Dragon Quest VII has a reputation problem. The original PlayStation version makes you wait around two hours before you get into your first actual battle. That’s not an exaggeration or internet myth. Two full hours of dialogue, exploration, and setup before the game finally lets you fight something. For a 2000 RPG, that pacing felt acceptable. For modern audiences used to tighter game design, it’s a dealbreaker. Square Enix knows this, and according to Game Informer’s extensive coverage, the upcoming Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is fixing that problem and throwing in a brand new ending for good measure.
Producer Takeshi Ichikawa sat down with Game Informer during their visit to Square Enix’s Shibuya offices in Tokyo, where they played two hours of Reimagined and interviewed the development team. The big reveal is that the amount of time it takes to get to the first battle in the game is much shorter this time around. How much shorter hasn’t been specified, but considering the 3DS remake already cut the intro significantly and Reimagined is going even further, we’re talking about a dramatically different opening experience.
Why the Original Intro Was So Long
Understanding why Dragon Quest VII’s opening dragged on for hours requires context about the game’s unique structure. Unlike most JRPGs that drop you into a world with clear objectives, Dragon Quest VII starts in a peaceful present where nothing seems wrong. You’re a fisherman’s son exploring ruins with your friends, slowly piecing together mysterious tablets that reveal forgotten islands erased from history.
The narrative setup is brilliant in concept. The world has no problems, no demon lord, no immediate crisis. Your adventure begins as curiosity-driven exploration that gradually uncovers a much larger story about a world that was destroyed and forgotten. But brilliant concepts don’t always translate to engaging gameplay, especially when you’re wandering around talking to NPCs and solving environmental puzzles for literal hours before enemies even exist.
The 3DS remake in 2013 already addressed this by condensing the opening sequence. Players could reach their first battle in under an hour if they knew what they were doing, compared to the PS1 version’s two-hour slog. But even that improvement wasn’t enough for modern sensibilities, which is why Square Enix is revisiting the pacing yet again for Reimagined.
A Completely Streamlined Main Scenario
The faster intro is just the beginning. Ichikawa confirmed that Reimagined will take considerably fewer hours to beat than other versions of Dragon Quest VII, and a streamlined scenario is part of the reason why. The original game is notoriously long, with playthroughs easily stretching past 100 hours if you’re completing everything.
That length comes from Dragon Quest VII’s episodic structure. Each island you unlock has its own contained story with unique characters, problems, and resolutions. While this creates memorable individual tales, it also means the pacing can feel uneven. Some island stories are genuinely compelling. Others feel like filler that pads the runtime without advancing the main narrative.
The streamlining process likely involves tightening these island stories, cutting redundant fetch quests, and accelerating the overall progression. The goal isn’t to turn Dragon Quest VII into a 15-hour experience. It’s to respect player time while preserving what makes the story special. Modern RPG players expect efficient design that doesn’t waste their time, and Square Enix is adapting accordingly.
Quality of Life Improvements
Beyond narrative streamlining, Reimagined includes various quality of life improvements that should make the entire experience smoother. The press release mentioned refined gameplay and tightened pacing alongside the fresh visuals. That suggests everything from faster menu navigation to improved fast travel systems and better tutorials explaining the game’s complex job system.
The Brand New Ending
Here’s where things get really interesting for players who’ve already beaten Dragon Quest VII on PlayStation or 3DS. Ichikawa revealed that Reimagined follows the narrative of the original story, but depending on some of the player choices, players will get to see a new conclusion that’s never been seen before in previous iterations.
That’s a big deal. Dragon Quest games traditionally don’t feature branching narratives or multiple endings. You play through the story as designed, make pre-determined choices that don’t really impact anything, and reach the conclusion the developers intended. The series values consistency and shared experiences over player agency in storytelling.
Previous Dragon Quest games have dabbled in alternate content, usually in the form of optional postgame dungeons or bonus bosses that unlock a true ending after beating additional challenges. But those weren’t really different endings in the narrative sense. They were extended epilogues you could choose to pursue or ignore.
Ichikawa’s wording suggests something more substantial. The specific mention of player choices implies decisions you make throughout Reimagined will actually impact which conclusion you see. Whether that means dramatically different endings or variations on the same general outcome remains unclear. But even players who have played previous versions of Dragon Quest VII will still get to have this fresh narrative experience with Reimagined.
The Visual Transformation
What makes Reimagined particularly notable is that it’s not using the HD-2D art style Square Enix employed for Dragon Quest 1, 2, and 3 remakes. Instead, the team developed a completely new hand-crafted 3D aesthetic that makes the game feel like a living storybook. The visuals aim to expand on the pixel art of the original PS1 release while making Akira Toriyama’s character designs shine for worldwide audiences.
