Dragon Quest Builders Gets First Trailer

Square Enix’s Dragon Quest Builders has drawn its share of comparisons, but that doesn’t mean it lacks distinguishing qualities from its ultra-successful predecessor, Minecraft.

In fact, Builders just might hook players that Minecraft couldn’t. As you can see in the announcement trailer above, that Dragon Quest visual charm is prevalent everywhere you look. From the character designs and musical score to the little blue slimes that hop around the land of Alefgard, there is no mistaking what universe this is from. The gameplay has you operating within a vast sandbox, allowing creative players to build and create whatever they can think up.

That sounds all well and good, but where it sets itself apart is in its single player storyline, which promises “a cast of iconic characters and monsters” and “an immersive story.” While you can build to your personal hearts content, the game is also about building a city for the citizens of Alefgard, so you won’t be going it alone, and after awhile you will then encounter iconic monsters from the franchise that seek to tear down what you’ve built.

An open sandbox to build from is definitely entertaining, but if Dragon Quest Builders can deliver an engaging single player experience with not only great building mechanics but also a worthwhile story mode and other characters to interact with, it could really deliver something special.

Dragon Quest Builders is set to hit PS4 and Playstation VITA this October, and in celebration of the 30th anniversary, Square Enix is marking down Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below on Steam and Playstation until May 31st.

You can read the official story synopsis below.

“A long time ago, the realm of Alefgard was engulfed in an ongoing battle between the humans and the monsters. A celebrated hero stood up and confronted the Dragonlord, the wicked king of the monsters, to try to put an end to the conflict. Through his vile trickery, the Dragonlord deceived the hero into a false deal, and Alefgard was destroyed in the process. The few survivors were robbed of the power to build and scattered around the world to live out their lives in despair and apathy. The very idea of creativity and imagination became mere legend, and mankind was reduced to a meager existence, surviving only by scavenging what remained among the ruins for centuries to come.”

“Until one day, a new hero is awoken by the spirit of the land – one who will become the Legendary Builder, within whose fingertips dwells the long-lost power of creation. Rebuild the ruined realm in your own image and bring an end to the Dragonlord’s reign of evil once and for all.”