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Dragon Quest’s Luida’s Bar Goes Permanent in Osaka — Opens 25 August

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Dragon Quest’s beloved themed bar is putting down roots in Osaka. Luida’s Bar (ルイーダの酒場) in Osaka — the official Dragon Quest collaboration venue operated by Pasela Resorts — opens as a permanent location on 25 August 2026, transitioning from a limited-time 40th anniversary pop-up that ran since May. English gaming media has yet to pick this up, but SG fans with a Japan trip on the cards should know it’s there.

Luida's Bar Osaka interior with wooden barrel, blue-lit bar counter and Dragon Quest themed decor
Image courtesy of Pasela Resorts / Square Enix

From Pop-Up to Permanent in Namba

Luida’s Bar launched as a limited-time pop-up at Pasela Resorts Namba Dotonbori 5F in May 2026 to mark the Dragon Quest series’ 40th anniversary. The strong response from fans pushed the operator to convert it into a permanent establishment — a meaningful vote of confidence from the Osaka market. The limited run closed on 24 August, and the permanent doors open the very next day on 25 August.

The Tokyo Luida’s Bar in Akihabara (Japanese) has been a fixture on the Dragon Quest fan pilgrimage circuit for years, and Osaka now gets its own. The name comes from Luida, the kindly tavern host in the early Dragon Quest games who helps heroes recruit companions before they set off to save the world — a fitting concept for a venue where fans gather to share their love of the franchise.

Location and Hours at Luida’s Bar Osaka

The permanent Osaka bar sits at Dotonbori 1-4-27, Chuo-ku, Osaka (Pasela Resorts Namba Dotonbori, 5F), a three-to-four-minute walk from Nihonbashi and Namba stations. Operating hours are 11:30–21:00 daily.

Weekdays run on free entry with a two-hour courtesy limit when the venue gets busy. Weekends and public holidays switch to a full reservation system across five 90-minute timeslots (11:30–13:00, 13:30–15:00, 15:30–17:00, 17:30–19:00, 19:30–21:00). Reservations open up to 30 days in advance via TableCheck; walk-ins are accepted on weekdays. Phone: 0120-997-277.

Slime-shaped sweets in white, blue and yellow at Luida's Bar Dragon Quest themed cafe
Image courtesy of Pasela Resorts / Square Enix

Osaka-Exclusive Menu on the Way

Pasela Resorts has confirmed that Osaka-exclusive limited menu items are in the works — dishes and drinks distinct from what’s available at the Tokyo location. The specifics haven’t been announced yet; we’ll add them here once they drop. Both Luida’s Bar locations are known for Dragon Quest-themed food and drinks: Slime-shaped sweets, monster-inspired cocktails and dishes named after spells and in-game items are par for the course. (Source: Famitsu (Japanese), Dengeki Online (Japanese))

For Singapore fans travelling to Japan, Namba is easy to access — it’s a short walk from the main Dotonbori tourist strip and a direct train ride from central Osaka. With the venue now permanent, there’s no seasonal countdown to beat; it’ll be there whenever your Japan trip lines up. Weekend timeslots will fill up fast, so book on TableCheck as soon as your travel dates are confirmed.

For more Japan gaming culture coverage worth bookmarking for your next trip, check our events archive.

Game News, Shop and Merchandise

Dragon Quest Gets a Game of Life Collab — Out in Japan October 2026

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Takara Tomy’s legendary Jinsei Game — Japan’s equivalent of the Game of Life — is crossing over with Dragon Quest for the first time in its 85-edition history. Dragon Quest 人生ゲーム (Dragon Quest Jinsei Game) launches in Japan on 24 October 2026, celebrating the franchise’s 40th anniversary, and pre-orders opened today (17 August) at the Takara Tomy Mall and Amazon Japan. English-language media have not yet covered the announcement, which broke across Japanese gaming outlets including Famitsu (Japanese) and Game Watch Impress (Japanese) this morning.