Producer Ichikawa explained that when deciding to remake Dragon Quest VII, the team thought deeply about the visual direction. They wanted audiences worldwide, not just in Japan, to grow fond of the charming characters designed by the late Akira Toriyama. To depict the depth and feel of Dragon Quest VII’s story more vividly, they employed this hand-crafted art style with in-game environments that resemble dioramas.
This visual approach serves the game’s episodic structure perfectly. Each island you visit can have its own distinct look and atmosphere while maintaining cohesive art direction. The diorama style creates miniature worlds that feel crafted and intentional rather than procedurally generated or copy-pasted.
Modern Battle System
Beyond story and visuals, Reimagined features revamped battle mechanics. The original Dragon Quest VII used traditional turn-based combat with a job class system borrowed from Dragon Quest 6. The system was deep but also opaque, with limited feedback about what abilities actually did or how class progression worked.
The modernized combat promises to maintain the strategic depth while improving clarity and pacing. That likely means faster animations, clearer ability descriptions, better visual feedback during battles, and streamlined menus that don’t require multiple button presses to access basic commands.
Dragon Quest battles have always been more methodical than action-oriented, and that core philosophy shouldn’t change. But reducing friction and improving communication between game and player goes a long way toward making combat feel satisfying rather than tedious.
February Launch on Everything
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined launches February 5, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store. Pre-orders are already available. That simultaneous multi-platform release is significant, showing Square Enix’s commitment to making Dragon Quest accessible to the widest possible audience.
The fact that it’s coming to both Switch and Switch 2 shows Square Enix hedging bets about Nintendo’s installed base during the transition period. Players who haven’t upgraded to Switch 2 can still play Reimagined, while those with newer hardware will presumably get enhanced visuals or performance.
Game Informer’s Full Coverage
The details about Reimagined’s streamlined scenario and new ending are just the beginning of Game Informer’s coverage. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is gracing the magazine’s latest cover, marking the first time in Game Informer history that a Dragon Quest game received this honor. The digital version is already live, with physical copies shipping to subscribers over the next month.
Their coverage includes hands-on impressions from two hours of gameplay, interviews with various development leads, and a deep dive into Dragon Quest history with series creator Yuji Horii. For Dragon Quest fans, it’s essential reading that provides context about why this remake matters and what Square Enix hopes to accomplish.
FAQs
When does Dragon Quest VII Reimagined release?
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined launches on February 5, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store.
What is different about the remake’s opening?
The amount of time it takes to reach your first battle has been significantly shortened. The original PlayStation version required roughly two hours of exploration before combat, but Reimagined gets players into action much faster.
Does Dragon Quest VII Reimagined have a new ending?
Yes, producer Takeshi Ichikawa confirmed that based on player choices throughout the game, players will experience a new conclusion that has never been seen in previous versions of Dragon Quest VII.
Is this an HD-2D remake?
No, unlike the Dragon Quest 1, 2, and 3 remakes, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined uses a new hand-crafted 3D art style with environments that resemble dioramas rather than the HD-2D pixel aesthetic.
How long is Dragon Quest VII Reimagined?
Square Enix confirmed the remake will take considerably fewer hours to complete than previous versions thanks to a streamlined main scenario. The original could take over 100 hours, but specific length for Reimagined hasn’t been announced.
Will my choices actually matter in the story?
According to producer Takeshi Ichikawa, player choices will determine which conclusion you see. This is unusual for Dragon Quest, which traditionally features linear narratives without branching paths.
Is this the same as the 3DS remake?
No, this is a completely new remake built from the ground up with modern visuals, revised battle mechanics, and additional streamlining beyond what the 3DS version offered in 2013.
Conclusion
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined represents Square Enix learning from past attempts and creating a definitive version that respects both the original’s vision and modern player expectations. The notoriously slow opening that plagued previous versions is getting fixed again, this time even more aggressively than the 3DS remake.
The addition of a brand new ending based on player choices shows Square Enix isn’t content with just making Dragon Quest VII prettier and faster. They’re actually adding meaningful content that gives veterans reasons to return beyond nostalgia. If the new conclusion is substantial rather than a minor variation, it could change how fans perceive the entire narrative.
The February 5, 2026 release date is surprisingly close, giving fans just a few months to prepare for what looks like the most ambitious Dragon Quest remake yet. Whether it succeeds in making one of the series’ most beloved but most inaccessible entries work for modern audiences remains to be seen. But Square Enix is clearly committed to making this work, and the early details suggest they understand exactly what needed to change.
For Game Informer subscribers, the full coverage provides even deeper insights into the development process and creative decisions behind Reimagined. For everyone else, mark your calendars for early February. Dragon Quest VII is finally getting the remake treatment it deserves, and this time, you won’t need to wait two hours before fighting your first slime.