Dragon Quest RPG: The Cursed Tree and the Chosen Isle builds its story around a floating island, a corrupted World Tree and a boy who falls from the sky with a goddess's branch in hand. Square Enix and developer Wright Flyer Studios revealed the turn-based fantasy RPG for iOS and Android with an announcement trailer and a message from series creator Yuji Horii, and the game is set for a global release in 2027. Check out the official post down below:
The Fall Of Monbelusha
The official synopsis opens "high above the world, on the floating isle of Monbelusha," where the annual Ringing Feast is under way. While the islanders offer prayers, the fiend Zaahl corrupts Yggdrasil, "once a shining symbol of hope," into Grimvein, "a cursed tree whose dark influence spreads despair far and wide."
As Monbelusha breaks apart, a boy plunges toward the world below. The Goddess Belusha entrusts him with "a single, mysterious branch," and he takes up the role of Warden of the World Tree. His quest to save the world is made "soaring across the skies on the isle of the chosen," which gives the game the second half of its title. The Japanese title, Makaiju to Michibikareshi Shima, translates more literally to the demon-world tree and the guided isle.
The key art released with Horii's message shows a purple, glowing tree on top of a floating island in the clouds, while the blue-caped hero and a Slime look up at it from a green valley on the ground.
A Familiar Tree In Dragon Quest History
The World Tree is a recurring Dragon Quest landmark, and the Yggdrasil leaf has long been the series' item for reviving a fallen party member. In Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, Yggdrasil was the Tree of Life at the center of the world, and its fall drove the second half of that game's story.
The name comes from Norse mythology, where Yggdrasil is the great ash tree that connects the 9 worlds. The Cursed Tree and the Chosen Isle sets its own version on a sky island, with Zaahl twisting the tree into a source of despair before the story starts.
Horii On Bringing Back The Classic Feel
Horii wrote that the team focused "more than ever on capturing that unmistakable DRAGON QUEST feeling: exploring towns, meeting new allies, gearing up and steadily growing stronger." He said the "RPG" in the title comes from that goal, and that the game is built so players can make progress in short sessions and "come back whenever you're ready."
"Day by day, you'll venture further into the world, with an ever-stronger party by your side. Those small steps add up to a grand adventure," Horii wrote. He closed by saying he hopes players "in Japan and all around the world will enjoy this new DRAGON QUEST," and signed the note with the Japanese phrase for "Life is a role-playing game."
Horii is general director, with character design credited to the late Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball and music to the late Koichi Sugiyama. Wright Flyer Studios, the GREE Holdings studio that made the Heaven Burns Red RPG, is developing it, and Square Enix handles planning and production.
How The Adventure Plays
The trailer moves from overworld exploration across fields, rivers and a stone tower to a seaside village, a raft trip down a shadowy canal and a forge run by a smith named Sentil. Its on-screen captions read "Set out with your allies to save the world" and "Your journey starts here," and the final shot carries the tagline "The classic adventure, now in your hands."
Battles use traditional turn-based commands, with Fast Strike skills and pep powers added on top. Between quests, the hero brings materials home to grow a base and strengthen allies. The game is free to play with in-app purchases and will launch in Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese and Korean.
Closed Beta In December
A closed beta test is accepting applications through November 23 at 7:59 AM MST, and the test itself runs December 8 to December 15. Square Enix has 25,000 spots and will hold a lottery if more players apply, with results emailed on December 4. Testers must be 18 or older, and beta progress will not carry over to the final game.
Square Enix's other recent fantasy releases include a new Final Fantasy novel, covered in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: Dear Destiny Brings Kazushige Nojima's Tifa And Aerith Story To English Readers.
Square Enix released the official announcement trailer:
Does a corrupted World Tree and a hero falling from a sky island make a strong opening for a new Dragon Quest story?
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