Dragon Quest Builders Reviews

Dragon Quest Builders is ranked in the 91st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Dave Aubrey
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Feb 7, 2018

A lovely art style combines with some great crafting mechanics in this delightful RPG. It really is the best Minecraft-like I've seen, and with the charming Toriyama art style and more structured progression system, it's a game you can play for hours. Recommended for young gamers, Dragon Quest fans, and anyone looking for something new on Nintendo Switch.

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GameMAG
OkaRin
Top Critic
8 / 10
Feb 7, 2018

Dragon Quest Builders is almost perfect game for the Nintendo Switch. It's nice to play in a portable mode while traveling. It offers interesting and creative gameplay in the colorful world of Dragon Quest, remaining simple and understandable for all gamers.

Review in Russian | Read full review

8 / 10
Oct 10, 2016

Dragon Quest Builders gives the genre's heavy hitters a run for their money with its charm, character, and accessibility. A streamlined crafting experience that's always happy to provide you with purpose, it offers a delightful adventure that's packed with discovery. Even though a couple of wonky design choices prevent proceedings from being totally watertight, this is still one of the most downright addictive titles available on the PS4.

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Oct 5, 2016

Square Enix takes a JRPG classic fuses it with elements of Minecraft in Dragon Quest Builders, creating a unique spin on the genre that enthralls even when it stumbles.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 20, 2016

Square Enix wanted more than just a Minecraft clone with Dragon Quest art. It is a Minecraft clone with Dragon Quest art, most definitely, but it’s also got a little extra magic all its own.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 12, 2024

Dragon Quest Builders is a crafting game that's a joy to play even all these years later, and it runs brilliantly on both PC and Steam Deck.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 7, 2018

Dragon Quest Builders is quite simply a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch and a brilliant entrée before the sequel releases this year.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 7, 2016

Relaxing and compelling, with Dragon Quest Builders if you’ve struggled to get into the genre with building games in the past this might just be the game that changes your mind.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 7, 2018

Interesting fot hose who are looking for a deep RPG and for the ones that just want to play a minecraft like game. Dragon Quest Builders is a well rounded game that may fall too repetitive as it biggest flaw.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10
Feb 19, 2018

It's hard not to be charmed by Dragon Quest Builders. The team at Square Enix have managed to improve upon the concept of a crafting-focused sandbox game simply by adding in a touch of direction and personality. Players are still able to tear down and rebuild the world as they see fit, but the addition of townspeople and objectives makes Builders feel like a much more robust experience than similar games that came before it, even if it does at times feel a little clumsy.

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Ollie Barder
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Feb 13, 2024

Overall, this is a good PC port of the first Dragon Quest Builders but has some weird design changes taken from the second game that take away from what originally made this game so special. If you have no other option than to pick up the PC version, you will definitely enjoy yourself, but it’s sadly not as good as the PlayStation 4 and Switch versions.

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8 / 10
Feb 7, 2018

Whether you want to focus on completing assignments or build with no specific purpose, the game is feature-rich enough to suck up untold hours, even if this happens to be your first Dragon Quest experience.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 4, 2016

Dragon Quest Builders is a great alternative for people who want more structure from a Minecraft-style experience – and plenty of structures to build

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Nov 11, 2016
Dragon Quest Builders - Easy Allies Review video thumbnail
Oct 4, 2016

Combat could be better, but Dragon Quest Builders combines RPG structure and freeform creativity to great effect. It's Minecraft for people who hate Minecraft.

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Metro GameCentral
Top Critic
8 / 10
Oct 14, 2016

A surprisingly successful mash-up between two completely different franchises, whose quiet charms offer a welcome alternative to incessant action and overbearing storytelling.

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8.3 / 10.0
Jan 13, 2018

Dragon Quest Builders combines action adventures with a minecraft-like sandbox with ease and manages to stand on its own feet. A funny, creative adventure for everybody that is sometimes a bit too simple but never gets boring.

Review in German | Read full review

83 / 100
Feb 7, 2018

As I build my new civilization and new people start to come out of the woodwork, I really start to feel attached to the game.

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8.5 / 10.0
Mar 6, 2024

It is expected that all DLC will be included in the very pleasant price and you can find all the things you can expect from a PC port. The resolution and frame rate can be significantly higher than previous versions and with a much greater draw distance, this is the definitive version of Dragon Quest: Builders that you can purchase. Although this port is a bit late, it is a very good port of a game that is still fun.

Review in Dutch | Read full review

85%
Feb 19, 2018

Dragon Quest Builders is more than just a Dragon Quest skin slapped on a Minecraft clone. The series heart and soul is all over this game and is sure to please fans of the series. The Minecraft elements are also more streamlined and easier to deal with for players not used to this style of game. The visuals are stunning, and the audio brilliant. The visuals do take a hit in handheld mode, and the combat leaves much to be desired, but the game's shortcomings are never enough to ruin the absolute joy playing this game gives you. It is much cheaper on other platforms, but even at full price, this game has enough content to make it worth your hard-earned cash.

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