An old friend returns in Square Enix’s fresh take on one of its most ambitious RPGs.
It seems time really does fly even for the Warriors of Eden. Fans tuning into Sony’s State of Play Japan were treated to a surprise glimpse of an older, battle-worn Kiefer in the latest trailer for Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined, Square Enix’s upcoming revival of the classic RPG.
The reimagined adventure is set to launch on 5 February 2026 for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store.
A fresh journey across old worlds
This follow-up trailer highlights what awaits players in the newly-updated version of the 2000 PlayStation original, now rebuilt with modern visuals, smoother storytelling, and a few surprises along the way. Kiefer’s appearance isn’t just a nostalgic callback: players will reunite with him during a quest set in the Rucker region of the past.
According to Square Enix, your party will infiltrate Rucker Castle at night to lend Kiefer a hand, but stealth is key. Should the guards catch sight of you, the prince-turned-adventurer will jump into battle, showing off the skills he’s honed since your last meeting. The trailer teases that this won’t be the last time he fights by your side.
Beyond the story updates, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined adds new gameplay systems and refined progression. The classic job system has been expanded with a “Moonlighting” mechanic that lets characters master two vocations simultaneously, alongside a “Monster Master” class for taming and training monsters.
Restoring lost worlds, one fragment at a time
Exploration remains at the heart of the journey. To unlock new lands, players will need to collect fragments of broken stone tablets and restore them at the Shrine of Mysteries, a central hub on the island your heroes call home. Each restored tablet opens a gateway to a new region with its own story, characters, and problems to solve.
Square Enix notes that helping these distant lands will literally reshape the world, with new islands appearing as you mend the past.
For collectors, the game will also receive a Collector’s Edition, featuring a SteelBook case, Smile Slime plush, ship-in-a-bottle ornament, and three DLC packs. A Digital Deluxe Edition will offer 48-hour early access, an exclusive outfit for Ruff, and the same bonus content.
Originally released for the PlayStation in 2000 and later remade for the Nintendo 3DS, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined aims to modernise the beloved epic while keeping its heart intact. And with the return of an older Kiefer leading the charge, it seems both nostalgia and adventure await.
