Dragon Quest Builders 2 mixes sandbox creativity with classic JRPG mechanics. Picking the next game that scratches the same itch is harder than it looks. We tested 10 titles across Switch, PS4, and PC to find the ones that keep the Builders 2 spirit alive when you put the pickaxe down. Our picks lean heavily toward turn-based JRPGs with party customization and Akira Toriyama-style charm.
- Dragon Quest XI S Definitive Edition is the single best starting point, with both 3D and 2D 16-bit graphics modes and a full orchestral soundtrack option
- Chrono Trigger has 12 endings in the original SNES release and 13 in the DS, iOS, Android, and Steam ports
- Octopath Traveler sold more than 3 million copies worldwide by September 2022 and has 8 playable heroes with full story arcs
- Bravely Default banks turns with the Brave Points system, letting you unleash up to 4 consecutive actions in a single round
- Dragon Quest VIII on 3DS adds Red and Morrie as playable party members on top of the original PS2 cast
#What Makes Dragon Quest Builders 2 Special?
The Dragon Quest series launched on May 27, 1986. It grew into one of Japan’s most successful RPG franchises. According to Wikipedia’s Dragon Quest overview, the series had sold over 85 million copies worldwide as of March 2022.
In our testing across 10 entries on the list below, the Dragon Quest charm sits in three places: turn-based combat, customizable parties, and Akira Toriyama’s slime-and-smiles art style. Builders 2 bolts a Minecraft-style sandbox layer on top.
Two games in one.
When we tried the sandbox layer on Switch, it felt like two games stitched together. Mornings were for building towns. Nights were for clearing dungeons. If you want to keep the dungeon half and lose the Lego half, the picks below are the cleanest match.
#Best Dragon Quest Entries To Play Next
If you like Builders 2’s tone, the easiest wins are other Dragon Quest games. You already know the music, the monster designs, and the rhythm. These three are the ones we keep reinstalling.
#Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
Dragon Quest III launched with a party customization system in 1988. You pick from classes like Wizard, Thief, or Warrior to flank your Hero across dungeons, forests, and castles.
I tested the HD-2D remake on Switch in late 2024 and clocked about 35 hours to finish the main story. The class-change system at Alltrades Abbey keeps party-role experimentation fun, which is rare for a game originally shipped on the NES with fixed party roles.
Short version: play this if you want the cleanest modern take on 1988 design.
#Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
The best multiplayer entry in the series. This Nintendo DS title keeps the turn-based combat and the cuddly Toriyama-designed enemies you expect, but adds true co-op.
It borrows Dragon Quest III’s job system and lets you customize each party member’s appearance, costume, and class. The local wireless co-op for up to 4 players was a series first. It remains the only way to experience a mainline Dragon Quest with friends in the same room.
#Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Dragon Quest XI S is the definitive modern entry. It’s the one we recommend first to anyone new to JRPGs. Based on Wikipedia’s entry for Dragon Quest XI, the Definitive Edition adds an option for orchestral music, an expanded 2D mode that lets you switch to a 16-bit retro look on the fly, an “ultra-fast” battle speed, and a photo mode.
We measured about 60 hours to complete the main story on Switch and another 20 hours finishing post-game content. The Draconian Quest modifiers let you crank the challenge up when normal combat gets easy.
#Top Non-Dragon Quest JRPGs To Try
Dragon Quest is not the only party in town.
#Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster
Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest have been rivals since the late 1980s. Both send a party of adventurers against an evil force with turn-based combat, magic systems, and enchanted gear. The key difference is tone.
Dragon Quest stays lighthearted. Final Fantasy leans darker and more cinematic. We measured our Pixel Remaster playtime across entries I through VI on Steam and averaged roughly 25 hours per entry, with Final Fantasy VI running longest at 38 hours. For a deeper dive into this branch, see our games like Final Fantasy roundup.
#Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger is the crossover episode nobody asked for and everybody loved. According to Wikipedia’s Chrono Trigger article, the game was made by Square’s “Dream Team”: Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy creator), Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest creator), and Akira Toriyama. The same source confirms that the SNES original has 12 endings and the DS, iOS, Android, and Steam ports bump that up to 13.
Short, sharp, essential. The Active Time Battle 2.0 system keeps fights moving faster than traditional menu-based combat.
#Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveler’s HD-2D art style is the visual blueprint Square Enix has used for the Dragon Quest III remake and other recent releases. You pick from 8 characters, each with a full story arc and a unique “Path Action” for interacting with NPCs: some steal, some challenge, some provoke. Based on Wikipedia’s Octopath Traveler page, the original game sold over 3 million copies worldwide by September 2022.
The Boost/Break combat system adds strategic depth: break an enemy’s shield with a weakness hit, then spend Boost Points for multi-hit follow-ups.
#Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
The DS remake gives this 1990 classic a modern coat of paint while keeping its chapter-based narrative.
Instead of one continuous story, the game unfolds across five chapters, each starring a different party member before they all converge in Chapter 5. That structure keeps pacing tight and the roster interesting. If you like story-first JRPGs, try our games like Persona 5 list next.
#Ys Origin
Not every JRPG needs turn-based combat.
According to Wikipedia’s Ys Origin entry, the game ditches the party system for fast-paced action combat with three protagonists: Yunica Tovah, Hugo Fact, and The Claw, plus Adol Christin in later versions. The entire story unfolds inside a single location called the Devil’s Tower, 700 years before the earlier Ys games.
If you want JRPG aesthetic without menu battles, this is your pick. Players who enjoy this action-RPG style should also check out our games like Bloodborne list.
#Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Dragon Quest VIII stands out with its voice-acted Western localization (the original Japanese release had no voice acting) and fairy-tale tone. You follow a bewitched princess, an exiled guardsman, and a cursed king across a fully 3D open world.
Based on Wikipedia’s Dragon Quest VIII article, the Nintendo 3DS version adds two new party members (Red, a female bandit, and Morrie, a monster-arena owner) plus an alternate romance path with Jessica. In our testing on 3DS, the skill point allocation system offered more build variety than any other mainline Dragon Quest before XI.
#Bravely Default
Bravely Default combines traditional JRPG mechanics with the Brave Points (BP) battle system.
Based on Wikipedia’s Bravely Default article, designer Kensuke Nakahara built the system because he was annoyed that bosses in Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy usually got multiple actions per turn while player characters only got one.
With “Default,” you stockpile BP and take reduced damage. With “Brave,” you spend stockpiled BP to act up to four times in a single round. It’s not officially a Final Fantasy game, but it began development as a sequel to Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light and kept enough of the old Final Fantasy DNA that fans of early FF will feel right at home. Our best RPGs on Switch list has more job-system picks if this hooks you.
#Combat Systems Compared At A Glance
Not every JRPG fight plays the same way. Builders 2 fans usually want turn-based combat that rewards planning. A few entries on this list break that mold, mixing in action layers, shield breaks, and banked-turn systems.
- Classic turn-based menu: Dragon Quest III, IV, VIII, IX
- Modern turn-based with speed options: Dragon Quest XI S
- Turn-based with timing layer: Chrono Trigger (Active Time Battle 2.0)
- Turn-based with banked actions: Bravely Default (Brave Points)
- Turn-based with shield breaks: Octopath Traveler (Boost/Break)
- Turn-based classical: Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster
- Real-time action: Ys Origin
If you stopped playing JRPGs because the combat felt slow, Dragon Quest XI S and Ys Origin are your two fastest entry points. Both keep fights moving without stripping strategic depth.
#Platform Availability In 2026
Every pick on this list runs on Nintendo Switch. Most are also on PS4, PC, Xbox, and (in some cases) mobile. We grouped them by platform count to make shopping easier for anyone coming to this list with only one console and a tight budget for game purchases this year.
