Honorable Mention: Dragon Quest Builders
Dragon Quest Builders was definitely a surprise when it was announced, a brand new Dragon Quest game that looked like it was adopting the gameplay of Minecraft. While the game does employ many of the same mechanics as Minecraft, Builders managed to be something fun and unique on its own.
Builders is actually set in the world of the very first Dragon Quest game, known as Alefgard. You play as the savior, who’s tasked with rebuilding the world after it’s been destroyed by the Dragonlord. The story mode sees you traveling to four different outposts, and having to gather resources to rebuild each one.
Like Minecraft, much of your time will be spent running around the world and hitting blocks to collect resources. As you’d expect, you oftentimes have to use those resources to build something, then use that something to build another thing, before using it in construction. Monsters roam the land outside of your keep, so you’ll need to do some fighting along the way as well.
There’s a central story in Dragon Quest Builders that plays out, and you also have villagers that will come visit your outpost, and even live there working daily tasks and helping out. The writing in the game is very well done, and manages to tread the fine line of being kid friendly while also being engaging for adults. Not to mention the gorgeous cel-shaded and voxel art style it’s presented in. Dragon Quest Builders is definitely one of the biggest, but most welcome, surprises of 2016.
