Dragon Quest VII Reimagined might as well be a brand-new game. While technically a remake of the original Dragon Quest VII from the year 2000, this entry features a brand-new art style, updated user-friendly controls, and an overall streamlined narrative. Whether you’re a fan of the series or are new to this installment, there’s a lot to like here.
One of the main reasons I consider this a new game is that I’ve never played Dragon Quest VII. That’s no longer the case, as I got the chance to play Reimagined for the better part of an hour. Though my time was brief, I was impressed by the superb visual presentation, engaging RPG mechanics, and charming characters. This is a game dripping with charm.
An epic Quest
The demo I played took place in a village called Wetlock. Speaking to the residents, I learn they’re the descendants of once nearby villages that were destroyed when a sea demon named Gracos unleashed a flood. Along the way, I discover an old bard entertaining villagers with his songs. Deciding there wasn't much else to do, I headed to the local inn to get some sleep.
My party consisted of four characters: the (unnamed) protagonist; Maribel, his childhood friend; Aishe the dancer; and a wolf-riding wild boy named Ruff. As you’d expect from characters designed by legendary Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, you can instantly tell their personalities just by looking at them. The fact that Square-Enix 3D-scanned real-life dolls and dropped them into the game also makes the characters look and feel more lifelike.
Back in the demo, the sound of music causes the party to awaken in the middle of the night. Outside, I see that the old bard has entranced the villagers with his songs and is luring them into a mysterious portal. My party arrives just as the bard enters the portal, and we jump straight in to find out what the heck is going on.
Shortly after arriving inside a mysterious dungeon, we run into monsters. Instead of random encounters, enemies appear on screen. This allows you to avoid combat or catch foes unaware so you can attack before they do. You can manually select a character’s actions during their turn, or set the party’s tactics beforehand, which lets combat happen automatically without taking turns. You can also adjust the speed of battles. The latter two will be very useful for quick and efficient level grinding.
Characters can master several vocations (think Final Fantasy’s job system) that offer unique spells and abilities during battles. While you might be locked into a specific vocation for a time, you’ll eventually reach a point in the story where you can switch vocations. Another feature called moonlighting also lets characters have two vocations at once, which definitely opens up new strategies during battles.
Lastly, every vocation has a perk that lets characters “let loose” after they’ve “woken up.” Based on what I played, this seems to happen after characters sustain a certain amount of damage or enough time has passed. Either way, these powerful moves, which range from devastating attacks or party-wide healing, can save your bacon when things are looking grim.
After some battles, I find that all of the villagers are safe and sound within the dungeon and learn that the old bard lured the villagers there to keep them safe from Gracos’ wrath. I’m then asked to head to a nearby underwater dungeon to confront Gracos and put an end to his evil. Along the way, I return to Wetlock to find the entire village submerged. The few villagers who didn’t hear the old bard’s song definitely wished that they had!
The demo ends with a brutal battle against Gracos. This encounter is no joke, with Gracos instantly taking out my main healer before I could even get my bearings. The old bard utilized resurrection spells, but most of his attempts failed. Though I fought valiantly, Gracos ultimately defeates my entire team within several turns. Based on this boss fight, I can tell Dragon Quest VII Reimagined won’t be an easy game even on normal difficulty.
Outlook
Though my time with Dragon Quest VII Reimagined was short, it was enough to make it one of my most anticipated games of 2026.
I’m in love with the endearing visuals and delightful gameplay, which will no doubt help it stand out among similar titles. With Dragon Quest XII nowhere in sight, this remake should be more than enough to tide fans like me over.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined releases on February 5, 2026, for the Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
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