I have very few points of reference when it comes to both Dragon Quest as a staple RPG and Minecraft as a sandbox creation tool, but the two combined really struck a chord with me. Dragon Quest Builders gave you the freedom to build in a world very similar to Minecraft, but the the structure and objectives of a classic RPG. It directed my creative efforts in a way that made me finally appreciate its gameplay, so you bet your blocks a sequel is exactly the kind of news we need for a Monday morning.
Revealed during the Dragon Quest Summer Festival, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is currently in development for PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The original game launched for both PS4 and PS Vita, so it seems the rising popularity of the Switch is enough to usurp the Sony handheld for some upcoming projects. As a formula, Builders 2 seems relatively unchanged. The brief livestream of early development footage showed a familiar looking game, albeit with some slight changes that fans of the first game might pick up on.
Most noticeably, Builders 2 is expanding the range of freedom you have around its world. You’ll be able to swim and mine for blocks underwater now, while also taking to the skies in a very Breath of the Wild styled hand glider to traverse large spaces in no time flat. Slightly less noticeable are changes to some of the numbers – like being able to stack triple the amount of blocks than in the first game. Builders 2 will also feature 4-player co-op, which is a neat touch.
There’s no release date yet and the project looks to be in its early days, but anyone who had the chance to play the original Builders will know just how addictive its formula was. If this sequel captures that with a better range of motion, its going to be another game you’ll need to pick up immediately.
Last Updated: August 7, 2017
Minecraft styled RPG Dragon Quest Builders 2 announced for PS4 and Nintendo Switch