Dragon Quest Game of Life — What It Is

Dragon Quest 人生ゲーム annotated game board showing key squares including Dharma Temple and final boss Zoma
Image courtesy of Square Enix / Takara Tomy

The game takes the classic Jinsei Game board-game format and wraps it entirely in the Dragon Quest universe. Players begin as an adventurer mounted in a horse-drawn carriage — the traditional car token replaced by a DQ-themed wagon — and travel a sprawling board filled with franchise landmarks: the Dharma Temple, Ruidia’s bar, and ultimately a final showdown against the Demon King Zoma. The player who reaches the goal with the most gold wins.

The game supports 2–6 players, is rated for ages 6 and up, and the board measures 520 × 420 mm — a footprint familiar to anyone who’s played Jinsei Game before. Seven companion-pin types represent Adventurer, Hero, Sage, Warrior, Priest, Mage, and Entertainer roles, each cast in a different colour.

How the Board Plays

Dragon Quest Game of Life event squares including Baby Satan encounter and treasure chest rewards
Image courtesy of Square Enix / Takara Tomy

Movement is driven by a spinner roulette, true to the classic Jinsei Game format. Board squares trigger Dragon Quest-style encounters: a Baby Satan might cast Ionazun and drain your Gold, or a treasure chest could hand you a coveted Small Medal. Companion-check squares add real strategic weight — land on one without a Mage or Sage in your party and you lose 12,000 Gold; have the right ally, and you walk away richer instead.

Small Medals — the collectible coins that DQ fans know from the mainline games — accumulate throughout the run and can be exchanged for powerful item cards, including a Metal King Shield valued at 100,000 Gold.

Game Pieces and Components

Dragon Quest Game of Life game pieces including carriage tokens and adventurer, hero, and companion pins in six colours
Image courtesy of Square Enix / Takara Tomy

Component highlights worth noting:

  • Carriage pieces: Six colours replace the classic car token — each a horse-drawn DQ wagon
  • Adventurer and Hero pins: White for your starting Adventurer; swap to gold when you meet the conditions to class up to Hero
  • Companion pins: Colour-coded peg pieces for Sage, Warrior, Monk, Mage, and Entertainer — load up your carriage or leave yourself exposed on enemy squares

Recruit Companions and Class-Change at Dharma Temple

Dragon Quest Game of Life companion cards for Warrior, Monk, Mage, Entertainer, and Sage professions with gold values
Image courtesy of Square Enix / Takara Tomy

Recruiting the right companions is where the strategy lives. Warrior, Monk, Mage, and Entertainer cards are each worth 20,000 Gold and protect you on specific board squares. Land on the Dharma Temple and meet the correct conditions and you can class-change to Sage — worth a premium 40,000 Gold and unlocking board advantages available only to the Sage class. Upgrading your Adventurer pin all the way to a Hero pin is a separate, harder-to-reach milestone.

The Zoma Finale and Item Cards

Dragon Quest Game of Life item cards including Shoes of Happiness and Orb of Light, with Demon King Zoma boss art
Image courtesy of Square Enix / Takara Tomy

Before crossing the finish line, every player must face Demon King Zoma in a roulette battle — there’s no skipping the final boss. Certain item cards tip the outcome in your favour: the Shoes of Happiness (70,000 Gold) and the Orb of Light (50,000 Gold) both carry special effects in the Zoma encounter, so hoarding them is a legitimate long-game strategy. Survive and you reach the goal as a Legendary Hero; lose enough Gold and the title slips away.

Release Date, Pricing, and Where to Import

Dragon Quest 人生ゲーム is a Japan-domestic release priced at ¥7,150 (tax included) — roughly S$62–65 at current exchange rates. Pre-orders are live from today at the Takara Tomy Mall and on Amazon Japan. Physical stock hits toy specialists, department stores, and mass retailers across Japan on 24 October 2026.

No Singapore or Southeast Asia retail release has been announced. For local fans, the most practical route is Amazon Japan via a freight-forwarding or proxy shopping service. The board and cards are in Japanese, so this is best suited for Dragon Quest fans comfortable with basic Japanese or those adding it to a DQ40 anniversary collection. For more on the broader celebrations, see our Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams reveal and DQ40 anniversary roundup. More DQ40 merchandise and event news are also listed in our Game News section.

