DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS™ 2 is a block-building RPG set in a fantasy land threatened by an evil cult. Explore, battle, build and harvest in the charming single-player campaign or build big projects in the online sandbox mode for up to 4-players.
As an apprentice builder, players take on the role of the protagonist, who must help rebuild a forsaken world. The game seamlessly combines the exploration, combat, and questing of a traditional action-RPG with the open-ended creativity and building of a sandbox experience.
The building and crafting systems offer extensive depth and flexibility. Players can construct a wide variety of structures, from simple houses and farms to elaborate castles and intricate plumbing systems. The game recognizes specific room types, and building the right combination of rooms unlocks new gameplay content and upgrades. Crafting also plays a major role, with hundreds of recipes to discover that allow players to create tools, weapons, furniture, and more.
While the open-ended building is a core part of the experience, the game also features a substantial story campaign. Players progress through a series of interconnected islands, each with their own unique challenges and narratives. The writing and characters are charming and often humorous, drawing players into the world and motivating them to continue the journey.
As players explore, build, and complete quests, they earn access to a wide variety of new building materials, recipes, and gameplay systems. This sense of constant progression and discovery is a major hook, as each new unlock opens up new creative possibilities and ways to customize and improve the player's home base.
One of the standout elements is the way the game simulates the daily lives of the NPCs inhabiting each region. Villagers will autonomously use the buildings and facilities the player constructs, cooking meals, socializing, and going about their routines. This helps bring the world to life and makes the player's building efforts feel impactful and meaningful.
The game strikes a nice balance between challenge and accessibility. The main story campaign provides a solid tutorial and gently guides players through the core mechanics, while still presenting engaging combat encounters and building puzzles. For more experienced players, the open-ended sandbox mode offers ample opportunity to flex their creative muscles and push the building systems to their limits.