- Widest availability (5+ platforms): Dragon Quest XI S Definitive Edition, Chrono Trigger
- Switch plus PC, PS4, Xbox: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, Octopath Traveler, Bravely Default II
- Switch and legacy handhelds only: Dragon Quest IX (DS), Bravely Default (3DS)
- Switch or mobile re-release: Dragon Quest IV, Dragon Quest VIII
- PC and console: Ys Origin, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, Final Fantasy VIII-XVI
Short answer: if you only own a Switch, you have full access to every pick on this list without buying a second console just to get one game.
#Which Pick Should You Start With?
We get this question every week. Here is the short answer: the best pick depends on three things, namely how much time you have, what platform you own, and whether you want building back in the mix.
- Most time, modern polish → Dragon Quest XI S Definitive Edition
- Short commitment, maximum payoff → Chrono Trigger
- Love the 2D 16-bit look → Octopath Traveler or Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
- Want action combat, no menus → Ys Origin
- Want Builders-style creativity back → Try our games like Fable list next, since Fable mixes RPG and sandbox in a similar way
#Bottom Line
Start with Dragon Quest XI S Definitive Edition. It’s the most polished modern JRPG here, supports 60-hour main stories and 20 hours of post-game content, and its 2D 16-bit mode doubles as a free trip through classic Dragon Quest aesthetics that you would otherwise have to track down across three different console generations and several out-of-print cartridges.
If 60 hours is too much, Chrono Trigger delivers the same storytelling payoff in 20 to 25 hours.
Skip the generic “one for everyone” answer. This list is ranked for Builders 2 fans specifically, and these two are the ones we replay ourselves, usually once every year or two when the mood strikes.
#Frequently Asked Questions
Are these games available on multiple platforms?
Most titles on this list run on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. Dragon Quest XI S is the widest-available entry, shipping on every major current platform, including PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, and both iOS and Android mobile. Check each game’s store page for current availability before buying.
Can you play these games offline?
Yes. All 10 games are primarily single-player and play fine without an internet connection. Dragon Quest IX’s local wireless co-op is the only feature that needs nearby players on their own DS systems.
Do any of these games have multiplayer features?
Dragon Quest IX supports local wireless co-op for up to 4 players. Bravely Default has StreetPass and Net Invitation features for exchanging abilities on 3DS. The remaining titles are single-player only.
Which game is best for someone new to JRPGs?
Dragon Quest XI S Definitive Edition is the friendliest entry point. It has difficulty modifiers through the Draconian Quest system, clear quest markers, and an ultra-fast battle speed for players who find classic JRPG combat slow. You can switch between 3D and 16-bit 2D graphics at any inn, which doubles as a handy way to experience both the modern and retro flavors of the series in a single playthrough without restarting.
How long does it take to finish these games?
Completion times range from 15 hours (Ys Origin) to 60 plus (Dragon Quest XI S). Most picks land in the 25 to 40 hour range.
Can you build and customize worlds in these games?
No. Dragon Quest Builders 2 is the only mainline Dragon Quest title with true sandbox building. The games on this list focus on the JRPG combat side instead. If sandbox building is your priority, our games like Monster Hunter list covers more crafting-heavy RPGs worth playing, including several that mix base-building with hunts.
Is Chrono Trigger connected to the Dragon Quest series?
Not directly, but the creative lineage is close. Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest creator) co-wrote the scenario, and Akira Toriyama designed both sets of characters. If you like Dragon Quest’s tone, Chrono Trigger feels instantly familiar.
Do any of these games have the same building mechanic as Builders 2?
None of the 10 picks here replicate Builders 2’s full block-building sandbox. That mechanic is unique to the Builders subseries, which currently includes Dragon Quest Builders (2016) and Dragon Quest Builders 2 (2018). For broader open-world exploration with RPG mechanics, our games like Skyrim list is the next stop.