Game News

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross Launches August 6 — Dragon Quest Creator Meets Blue Lock Author

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Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii and Blue Lock author Muneyuki Kaneshiro have joined forces on something delightfully menacing: a sugoroku party game expressly designed to end friendships. Tensei Game: Karma x Cross launches on Nintendo Switch in Japan on 6 August 2026 — this Thursday — via the Nintendo eShop at ¥3,980 (tax included).

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross promotional art featuring a masked figure and ghost characters
Image courtesy of ArtePiazza

Two Legends, One Very Dangerous Board Game

The collaboration sounds almost too good to be true. Horii — the mind behind the Dragon Quest series, one of the most beloved JRPG franchises in Japan and a longtime favourite among Singapore fans — serves as supervisor. The original concept comes from Kaneshiro, whose manga work includes Blue Lock (currently tearing up streaming charts) and the survival-horror series As the Gods Will. Development is handled by ArtePiazza, the studio behind the classic Dragon Quest remakes on Nintendo DS.

That As the Gods Will energy is unmistakeable once you hear the premise. You are dead — stranded in Rinnekai, a dark fantasy afterlife world — and your only way out is winning a 22-turn sugoroku (board game) race to earn reincarnation. The catch: only three of the four players can actually be reborn.

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross sugoroku board overview with four player stat panels and a purple eight-sided die
Image courtesy of ArtePiazza

How the Reincarnation Race Works

Spread across 22 turns split into two halves of 11, players roll an eight-sided die and accumulate Karma — the game’s currency — to purchase a Soul Vessel, their ticket to rebirth. Karma flows from cooperation and betrayal in equal measure: land on the right square and you can hire supernatural characters like the white wolf demon Kitsune Key to curse a rival, trigger board events that redistribute accumulated fortunes, or simply sprint ahead while your friends scramble.

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross wolf monster Kitsune Key offering to curse another player for Karma
Image courtesy of ArtePiazza

Multiplayer supports one to four players locally, with online play available for two to four participants (a Nintendo Switch Online membership is required). Friends can battle online with up to three players per console. The 22-turn structure keeps sessions tight and the chaos concentrated — very much by design.

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross bear character launching a powerful attack on the sugoroku board
Image courtesy of ArtePiazza

Watch the Trailer

「転生ゲーム カルマxクロス」はこんなゲーム！！ — via ArtePiazza on YouTube (Japanese)

Playing It in Singapore

Tensei Game: Karma x Cross is a Japan-exclusive eShop release at launch, with no global version announced. For Singapore players, that is not a hard barrier: the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 are fully region-free, and the Japan Nintendo eShop is accessible via a Japanese Nintendo Account. At ¥3,980, the entry price is reasonable for a local-multiplayer title.

Keep in mind the entire game — menus, event text, card descriptions — is in Japanese, with no English localisation announced. Blue Lock fans and Dragon Quest veterans comfortable with JP titles will find the sugoroku flow intuitive from the first roll; the deeper karma-spending mechanics will reward some reading ability. For anyone planning a gaming night, it is worth setting up accounts and practising the menu navigation before friends arrive.

Whether an English version arrives will likely depend on how the Japan launch goes. Given the profile of both creators and the surge in Blue Lock’s global profile, it would be a surprise if publishers left localisation entirely off the table. In the meantime, this Thursday is the earliest Singapore Switch owners can get in — via the Japan Nintendo eShop. Full details at the official Tensei Game site (Japanese).

Browsing for other upcoming releases? Check our game news archive for more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage.

Game News

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World — December 3 Launch Date and Full Details Revealed

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Square Enix has locked in December 3, 2026 as the launch date for Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World — the latest entry in the long-running spin-off series — alongside a detailed breakdown of battles, synthesis, and monster progression. Pre-orders are already live on the Nintendo Malaysia eShop, and Square Enix Asia’s Singapore portal has a dedicated page up for Southeast Asian fans.

DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Withered World | Release Date Trailer — via Square Enix on YouTube

DQ5’s Bianca and Nera Take Centre Stage

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World banner art featuring Bianca and Nera
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Set in a withered, dying world, the game stars the two iconic heroines from Dragon Quest V: Bianca and Nera. Players take the role of a monster wrangler — the wranglers themselves don’t fight, but they direct their creatures in battle through direct commands or AI strategy. Each wrangler has a once-per-battle Wrangler’s Spirit ability: Bianca’s heals HP and boosts attack, while Nera’s restores MP and raises defence, giving the two protagonists distinct playstyle identities.

Eight Monsters, Endless Strategy — Battle System Breakdown

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World battle screenshot showing party combat
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Parties consist of up to four active monsters plus four in reserve — eight total in your squad at any time. Each monster comes with its own spells, abilities, and traits, and you can flip between auto-strategy and direct orders mid-fight. Recruiting new creatures happens during battle: trigger a Show of Force, and defeated monsters may volunteer to join your team, with items available to raise success rates.

Monsters level up and earn Talent Points through each victory. You invest those points to teach new abilities or buff raw attributes, and personality items let you tweak a monster’s growth curve if the default doesn’t suit your build.

Synthesis — Two Parents Become One Stronger Offspring

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World synthesis screen showing monster combination
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Synthesis is where The Withered World rewards the grinders. Combine two parent monsters (both must be at least level 10) to produce an offspring that can inherit — and evolve — maxed-out parental Talents. The Plus Values system lets you pass attribute bonuses through successive synthesis, so offspring can eventually exceed their parents’ rank. Specific pairings unlock exclusive creatures you can’t recruit in the wild: confirmed examples include Stump Chump + Bad Egg = Mitey Oak and a Golem-line chain leading to Balhib. Four-monster synthesis (using grandparent chains) opens even rarer results.

Over 500 Monsters — Including Three Brand-New Designs

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World showing new monsters including Slime Balls
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The roster clears 500 monsters, arranged across nine ranks (G through X) in eight family groups. Monsters come in Small or Large sizes — Large creatures occupy two party slots but hit harder and act more frequently per turn. Three brand-new monster designs were unveiled today:

  • Slime Balls (Slime family) — three flavour variants: sour plum, veggie mix, and shrimp tempura
  • Bamboo Badboy (Nature family) — lures in hungry folk disguised as a bamboo shoot, then attacks
  • Groovy Grouse (Nature family) — bobs to its own internal soundtrack

Editions, Pricing and Pre-Orders for Singapore

The game ships on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch (eShop), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and the Microsoft Store on December 3, 2026 — with the Steam version following on December 4. Physical editions cover Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PS5 only.

Confirmed USD pricing (Singapore store pricing to be confirmed):

  • Standard Edition — $59.99 USD
  • Digital Deluxe Edition — $94.99 USD: includes a 4-item DLC set and 48-hour early access (playable December 1)
  • Collector’s Edition — $219.99 USD (via Square Enix Online Store): adds figurines of Bianca, Nera, and Debora; flocked Slime plushies; a Slime silicone pouch; and a microfibre cleaning cloth

Pre-orders are live on the Nintendo Malaysia eShop for both Switch 2 and Switch versions. For physical pre-orders, check major games retailers closer to launch as regional listings are confirmed. More coverage as Singapore pricing is announced.

Game News, Shop and Merchandise

Dragon Quest Capserium: Slimes Pop Up Inside Terrarium Gachapon This Week

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If you have ever wanted a Dragon Quest monster encounter to live permanently on your desk, Bandai just made it happen. The Capserium Dragon Quest (カプセリウム ドラゴンクエスト), a new entry in Bandai’s Premium Gashapon line produced under licence from Square Enix, has begun rolling out at capsule vending machines across Japan this week — and the concept is quietly brilliant: the capsule itself becomes the terrarium.

