The Dragon Quest series’ seventh mainline entry is getting a modern remake with Square Enix’s upcoming Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. Unlike the HD-2D approach of previous remakes, the new title is a fully 3D remake that uses hand-made dolls. But despite its cheerful and diorama-like visual style, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined will offer a serious story much like the original. In fact, the RPG’s dark sides are part of why Square Enix’s DQ team decided now might be a good time for a remake.
Talking to Game*Spark, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined producer Takeshi Ichikawa explained how the project came to be. The year 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of Dragon Quest VII’s initial launch for the PS1, which is obviously a fitting occasion for a revival. But above all, the developers felt the game would be well received thematically given the way players’ tastes have evolved in the meantime, which was a deciding factor.
“We decided to launch the project for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined because we felt that the game’s unique atmosphere and tone would resonate especially well with players today. Back when it first came out, VII was often said to have more dark and sorrowful episodes compared to other entries in the series. But nowadays, players are much more accustomed to games with darker stories. I believe that, through this new version, modern players will be able to feel VII’s story and the emotions of the characters even more deeply.”
Although its (enormously long) episodes offer as many highs as they do lows, Dragon Quest VII’s basic premise of undoing tragedies means players inevitably witness a lot of death, despair and overall sadness. While the remake will streamline certain aspects of the original and make game progression a bit faster, the core story and dialogue will remain unchanged, so veteran fans and newcomer players alike should be prepared.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is set to release for PC (Windows, Steam), PS5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S on February 5, 2026.
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