Square Enix explains why it used a new “doll-like art style” for Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined

One of the bigger talking points surrounding Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined when it was first revealed was its graphics, which Square Enix has officially labeled as “doll-like art style”. Previously, the company seemed like it was going all-in on the HD-2D look. But now we’re getting something that we hadn’t really seen before, especially from Square Enix.

In an interview with Nintendo Everything, producer Takeshi Ichikawa spoke about the new art style for Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined. Ichikawa explained that the team wanted to come up with a look that would be appealing worldwide. Also, Square Enix was looking to “depict the depth and feel of Dragon Quest 7’s story more vividly”.

Ichikawa’s full words:

“When remaking Dragon Quest 7, we considered the visual direction with the hope that audiences worldwide, not just in Japan, would enjoy and grow fond of the charming characters designed by Akira Toriyama. In order to depict the depth and feel of Dragon Quest 7’s story more vividly, we took on a new challenge for the Dragon Quest series: employing a “doll-like art style” and developing an in-game environment that resembles a diorama. Please refer to this as the “hand-crafted style”! In addition, we adopted the hand-crafted visual style to match the stylized character designs of Dragon Quest 7, which differ from those in other mainline entries.”

What do you think about the art style Square Enix came up with for the game? Let us know in the comments.

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is now available worldwide on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch. We have a new trailer for the game here.