What to know
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Launches February 5, 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store.
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Rebuilds Dragon Quest VII with diorama-like handcrafted visuals and a streamlined narrative flow.
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Combat and vocations are modernized, including moonlighting, let loose perks, and quality-of-life features like auto-battle and speed options.
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Multiple editions and add-ons are confirmed, including Digital Deluxe with 48-hour early access plus three paid DLC packs.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is Square Enix’s modern remake of the classic Dragon Quest VII adventure, rebuilt with a new handcrafted look and a tighter, more accessible pace while keeping the core premise intact. If you like long, episodic RPG journeys but want smoother moment-to-moment play, this one is clearly aiming to meet you halfway with modern convenience features.
| Topic | What’s confirmed so far |
|---|---|
| Release date | February 5, 2026 |
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X |
| Visual style | Handcrafted, storybook-like aesthetic with diorama-style environments; Toriyama designs reimagined into a doll-like 3D look |
| Story framing | Adventure across past and present; streamlined narrative while staying faithful, with optional side quests and minigames |
| Combat | Turn-based foundation with significant overhaul, plus speed and automation options |
| Vocation system | Updated vocations, moonlighting (two vocations at once), let loose ability when worked up, new Monster Master vocation with Positive Reinforcement perk |
| Editions | Standard, Digital Deluxe (48-hour early access), physical Collector’s Edition via Square Enix e-Store |
| DLC | Three paid DLC packs available at launch, also included in Digital Deluxe; also referenced as included in Collector’s Edition bundle content |
| Purchase bonuses | Early Bird Bonus (DQVIII costume for Hero + Seeds of Proficiency), digital purchase slime shield (platform-specific) |
What the game is about (changes in Reimagined)
You start on Estard Island as a fishermans son, then a discovery at the Shrine of Mysteries pulls you into a past-and-present adventure where sealed lands and a malevolent force become the central mystery. The remake keeps that foundation but is explicitly designed to feel less drawn out, with tightened pacing and a more streamlined main narrative path.
Reimagined’s headline upgrade is presentation: the characters are rebuilt in a handcrafted 3D style inspired by real-world dolls, paired with diorama-like environments and dungeons meant to look like a living storybook. If you enjoyed Dragon Quest for its cozy charm, that visual direction is meant to make every town and dungeon feel like something you could place on a shelf, while still reading clearly in motion.
Modernized Combat and progression
Square Enix describes the battle system as still turn-based at its core, but substantially overhauled for a more dynamic feel. On top of that, the game includes modern convenience options such as battle speed adjustments and auto-battle, and it supports smoother flow depending on your chosen tactics.
Vocations are a major focus again, but with new twists aimed at experimentation. The big additions are moonlighting, which lets a character run two vocations at once, and let loose, a high-impact vocation perk you can trigger when a character is worked up. There is also a new Monster Master vocation that introduces a Positive Reinforcement perk that summons powerful monsters to strike enemies.
Tablets and fragments drive exploration
Exploration still hinges on collecting fragments and completing tablets to open up new areas and eras, which then expands what exists in the present. The appeal here is that your adventure unfolds as a chain of distinct vignettes and destinations rather than one continuous landmass, and the remake keeps that structure while smoothing its pacing.
If you like checking off objectives and steadily unlocking more of the world, the fragment-and-tablet loop is the backbone that pushes you forward. Expect that loop to be supported by quality-of-life improvements, including a redesigned UI intended to make key information easier to access.
Editions, DLC, and bonuses
Editions and what they include
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Standard Edition: Base game.
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Digital Deluxe Edition: Base game plus 48-hour early access, a Ruff costume, and three paid DLC packs.
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Physical Collector’s Edition: A physical bundle available to pre-order via the Square Enix e-Store, including physical items plus DLC packs and additional costume content for Ruff.
Paid DLC packs at launch
| DLC pack | What it is | Confirmed price |
|---|---|---|
| The Road of Regal Wretches | Battle arena content themed around legendary foes, with rewards including Erdricks Sword | $5.99 |
| Luminary’s Livery | Costume set themed around Dragon Quest XI outfits | $4.99 |
| Jam-Packed Swag Bag | Item set including slime gear and boosters (exp and gold accessories) plus consumables | $3.99 |
| Bonus | What you get | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early Bird Bonus | DQVIII costume for the Hero plus three Seeds of Proficiency | For early purchase of any edition (as described in the press release). |
| Digital purchase bonus | Slime Shield unique to each platform | Digital purchase only; platform color variants are specified. |
What this means for your first playthrough
If you want the earliest possible start, the Digital Deluxe route is the only confirmed way to play 48 hours early. If you are mainly here for the core story and the revamped pacing, Standard gets you the full remake experience without the DLC layer.
If you enjoy job systems, the new moonlighting plus let loose perk design is the standout change to watch, because it pushes you to mix roles and build around burst moments rather than sticking to one lane. And if you prefer fewer interruptions, the speed and automation features are there so battles can fit your tempo instead of forcing a slower rhythm.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined looks like a faithful but modern take on one of the series most sprawling adventures, with a new handcrafted presentation and meaningful system updates aimed at smoother pacing. If you are deciding how to buy, the clearest tradeoff is simple: Standard for just the game, Digital Deluxe for early access and all launch DLC in one bundle.
