Dragon Quest Builders cover art

Dragon Quest Builders

A block-building sandbox wrapped in a Dragon Quest story where smart construction beats reflexes.

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Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION3 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE2 /10OPTIMIZATION8 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    3/10

    Light action combat; simple swings and dodges suffice.

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    0/10

    No adaptive opponent; scripted monsters only.

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    2/10

    Mostly fixed world layouts; minor loot randomness.

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    8/10

    Base layouts, recipes, room bonuses and progression are fully solvable.

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

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Game details

Released
2016
Developer
Square Enix Business Division 5
Franchise
Dragon Quest
Platforms
PS3, PS4, Android, PC, iOS, Vita, Switch
Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB critics
82/100
IGDB users
79/100
Role-playing (RPG)AdventureActionFantasySandboxOpen world