Square Enix reveals Dragon Quest RPG for iOS and Android
A new Dragon Quest adventure is coming to mobile in 2027, combining classic turn-based combat with exploration and base building. Square Enix has also opened applications for a December closed beta, with up to 25,000 players getting an early look at the free-to-play RPG.
Square Enix has revealed Dragon Quest RPG: The Cursed Tree and the Chosen Isle, a new turn-based role-playing game for iOS and Android. It is planned for release in 2027, although Square Enix has not given a specific launch date or confirmed availability in every region.
The announcement also opens applications for a closed beta, which will run from December 8 to 15. Square Enix will accept applications until November 23 and plans to select up to 25,000 testers. The game is free to play with in-app purchases, so the test may offer an early look at how its traditional RPG systems are adapted for mobile.
A new Dragon Quest story begins on a floating island
The story opens on Monbelusha, a floating island in the middle of its annual Ringing Feast. The celebration turns into a disaster when the fiend Zaahl corrupts Yggdrasil, the World Tree, transforming it into Grimvein. Its influence begins spreading despair as Monbelusha falls apart.
A boy plunges toward the world below carrying a mysterious branch entrusted to him by the goddess Belusha. He is tasked with becoming the Warden of the World Tree and setting out to save the world. Square Enix has not yet explained how this new story connects to other Dragon Quest games, so it currently appears to be a separate adventure.
Turn-based battles meet a mobile progression loop
Square Enix describes the game as a classic Dragon Quest adventure designed for smartphones. Players will explore maps, enter dungeons, and fight monsters through command-based turn-based battles. Special abilities called Fast Strike skills and pep powers are intended to add tactical options to the familiar format.
Battles feed into a larger progression system. Players can bring home the rewards they earn on their travels and use them to develop a base and strengthen their allies. That structure gives the game a return point between expeditions, though Square Enix has not yet shown how much time players will spend building up the base compared with exploring and fighting.
The beta has a limited number of places
The closed beta is intended to help Square Enix improve the game before its full release. Applications are open through November 23, with a lottery planned if more than 25,000 people apply. Successful applicants are expected to be notified on December 4.
There are a few practical limits to bear in mind. The test is restricted to players aged 18 and older, progress will not carry over to the final game, and the beta may include unfinished features or unstable performance. Square Enix also says that virtual currency will not be available for purchase during the test.
Older phones may not meet the recommended specifications
The beta’s minimum requirements are iOS 15 on an iPhone 11 or newer, or Android 9 on a 64-bit device with a Snapdragon 855 processor or better. Both platforms require at least 4 GB of RAM. Square Enix recommends an iPhone 14 or newer, or an Android device with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and at least 6 GB of RAM.
Those requirements apply to the test and could change before launch. They are also a sign that the game may be more demanding than a lightweight mobile RPG, particularly for players using older devices. Square Enix warns that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee stable performance.
The launch plan is still taking shape
The game is being developed by WFS, with Square Enix responsible for planning and production. Its credited creative team includes Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii as general director, Akira Toriyama for character design, and Koichi Sugiyama for music, linking the project to some of the series’ best-known contributors.
The broad outline is now clear: a 2027 mobile release, a free-to-play model, and a familiar loop of exploration, turn-based battles, and character growth. The beta should answer more practical questions about how those systems feel on a phone. Square Enix has yet to share a full breakdown of in-app purchases, a final device list, or a precise release date.