Square Enix has released a free playable demo on PS5 for Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, marking the first time in over two decades that a mainline entry in the monster-collecting spin-off series has appeared on a PlayStation platform. The game, which sees players befriend, raise and battle Dragon Quest creatures in a style reminiscent of Pokémon, is due for full release on PS5 on 3rd December 2026. Its return to Sony's console after such a long absence is notable given the series' long-standing association with Nintendo hardware.

The demo lets players experience the opening of the story through to the end of the Witherwood section, offering a few hours of gameplay covering the game's core systems, including combining two monsters to create a stronger one. Players who complete the demo receive a bonus item set and can carry up to eight monsters from their demo party over to the full game, though full save data cannot be transferred. Push Square reported coming away positively from earlier hands-on time with the game at Gamescom, describing it as a relaxed, easy-going experience.