Dragon Quest Capserium Slime variant terrarium gachapon, green lid, three blue Slimes on a grassy hill
Image courtesy of Bandai / Square Enix

A Monster Has Appeared — Right on Your Desk

Bandai’s Capserium series transforms a standard gashapon sphere into a sealed, globe-shaped display case. There is no assembly required beyond dropping the diorama pieces inside the transparent shell; the lid screws on and the whole thing sits on any flat surface as a self-contained miniature scene.

The Dragon Quest version leans hard into the series’ iconic battle-encounter moment. Each capsule recreates that familiar message window as a physical placard at the base of the diorama — the same black text box that has been stopping adventurers in their tracks since 1986. Part of Dragon Quest’s ongoing 40th anniversary celebrations, the range celebrates forty years of Slimes, Metal Slimes, and everything in between.

Update from the DRAGON QUEST Team — via DRAGON QUEST on YouTube

Three Monsters, Three Battle Scenes

The launch set has three variants, each pairing a monster with a matching field environment lifted straight from the games:

  • Slime (green lid): Three cheerful blue Slimes cluster on a grassy highland, a miniature pine tree standing watch in the background. Message window: “スライムが あらわれた！” (A Slime appeared!)
  • Hagure Metal (black lid): The notoriously elusive Metal Slime — high EXP, famously prone to running — stands on a cracked stone floor surrounded by crumbling columns and ancient rock formations, a ruins encounter brought to life. Message window: “はぐれメタルが あらわれた！” (A Metal Slime appeared!)
  • Slime Tsumuri (blue lid): The shell-wearing Slime Tsumuri emerges on a sandy beach scene with palm trees swaying overhead — arguably the most summer-ready desk ornament in the lineup.
Dragon Quest Capserium Hagure Metal (Metal Slime) variant terrarium gachapon, black lid, silver Metal Slime on a ruins diorama
Image courtesy of Bandai / Square Enix
Dragon Quest Capserium Slime Tsumuri variant terrarium gachapon, blue lid, beach scene with palm trees
Image courtesy of Bandai / Square Enix

All three are priced at 600 yen each (tax included) at gachapon vending machines. The product is rated ages 15 and up due to small components. These are not blind-box products in the traditional sense — while you are still pulling from a machine at random, there are only three designs, so collectors who know which variant they want can keep going until they land it.

Dragon Quest fans in Singapore will recognise this is part of a broader wave of 40th anniversary merchandise and experiences in Japan this year, including the recently opened Dragon Quest the DIVE VR experience in Tokyo. Browse other gaming merch and collectible news on GameTrader.

How Singapore Fans Can Import Them

Capserium Dragon Quest is a Japan-only gashapon release and will not appear at local game retailers or electronics chains. That said, it is available not just through physical vending machines but also via Japanese online retailers including Amazon Japan, Rakuten, DMM.com and Yahoo Shopping Japan — all of which support forwarding and proxy shopping services.

The 600 yen base price works out to roughly S$5–6 per capsule before shipping. Factor in international freight and proxy service fees and each terrarium will likely land closer to S$15–25 all-in, depending on how many you order and how you consolidate the shipment. Ordering three at once to complete the set in one shipment is almost always the most cost-effective approach.

If Dragon Quest Slime merchandise history is any guide, the Hagure Metal variant will be the first to sell out — rare-monster items consistently move fastest. If that is the one you want, do not sleep on it.

Game News

Dragon Quest the DIVE Opens in Tokyo — VR Ride, Giant King Slime and a Collab Restaurant

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Dragon Quest the DIVE — Square Enix and Tohokushinsha’s fully immersive 40th anniversary exhibition — opened its doors today in Tokyo, and from first reports, it’s something worth knowing about. Situated across multiple floors of Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado, the event runs until 6 September 2026 and offers a mix of VR rides, interactive displays, nostalgic retrospectives, and a full-themed restaurant. If you’re planning a Japan trip this summer, this is one to factor in.

