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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M3
Top Critic
8 / 10
Nov 2, 2016

Dragon Quest Builders is a splendid fusion between Minecraft and Dragon Quest. Instead of just roaming a huge world at your own will, you will always have a (mostly) clear goal to work towards and townspeople to pamper. There is still plenty of room for making your own creations, even though it is not on the same grand scale as Minecraft.

Review in Swedish | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Oct 4, 2016

It’s easy to dismiss Dragon Quest Builders as just another Minecraft clone or a Minecraft-lite, but those who do will miss out on a very creative little adventure. I never thought building in the name of saving the world could be this entertaining or keep me up so late at night. I’ve always enjoyed the crafting side of RPGs, but this takes it on to a whole new level. It’s a crafter’s paradise more than it is a builder’s, something you won’t know until you pick it up for yourself. Come for the charming Dragon Quest look and feel and, yes, the Minecraft building; stay for the questing and crafting.

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9.5 / 10.0
Oct 4, 2016

All this adventure and discovery made me think of times in my past that I sunk hours and hours into game’s like Dragon Warriors II and Torneko: The Last Hope. That being said, I feel as though Dragon Quest Builders is not only worthy of being apart of the long standing RPG franchise, but it also succeeds in making its mark and surpassing all competition compared to any game like it.

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4 / 5.0
Oct 4, 2016

Dragon Quest Builders gives players the freedom to do whatever they want, while making sure they don’t get bored of that freedom too quickly by restricting how they get materials and recipes. This smart concept, mixed with the villager management and RPG elements make this one of the freshest experiences in the series.

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Oct 11, 2016

Dragon Quest Builders continues in the series' tradition of being slightly cumbersome and unpolished, but getting lost in its toybox pleasures is easy and extremely fun.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 11, 2016

Sadly, Dragon Quest Builders isn’t quite the Dragon Quest meets Minecraft mash-up that I was really hoping for. What it does, however, is offer an engrossing adventure that proves giving a world-building engine some storyline, characters, and proper combat goes a long way.

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4 / 5.0
Oct 19, 2016

Dragon Quest Builders could have easily been a lazy Minecraft ripoff. Instead, Square Enix does a great job in adding compelling mechanics that make this a breath of fresh air for the genre that can stand on its own. The game’s greatest strength lies in its campaign, which makes it a bonafide action-adventure game with enjoyable combat and great boss fights while still incorporating the fun elements of building. The camera, admittedly, can be a pain at times and the lack of fleshed-out multiplayer and co-op is an unfortunate missed opportunity. If you’re looking for a solid crafting game and are intrigued by the addition of RPG and action elements, however, Dragon Quest Builders is a fabulous construct that fans both young and old will enjoy.

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Alan Bell
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Oct 21, 2016

Dragon Quest Builders is an entertaining RPG, a marvellous builder, and simply a tremendous game all-round.

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 28, 2016

Dragon Quest Builders is a superb game, appealing to both fans of the series and newcomers alike. Don’t think of this as a Minecraft clone, but rather as a good Dragon Quest game with crafting and building elements.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 14, 2016

Dragon Quest Builders is exciting, relaxing, simple, intuitive, and will never leave you alone with your creativity.

Review in Italian | Read full review

85 / 100
Feb 7, 2018

Dragon Quest Builders is a motivating build-up game that skilfully combines block building with RPG elements.

Review in German | Read full review

Feb 7, 2018

Buy Dragon Quest Builders from Amazon UK | Amazon.com

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7 / 10
Feb 7, 2018

Beyond the obvious Minecraft inspiration, Dragon Quest Builders is based on a solid, subtly ironic narrative which creates not only reason for these building tasks, but also life into this 3D rendition of Alefgard. And it gets sharper on Nintendo Switch with the Great Sabrecub that literally cuts through the potentially more pixel arted Terra Incognita mode, even if such retro nostalgic additions can't counterbalance the limited sharing options and the lack of multi player, thus consolidating this fundamentally solitary experience as a whole.

Review in French | Read full review

8 / 10
Feb 7, 2018

Both classic Dragon Quest RPG and Minecraft-style building sim, Dragon Quest Builders takes just enough ingredients from each side of the developmental kitchen and gently stirs them into a dish that never manages to overpower either of its core mechanics. If you've ever wanted to try Mojang's ubiquitous hit but found it a little too intimidating in its vagueness, then this is the alternative for you. Fun, empowering and Dragon Quest to a tee; Its combat and camera can be a little erratic, but they never manage to derail your new building adventure.

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8 / 10
Feb 7, 2018

Dragon Quest Builders is an interesting object, one that does not fully venture into its main series' territory but which puts the players in its world and which can keep their attention for some long, fun and involving moments, not to mention that it keeps the mind well entertained until the next chapter in the Dragon Quest series arrives.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

GameXplain
Top Critic
Liked-a-lot
Feb 7, 2018
Dragon Quest Builders - REVIEW (Nintendo Switch) video thumbnail
8 / 10.0
Feb 7, 2018

Dragon Quest Builders on Switch brings near-PS4 quality graphics with the portable aspect of the PS Vita. If you're going to play it anywhere, I recommend the Nintendo Switch.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 7, 2018

Dragon Quest Builders is every bit the captivating building adventure on the Switch as it was when it first released. It's strong sense of progression, charming aesthetic and easy mechanics make it great for casual play, while its robust worlds and interesting characters make for a charming tale. It takes a misstep or two along the way, but Dragon Quest Builders isn't an adventure you want to skip out on.

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9.4 / 10.0
Oct 9, 2016

Dragon Quest Builders is a stunning balance of build and adventure. I was incredibly skeptical that the two genres would ever evenly mix, but somehow Square Enix found the right spots and put together one helluva package for Dragon Quest and Minecraft fans to enjoy. It’s really quite good and addictive.

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