Square Enix has been receiving a lot of attention lately for its recent announcements, which included an update on Final Fantasy 16 and the reveal of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. One understated yet exciting reveal came during the Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase, where Dragon Quest Treasures, the latest spin-off in the beloved long-running JRPG series, received its first gameplay. Square Enix has now followed up this reveal with more gameplay details and screenshots for Dragon Quest Treasures.
Dragon Quest Treasures was first announced in May 2021 during a showcase celebrating the series' 35th anniversary alongside games like Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D and Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate. Treasures was one of the most interesting titles announced during the event given that a lot of the team behind it previously developed the Dragon Quest Monsters series, a spin-off of the main series that focused on capturing and battling the series' iconic monsters similar to games like Pokemon and Shin Megami Tensei.
Treasures is very similar to this series conceptually, but it also serves as a prequel to Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age, following party member Erik and his sister Mia during their childhood as referenced in the main game. Gameplay showcased so far has depicted the capturing and battling of these monsters, but new screenshots and information released today detail the game's deeper mechanics. For one, players will be able to switch between Erik or Mia at any time, and progression is shared between both characters. Erik and Mia will be joined by two spirit guides, a cat spirit known as Purrsula, and a pig spirit known as Porcus.
Gameplay for Dragon Quest Treasures will involve the usual capturing and training monsters, all once again designed by Dragon Ball manga artist Akira Toriyama. This time, players will also be able to traverse the world using the monsters and use them to hunt for treasures similarly to Pokemon Legends: Arceus. The game's main structure centers around capturing monsters, training them, and using them to collect treasure and bring it back to Erik and Mia's base to make money. Enemy rival gangs will also periodically hunt after treasure against Erik and Mia, which can result in rival battles.
So far, Dragon Quest Treasures is looking to be an exciting new spin-off in the beloved series for new and returning fans, while also likely to grab the attention of fans of similar games like the recent Pokemon titles. The game continues Square Enix's push to broaden Dragon Quest's appeal in the west, and will release simultaneously worldwide this December.
Dragon Quest Treasures will release exclusively on Nintendo Switch on December 9..
