Square Enix and KLabGames are teaming up to release Dragon Quest Smash/Grow, a new mobile entry in the iconic Dragon Quest universe. The game will hit iOS and Android devices on April 21, 2026.
Dragon Quest Smash/Grow is free to play with in-app purchases, and anyone who pre-registers will receive 10 ”Premium Transmuter” attempts at launch.
Unlike traditional Dragon Quest titles, this roguelite action RPG drops players into a ”Rift” – a dungeon-crawling experience filled with waves of monsters culminating in a powerful boss fight against an ”Alpha.”
The controls are streamlined for mobile play: holding down moves your character, releasing triggers an attack. As you battle, a ”Coup de Grâce” gauge fills up, letting you unleash a devastating blow that can clear the entire arena.
The core gameplay twist is the ”Blessing” system: randomized buffs that change every run. These can add fiery projectiles, electric attacks, and other auto-targeting effects. Combining different Blessings creates a unique challenge and encourages replayability.
Players build a team of three characters, switching between them on the fly to leverage the strengths of various classic Dragon Quest classes. Each class has distinct development paths and weapon preferences, while Blessings apply to the whole team simultaneously.
Besides the main storyline-which starts with the first chapter titled Send ’Em Flying! Slime Invasion-the game features cooperative quests for up to four players, an endless enemy wave mode called Gauntlet, and Shrine battles that pit you against formidable bosses.
Yuji Horii, the creator of the original Dragon Quest series that debuted in 1986, serves as the project’s curator. The launch marks the franchise’s 40th anniversary, with the opening trailer crafted by the animation studio Kamikaze Douga.
For fans of mobile RPGs, Dragon Quest Smash/Grow offers a fresh take by merging roguelite unpredictability with familiar Dragon Quest iconography and classes. It aims to stand out against mobile RPG heavyweights like Genshin Impact and Epic Seven, while delivering a distinctive, bite-sized dungeon-crawler experience. The use of simple controls and team-switching offers tactical depth often missing in casual mobile titles.
Watch for how well the Blessing system and roguelite structure keep players engaged long term. The cooperative modes could also offer a new way for Dragon Quest fans to connect online, a departure from the single-player focus of past entries. If Dragon Quest Smash/Grow succeeds, it might set a new standard for how classic JRPG franchises adapt to mobile roguelite and multiplayer trends.