Dragon Quest Treasures Extended Preview – Early Impressions Of Draconia

Dragon Quest Treasures is the latest DQ spinoff to feature monster recruiting mechanics, but it’s been given a bit of a twist. This time around, there’s an emphasis on treasure hunting – perhaps why this is deemed DQ Treasures rather than DQ Monsters – but the monsters are still a major focus. As younger versions of Erik and Mia from Dragon Quest 11, players can explore several islands in the mysterious world of Draconia, track down treasures, and build up their own base as they contend with rival factions.

The game kicks off with Erik and Mia aboard a Viking ship, a nice callback to the characters’ backstories in Dragon Quest 11. From there, the siblings are quickly transported to Draconia alongside helpful sidekicks Porcus (a pig fairy) and Purrsula (a cat fairy). The series’ trademark humor and penchant for puns are immediately on display here (a slime named Goonther, for example), and it’s difficult not to play DQ Treasures with a smile.

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Almost immediately upon arriving in the Patternoggin (the first area to explore in Draconia), players meet up with a cast of lovable monster characters – the pirate Mogsworth who’s failing to find good treasure, the cute Oozebella, and helpful NPCs like Shambles and Shady. There are also more intimidating (and mostly human) characters antagonizing the party, each with a design that feels unique and is still decidedly Dragon Quest.

From here, Erik and Mia get their own party of monster friends in Dragon Quest Treasures, learning how to scout new monsters and use the catapult in combat. Monsters also have Fortes, special abilities that make traversing the islands easier – for instance, a Dracky can glide and a Sham Hatwich serves as a speedy mount. Players can customize their monster party back at their base, can choose to play as Erik or Mia on their next expedition, and can turn in quests and accept dailies. There’s a ton of stuff to do outside the main story, and it should keep players busy (and happy) for hours on end.

After a brief introduction to characters and mechanics on the Patternoggin, players are tasked with helping out Mr. Euston, the monster NPC who gives quests but also appraises treasure in the vault back at the home base. These three opening missions help teach more about the gameplay of Dragon Quest Treasures: recruiting monsters, gathering materials, and finding treasure. It’s also the first opportunity to do some real exploring, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Even as the first island, the Patternoggin has plenty to see. There are caves to explore, mountains to climb, and water to swim through. Much like Xenoblade games, there are also monsters far above the party’s level that need to be avoided initially. Like most Dragon Quest titles, the atmosphere is relaxed and easygoing – there’s never a particular rush to get back to base and there’s plenty to see and do. It’s all about discovering new things and having a good time.

These initial hours of the game provide a great look at everything DQ Treasures has to offer. There are enough elements from the Dragon Quest Monsters series still on display here that DQM fans should be pleased, and it’s great to see a beloved character like Erik from DQ 11 taking the center stage with his sister Mia. For anyone looking for a cozy monster-recruiting game, Dragon Quest Treasures is off to a promising start.

More: Dragon Quest Treasures: Every Island Of Draconia Revealed

Dragon Quest Treasures will release December 9, 2022, for Nintendo Switch. Screen Rant was provided with a code of the game for the purpose of this preview and an upcoming review.