Square Enix revamps Dragon Quest 12, unveils “Beyond Dreams” and new Monsters spin‑off

To mark the series’ 40th anniversary in 2026, Square Enix announced a full development reset for Dragon Quest 12. The game’s original subtitle “The Flames of Fate” was dropped in favor of “Beyond Dreams”, signaling a shift from a dark tone to a brighter, dream‑focused narrative. Producer Yosuke Saito explained that the previous version faced many hurdles, prompting the team to start “from scratch” and adopt Unreal Engine 5. The new storyline follows a young hero plagued by mysterious visions, exploring both the real world and a dream realm. Yuji Horii said, “What lies beyond the dreams? Not a world of darkness, but a bright, exciting future.” No release date is set, but the reboot pushes the expected launch to 2027‑2028.

Alongside the main title, Square Enix revealed “Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World”. The ESRB has given the game an E10+ rating, noting alcohol references, fantasy violence and mild language, and confirming in‑game purchases. The spin‑off lets players control two girls on a quest to find a magical item, using turn‑based combat to tame classic monsters such as slimes, dragons and ghosts. It will launch on Switch, Switch 2 and other major platforms later in 2026.