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Preview: Dragon Quest’s Pokémon-Like Monster Game Could Be PS5’s Perfect Cosy Escape
Push Square previewed Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, the franchise's first PlayStation entry, describing it as a promising, low-stress alternative amid a packed release schedule dominated by heavyweights like Zelda and GTA 6. The game blends traditional Dragon Quest storytelling with Pokémon-style monster collecting and training, and the preview writer came away impressed after roughly an hour with the opening sections at a London event, praising its presentation, monster designs and overall cosy feel.
The game launches on PS5 on 3rd December, with Square Enix promising over 500 monsters, some unlocked via a synthesis system that combines existing creatures into new ones. Players control either Bianca or Nera, searching for an elixir to heal their fathers, while their sister Debora may pose a threat to their quest. The developer likened its tonal balance of child-friendly and more mature storytelling to a Pixar film, and the preview highlighted straightforward team-building, a Talent Points system for customising monsters, sharp visuals on PS5 Pro, and a classic Dragon Quest soundtrack, though some tutorial-heavy pacing was noted.
In short
- Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World hits PS5 on 3rd December
- First Dragon Quest game to launch on PlayStation
- Preview praises cosy Pokémon-style monster collecting and presentation
Explained simply
Dragon Quest is a long-running Japanese role-playing game series published by Square Enix, known for turn-based battles, colourful monsters and storybook settings. Dragon Quest Monsters is a spin-off focused on collecting, training and battling creatures, a format also familiar from Pokémon.
In The Withered World, players follow either Bianca or Nera as they seek a cure for their fathers, with their sister Debora also involved in the story. Monsters can be combined through a process called synthesis to create new creatures, and players can shape their team as they progress.
The game brings the monster-collecting spin-off to PlayStation for the first time. Its mix of accessible team-building and a family-focused adventure may appeal to players looking for a lighter role-playing game.