
Dragon Quest Builders as a package is all kinds of fun.
This version of Dragon Quest Builders offers the same funny and creative experience, but now you can even explore, build or fight in the world of Alefgard wherever you want thanks the portable mode offered by Nintendo Switch, which adds a great value to the overall experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It is a solid experience faithful to the Dragon Quest franchise that suffers only from very minor gripes with the gameplay and comes highly recommended for anyone who sees in there something that tickles their fancy.
A huge component missing from this game was multiplayer. Granted, this game benefited from focusing on a single player campaign, It can’t help but be felt like a major part of this game is missing by not letting 2 people work together to create something. One of the major reasons Minecraft is so successful is that anything is possible since people can work together to create anything they can think of. It seems like for now Square-Enix is content with dabbling in the genre, rather than redefining it.
Dragon Quest Builders is a real pleasure to play. It understands exactly what players enjoy most about the genre and executes it expertly and confidently. It's an incredibly approachable game, with a control scheme and UI easy to get to grips with and suitably intuitive. Not only does Builders offer a package with the best elements of Animal Crossing and Minecraft but it structures it with a fun filled narrative, crucially giving players a real sense of purpose and satisfaction. Rather than building aimlessly and without reason, Square Enix has created something where the player's imagination really matters and is rewarded. The set of characters accompanying the protagonist are a real joy to have around and the world encapsulating them is one of real life and activity, with thrilling underlying dangers. In short, Dragon Quest Builders is really quite an exceptional game and the most fun you will have had on the PS4 in a long, long time.
Building and exploring are the most enjoyable parts in “Dragon Quest Builders” and developers create them wonderfully. I just wish controls were more convenient. Dragon Quest Builders is a Japanese version of “Minecraft” and entertaining players very well.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Its colour and ever-changing scenery is worth exploring.
Dragon Quest Builders is both a great Dragon Quest spin-off and an interesting take on the somewhat overplayed sandbox genre that’s only made better on Nintendo Switch. It’s a game that can be played for hours or in shorts bursts, so it’s perfect on a portable console. While the PlayStation Vita version certainly allowed portability too, the option to effortlessly swap between a TV and a handheld is perfect for this game. It admittedly doesn’t use many other features exclusive to the Switch, but the portability is benefit enough alone. Whether or not you’ve tackled Builders elsewhere, it’s found a perfect home on Switch.
All in all Dragon Quest Builders is an absolutely spectacular surprise. For me, it's a far superior experience to Minecraft. It’s topped off by having an end goal. Credits that roll and bosses that need defeating give the entire experience genuine purpose. I’ve had next to no interest in the sandbox building genre up to this point, however there’s enough structure here to compel me to push onwards. And onwards. And onwards. Someone save me.
Dragon Quest Builders is an excellent building sandbox woven together with JRPG threads. It allowed me to have fun with the gameplay in a genre I wouldn't usually care for.
The real question, though, is whether or not DQB is worth playing at all. It’s hard for me to recommend it to anyone who already enjoys these types of games, but if you’re just getting into city-builders and ARPGs, I suppose this would be a nice primer for what to expect from other titles. Even then, for the $60 USD pricepoint, I’d advise one to wait until it goes on sale.
No, Dragon Quest Builders won’t take everyone off the Minecraft building path, but it’s a great diversion for those that can’t get into that game, or simply want a role-playing hook that rewards them as they continue on quests and fight against the Dragonlord’s minions. It’s a fun follow-up to last year’s The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below, offering a unique take that will attract a different kind of audience. There’s nothing wrong with building on that.