Square Enix and co-developer Tose Co. have revealed a batch of new details about Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, the next entry in the series' monster-collecting spinoff line, as reported by Polygon. The game arrives Dec. 3 on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC via Steam, and Xbox Series X.
The Withered World brings back Bianca and Nera — the hero's two potential brides from Dragon Quest 5 — and your choice matters mechanically. A new once-per-battle ability called the Wrangler's Spirit has a chance to trigger and buff the party, with different effects per protagonist: Bianca's version heals HP and raises attack power, while Nera's restores MP and boosts defense.
More than 500 monsters, including some very weird new ones
Your main party holds four monsters with four more in reserve, drawn from a pool of more than 500 distinct creatures across eight families. Each monster carries one of nine ranks (G through X), a size class of small or large, and its own personality. Alongside returning series staples, the new recruits lean delightfully strange: the Slime Balls are a trio of onigiri-inspired buddies who come in sour plum, veggie mix, and shrimp tempura flavors; Bamboo Badboy lures in the hungry by disguising itself as a succulent bamboo shoot; and Groovy Grouse never stops dancing to the music playing in his own head.
Synthesis returns, grandparents and all
The series' signature breeding system, synthesis, is back. Befriended monsters must reach level 10 before they can serve as parents; after synthesis both parents disappear, leaving a child that can outgrow them by inheriting their combat moves and passive buffs. Some monsters can only be obtained this way — and as in 2023's Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, certain especially desirable creatures require merging four monsters through grandparent synthesis.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World was first revealed in May during the Dragon Quest 40th anniversary event and received its full trailer and Dec. 3 release date at the June Nintendo Direct.
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