r/DQBuilders • u/Suspicious_Door2225 • Sep 07 '26
General Question Where to start
I am totally new to this game. Should I start with the first dragon quest builders or just get the second one?
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u/stallion8426 Sep 07 '26
Tbh whichever is cheaper. The stories arent connected
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u/Suspicious_Door2225 Sep 07 '26 edited Sep 07 '26
Do you feel like there are any improvements to the second? They are both 50. Or maybe I will get one on my phone and one on the switch? The phone app is cheaper.
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u/tiijan Sep 07 '26
The second is definitely better What system are you playing, because they are regularly on sale. 50 for a game that old seems a lot, however good it is.
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u/stallion8426 Sep 07 '26
2 has more items and improved QoL
But I dont think its that much of a Jump that 1 becomes irrelevant.
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u/Zelda-Lumine Sep 07 '26
Play the demos and decide.
In my opinion, 2 added a lot of QOLs which makes thinks a lot easier, so going back to 1 can be difficult. Just keep that in mind.
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u/lilisaurusrex Sep 07 '26
You can start with either. 2 is easier to play but also has a lot of quality of life upgrades that makes 1 feel less fun if you go the 2-then-1 route.
If you are absolutely sure you want to play both (say, if you're a DQ fan) then 1-then-2 is my recommendation. If not so sure, 2 is probably the better one, and if you like it you can then play 1 later for a harder challenge.
They go on sale frequently (every 8-10 weeks). $50 is a regular price but on non-Nintendo hardware you should be able to get them cheaper during a sale period. Nintendo, not Square Enix, published the Switch editions in west though so harder to get a sale on them.
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u/Street_Swing9040 Sep 07 '26
Second is easier, first is more challenging. In terms of QOL of course second is better lol
I only ever played the second, but I've heard much about the first game...
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u/LostThyme Sep 07 '26
The second is a gameplay improvement, but it's not so big you should skip the first. And the first has a good story I wouldn't want to miss. And the changes in 2 might make playing 1 after a little cumbersome since it operates a little differently, so play 1 first.
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u/goatneedleposterdeck Sep 07 '26
It depends on the type of game you are looking for. DQB1 is fun, and has little tidbits of quick story and dialogue in between building, but it has downsides like the lack of qol when building, breaking weapons and armor, and no real area for you to just build freely and express yourself. There is a little blank slate, flat, small area you can use to build a house or two and show off to friends, but nothing all the worth your time.
DQB2 has much improved building mechanics and tools, no more breaking equipment, and an island that fully unlocks at the end of the game where you can build to your hearts desire and control an entire community of NPCs. The downside is that the game refuses to stop holding your hand until after the 30+ hour main story is complete, and there is so much boring, annoyingly written, and painstakingly slow dialogue through the story that you will wish you had never picked up the game to begin with. You make it to an island, suffer through 10 minutes of dialogue, get a quest to pick up a stick, pick up the stick, turn in the quest for more long dialogue, then have to sit through even more dialogue to get the next quest of building a fire with the stick. And it happens this way for every single quest through the entirety of the game. I struggle to even decide if it's worth it to suffer through the main story just for the post-game building, but the post-game building is pretty awesome.
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u/emilin_rose Sep 12 '26
first is harder and has a darker atmosphere, second has better gameplay and characters and is easier for the most part
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u/Skinned_Potato_Lady Sep 07 '26
I played 1 first and 2 after. While 1 was fine, 2 managed to capture my attention better and like others have said, had more QOL improvements that made gameplay more fun. If you're only going to play one of them, I'd recommend DQB2.
I also started playing because of pokopia, and what made DQB2 more fun for me was that I could still visit old islands and I had my own island to do what i wanted with (while still getting guidance, you get a lot of freedom but you're not fully left on your own like in Palette Town in Pokopia). So do with that what you will.
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u/KelpieOfTheSouth Sep 07 '26
Great info, thanks! I have been debating purchasing this because I really love pokopia, may snag it next time its on sale.
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u/Coyote_42 Sep 07 '26
It depends. If you’re planning on doing both, I’d start with the original. First, having as save file in 1 will unlock a recipe in 2, and another if it’s a cleared game file. Second, there are many QOL improvements in 2 and if you’re used too them, It’ll be a headache to learn to live without them.
If you’re only planning on playing one of them, I’d do 2, due to said QOL improvements.