Dragon Quest Builders

 Switch
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 108 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 82 out of 108
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 108
  3. Negative: 8 out of 108
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  1. DizavidHZ
    Nov 4, 2022
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game couldn't more clearly project "We didn't listen to our QA testers" than if you'd told me the developer was Square Enix. While there's lots to have fun with here, a lot of the good items in the open world option are locked behind just an awful story mode. The villagers don't help you rebuild after an attack is the most grievous issue. I'm sure would say that's part of the fun, but even Square disagrees: the *MUCH* better sequel fixes this issue. In fact, DQ Builders 1 feels like a game designed to make us the QA testers for the *real* game, and they charged us sixty bucks for both. The absolute worst comes near the end of the third chapter, when a secret weapon you've spent all chapter seeking out turns out to not only be useless but a detriment and hazard to your health. It's a *vehicle* that controls like it drove through Wet Platinum and forgot turning until the last pieces were in place. Given the "jumpiness" of the control stick in this game, aiming at the main enemy while charging up in place is just luck (getting hit takes you out of the vehicle, with lots of methods of damage going off everywhere). It's the only way to damage the boss, in case that wasn't obvious. It's little things like this that plague the entire game; it appears polished but rub even one spot a tiny bit and the imperfections come hemorrhaging out. I'd suggest trying before you buy. Or better yet: Pretend this one doesn't exist and just get part 2. It's an easy 9/10. Giving this a 4 is the most generous thing I've done this year.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

73
#73 Best Switch Game of 2018
57
#57 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
76
#76 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 45
  3. Negative: 0 out of 45
  1. My Nintendo News
    Jul 15, 2018
    80
    Dragon Quest Builders is both a great Dragon Quest spin-off and an interesting take on the somewhat overplayed sandbox genre that’s only made better on Nintendo Switch. It’s a game that can be played for hours or in shorts bursts, so it’s perfect on a portable console.
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  2. CD-Action
    Apr 3, 2018
    80
    It’s not just a Minecraft rip-off. Square Enix expanded Mojang’s concept and infused the game with tons of Dragon Quest. [03/2018, p.74]
  3. New York Daily News
    Mar 12, 2018
    80
    It is plenty of fun, a terrific evolution of Minecraft that’s made its way to a perfect console.
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