Dragon Quest VR RIDE — Ride a Great Sabrecat in 360°

Dragon Quest the DIVE: Promotion Video 2 — via スクウェア・エニックス (Square Enix) on YouTube

The centrepiece is the Dragon Quest VR RIDE, an immersive attraction pairing Meta Quest 3 headsets with motion seats to place you on the back of a Great Sabrecat. The ride is a 360-degree journey through the Dragon Quest world — you gallop across grasslands, dodge monsters in forest paths, and launch into flight above the landscape with actual wind effects. It is, in short, the closest anyone will get to the real thing. Tickets are advance-purchase; check the official exhibition page for session times before you go.

Dragon Quest the DIVE exhibition floor, Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado
Image courtesy of Square Enix

What Else Is Inside Dragon Quest the DIVE

Beyond the VR Ride, the exhibition unfolds across several distinct zones:

  • Squishy King Slime: A King Slime standing over two metres tall has been installed for visitors to hug. Nearby, the Fureai Monster Lab lets you touch realistically-textured recreations of familiar monsters — Slime, Momon, and even the Lips (yes, really).
  • 40th Anniversary Town: AI image analysis transforms your photo into an illustrated resident of a Dragon Quest celebration town, giving you a personalised memento to take home.
  • Dragon Quest Memorial Wall: A retrospective zone walking through the series from the original Dragon Quest through Dragon Quest XI — featuring development materials, original artwork, and sheet music. Fans will recognise the contributions of the late Akira Toriyama, whose character designs defined the series’ visual identity over 40 years; original illustrations by Toriyama are displayed here as part of the tribute.

More gaming news at GameTrader

Dragon Quest the DIVE official merchandise lineup
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The Collab Restaurant — FAMiRES × Dragon Quest the DIVE

The dedicated restaurant on the 5th floor of Harakado is open daily 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM, with food orders accepted until 9:00 PM. The menu leans into the series’ iconography:

  • Dracky’s Caesar Salad — ¥2,200 (~S$21)
  • Bubble Slime Omelette Rice — ¥2,200 (~S$21)
  • Rockbomb Fried Chicken with Megante Sauce — ¥1,518 (~S$14)
  • Slime Cream Sodas (six varieties) — ¥1,078 each (~S$10)
  • Legendary Sword Drinks (three varieties) — ¥1,188 each (~S$11)
  • Mini Medal Pudding — ¥1,078 (~S$10)
  • 40th Anniversary Pancakes — ¥770 (~S$7)

Every collab menu order comes with an original illustrated placemat. The restaurant’s hours are separate from the main exhibition — useful if you’re visiting for dinner after the VR queue has cleared.

FAMiRES x Dragon Quest the DIVE collab restaurant menu
Image courtesy of Square Enix

How to Visit

Dragon Quest the DIVE runs from today, 17 July, through 6 September 2026 at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado, Tokyo. Exhibition floors: 4F (MAZE) and 2F (COVER); restaurant: 5F (FAMiRES). Opening hours are 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM with last admission at 7:59 PM. The nearest stations are Harajuku (JR Yamanote Line) and Meiji-Jingumae (Tokyo Metro), both a short walk away.

Advance tickets are required for the VR RIDE — details and booking available on the official Dragon Quest 40th anniversary site. Note that entrance involves a mix of ticketed attractions and free-roam zones; check the official breakdown before planning your session.

As we covered when the Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams reveal dropped last week, Square Enix is treating this 40th anniversary as a proper moment — DQXII is confirmed, a new Monsters entry is in the works, and this exhibition is the physical centrepiece of the whole celebration. The run through 6 September overlaps neatly with Singapore’s September school break, for anyone already planning a Tokyo trip.

Game News

Dragon Quest Turns 40: DQXII Beyond Dreams Finally Revealed, Plus a Tokyo Exhibition Opening Next Week

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Dragon Quest quietly celebrated its 40th birthday this year — and Square Enix made sure the occasion counted. In a special anniversary livestream on 27 May 2026, the company finally pulled back the curtain on the long-awaited Dragon Quest XII, revealed a new title and a development reboot, and teased a slate of related releases. Now, less than two months later, a full-blown immersive exhibition is opening in Tokyo next week to mark 40 years since the very first Dragon Quest launched on Famicom in 1986.

Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams — A Hard Reset for the Next Chapter

When Dragon Quest XII was first announced back in 2021 under the subtitle The Flames of Fate, series creator Yuji Horii hinted at a darker, more mature tone for the franchise. Five years on, that version is gone. Square Enix Executive Producer Yosuke Saito confirmed the reset during the anniversary stream, explaining that work on the original version “hit a lot of hurdles along the way” and that, after consultation with Horii, the team decided to start over entirely under a new development structure.

The result is Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams — a title that reflects the fresh direction. Horii described the story as “the adventures of a protagonist who experiences mysterious dreams,” adding: “I think there is a world spreading out in Beyond Dreams that is surely bright rather than dark. It has changed from the version we announced previously, but I think everyone will be able to enjoy it.”

Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams hero standing in a forest
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Saito acknowledged it was “a very difficult decision” but expressed confidence in delivering “something great as the latest Dragon Quest that more fans can enjoy.” Platforms and a release window are yet to be confirmed — the game is clearly early in development — but character designs are once again the work of the late Akira Toriyama, and music comes from the legendary Koichi Sugiyama. For Singapore fans, there is no confirmed global or SEA release date; treat any timeline speculation as to be confirmed.

Watch: The Official 40th Anniversary Reveal Stream

Update from the DRAGON QUEST Team — via DRAGON QUEST on YouTube

Dragon Quest the DIVE: An Immersive Exhibition Opening in Harajuku on 17 July

The bigger news for fans heading to Japan this summer: the Dragon Quest 40th Anniversary Exhibition “Dragon Quest the DIVE” opens at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado this coming Thursday, 17 July, and runs through 6 September 2026. The venue is a short walk from Meiji-jingumae (Harajuku), Harajuku, and Omotesando stations.

Dragon Quest the DIVE exhibition VR Ride promotional image featuring a Great Sabrecat and a Slime
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The centrepiece is the Dragon Quest VR RIDE, a motion-seat experience using Meta Quest 3 headsets that puts you on the back of a Great Sabrecat as you tear across a 360-degree landscape, dodge monster encounters, and soar through the sky — with physical wind effects to boot. Elsewhere in the venue:

  • Hug a two-metre-tall Poyoyon King Slime installation
  • Get your photo AI-transformed into a resident of the 40th Anniversary Town
  • Walk through a Dragon Quest Memorial Wall covering Dragon Quest I through XI, featuring original development artwork and sheet music from the series’ creators
  • Dine at FAMiRES x Dragon Quest the DIVE, a collaboration restaurant on the 5th floor, serving themed dishes, six slime-coloured cream sodas (1,078 yen each), and DQ-themed desserts
Homita, the Blue Slime mascot of Dragon Quest the DIVE, voiced by Yui Ogura
Image courtesy of Square Enix

The exhibition’s guide character is Homita, a plucky Blue Slime wielding a rusty sword and dreaming of becoming a hero, voiced by Yui Ogura (known for HUG! PreCure). Hours are 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily (last entry 7:59 PM). Ticket prices range from 1,800 yen for children on weekdays to 4,000 yen for adults on weekends; premium tickets with a pin badge set are 7,800 to 10,000 yen. General tickets are available at Lawson branches across Japan. Check the official Dragon Quest the DIVE website for the latest details and booking links.

More 40th Anniversary Releases Singapore Fans Should Know About

The May stream packed in several other announcements alongside the DQXII reveal:

  • Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on 24 September 2026 — if you missed the acclaimed JRPG the first time around, this edition looks like the definitive way to play.
  • Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World is confirmed for a multi-platform release (specific platforms to be confirmed in full).
  • The Dragon Quest I+II HD-2D Remake and Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake have collectively sold over 4 million copies worldwide, signalling strong appetite for the franchise beyond Japan.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World key art featuring iconic series monsters
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams has no confirmed release date for Singapore or any other region, and given the development reboot, a launch well into 2027 or beyond seems most likely. But with Dragon Quest XI S heading to Switch 2 this September and the HD-2D remakes selling strongly regionally, the series is in genuinely good shape at 40. For the latest JRPG and game news, keep checking back with GameTrader.SG.