The Dragon Quest Monsters series focuses on catching, raising, and combining ("synthesizing") iconic series creatures to build a fighting team.

Players take control of a Monster Wrangler who commands monsters in turn-based, strategic combat rather than fighting directly.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World features a robust collection of more than 500 new and fan-favorite monsters, evolved graphics and an engaging narrative that follows dual protagonists Bianca and Nera as they embark on a journey to bring the world of Witherwood back to life.

Team up with wranglers the world over and take on Joint Battles together!

After you progress some way through the story of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, you’ll unlock a host of online content. These modes are enabled for cross-platform play, meaning you can enjoy them with anyone, regardless of their chosen gaming system. One of those modes is Online Joint Battles, where you can team up with other wranglers to test your skills against massive monsters together. There are daily quests to try your hand at, as well as special events featuring infamous monsters from across the DRAGON QUEST series,withfantastic rewards for those able to overcome the challenge!

With three difficulties of regular quests to choose from, you can select the level of challenge that best matches your current party’s strength.

Once you’ve chosen the quest you want to take on, you can start the matching process to find other players. You can also choose to play alone if you wish.

During battle, you can talk with your teammates using a selection of simple preset messages—and you’ll need to communicate if you want to emerge victorious!

When you use healing and support skills on allied parties in battle, you’ll boost your collective Team Bonus. This multiplier increases the damage that everyone can inflict on the enemy and boosts the effectiveness of healing abilities.

Keep an eye out for super-tough Special Quests that feature special monsters. These events regularly come and go, so be sure to give them a try if you’re feeling strong enough.

Expand your roster with monster eggs!: You can earn monster eggs as rewards for completing Online Joint Battles and other challenges.The monsters that hatch forth can then be added to your party! Eggs come in four colors, and all sorts of monsters can be inside.

Connect online to access a wealth of extra content!

In addition to Online Joint Battles, connecting online allows you to battle against other players in Ranked Matches to improve your global ranking, fight parties that players have uploaded via the Wranglers Society and much more. However, because the online content, such as Online Joint Battles and Ranked Matches, is intended to be a fair test of your monster wrangling skills, the Wrangler’s Spirit ability won’t activate in these game modes.

• Ranked Matches: In Ranked Matches, you compete against other players of a similar ability to yours. There are seven main ranks, from Beginner to Legendary, and the goal is to rise as far you can in the standings. Every victory rewards you with Ranking Points. Your total at the end of a season determines your rank. Perform well and you might earn promotion to a higher rank, with rewards for doing so!
• Private Matches: In Private Matches, you can customize the rules of battle, such as setting the number of rounds or the times you can swap in your reserves.
• The Wranglers Society: Head over to the Online Hub, where other players are represented, to participate in the Wranglers Society. By speaking to the wranglers there, you can battle against their parties, so be sure to take your strongest monsters along with you. Win a battle in the Wranglers Society and you’ll get to spin the roulette wheel to determine your reward, with items, mini medals and other great prizes up for grabs.
• Online Shop: The Online Shop has some valuable items for sale. The lineup changes depending on the day of the week and your progress through the story, so check back regularly to see what new stock has come in.

The Battle Arena, where monster wranglers go to test their mettle!

In addition to the online content, there’s also a fully offline Battle Arena to enjoy, which Bianca and Nera will discover upon visiting Witherwood Castle. In these contests, you’ll send the monsters you’ve raised into battles that will determine the strongest wrangler in the kingdom. This Battle Arena features both regular battles and joint battles, each with seven difficulty categories from G up to A. With rewards on offer for completing a category, the Battle Arena is the perfect place to test your skills or take a break from adventuring.

• Regular Arena Battles: In the regular Arena Battles, you have to win all three matches in a category to complete it. Your monsters’ HP and MP will be fully restored between matches, so you can always fight to the max. Once you pay the entry fee, it’s time to start battling! During battle, you can choose the general tactics you want your monsters to follow. Keep close tabs on how each battle plays out and adjust your tactics accordingly.
• Joint Battles: In Joint Battles at the arena, you can set the tactics for your main party and your reserves, as well as for the other monster wranglers who fight alongside you.

An all-new roguelike mode for extended replayability!

Progress even further through the story and a new challenge will unlock in the Battle Arena called the “Wrangler’s Gauntlet” that will truly test your ability as a monster wrangler! Devised by Scruffy, the Wrangler’s Gauntlet provides you with a selection of monsters that changes each time you attempt the challenge. You must use what you’re given to build a party capable of winning 50 consecutive battles. The monsters you befriend here, and the items you obtain, can’t be taken out on your adventures, but with different starting monsters each time and opponents that change with every new attempt, no two runs are ever the same. The roguelike elements offer a fresh perspective on monster wrangling!

• The Wrangler’s Gauntlet: The challenge begins once you receive your monsters from Scruffy. He’ll even tell you which monsters you’ll face off against in the next battle, meaning you can tailor your party to best deal with each different opponent. After winning a battle, you’ll have the opportunity to strengthen your party. Your monsters and those of your previous opponent will all be available for synthesis, so choose from the best among them and prepare for the next match. Spend the Wrangler Points you receive for each victory at the nearby Gauntlet Goods shop to purchase items that will help you develop a powerful party.

No experience with past Dragon Quest Monsters games is needed to dive into this monstrously fun new adventure.

Pre-orders are now live, with Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch digital pre-orders starting at a later date.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam) on Dec. 3, 2026.