When ‘Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined‘ launched in February 2025, it was a moment that OG PlayStation celebrated with a passion. The classic JRPG was launched in 2000 on the console and was notorious for its length. With its endless storylines and complicated mechanics, it was a nightmare to complete for gamers.
With the rebuilt version, however, Square Enix went a different route. They didn’t shy away from trimming some of the endless dungeons and even removed some island storylines entirely to create a more modern take on one of their bestsellers. While it still offers some insane playtime to clear the game completely, you will no longer need 100+ hours just to reach the final boss.
How Long Does The Main Storyline Take To Finish?
How long ‘Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined‘ will take you to finish is very much dependent on your playstyle. The main story takes roughly 40 to 50 hours to complete. That is a dramatic cut from the original PlayStation version, which clocked in at around 108 hours. Even the 2013 3DS remake sat at roughly 75 hours for the main quest alone.
Square Enix achieved this by removing island scenarios not directly tied to the central storyline. Some remaining sections have also been trimmed, with areas like the underwater city in Hardlypool cut entirely in favor of jumping straight to the boss fight.
Related: Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined: How to Solve the Trial Room Shadow Puzzle?
Visible enemies on the overworld replace random encounters, letting players skip fights entirely if they choose, which allows players to reduce hours off their playtime compared to older games. The absence of unavoidable battles means that you can just stick to the core storyline.
The difficulty settings also play a big role in this. Players can choose to weaken their enemies, boost their own damage output, or even increase the battle rewards at any time. This not only helps you reduce the grind, but it also does that without compromising on the premise of the main story.
The game also features heavy quest guidance with objective markers and party hints. Players always know where to go next, which eliminates the backtracking that padded out earlier versions of Dragon Quest VII considerably.
How Long Does It Take Without Skipping Any Content?
A completionist run takes around 70 to 80 hours. This includes clearing all optional challenges, collecting every listed collectible, and unlocking the Platinum Trophy on PlayStation or equivalent Achievements on Xbox and PC. The vocation system adds significant time.
Players master beginner vocations to unlock advanced ones, with specific combinations opening the ultimate tier. ‘Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined‘ also introduces Moonlighting, letting characters run two active vocations simultaneously.
Not to mention, Optional Menacing is there, and Vicious Monster variants can also be found roaming the otherworld. If you beat them, you will have the chance to get some unique monster hearts that will give some extremely useful passive abilities. It includes effects like poison chance or even increased critical hit odds.
These are worth hunting for anyone who enjoys build customization. Some previously mandatory island stories have been made optional, too. Players can tackle these in any order they want, adding extra playtime without feeling forced into content that slows the main quest down.
How It Compares To Previous Versions?
The difference is staggering. The original PS1 release demanded over 100 hours for the story alone, with completionist runs stretching past 250 hours. The 3DS remake brought that down to roughly 75 and 130 hours, respectively.
‘Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined‘ cuts the main story nearly in half compared to the 3DS version. Faster battles, a shared unlimited inventory, and quest markers all contribute to the tighter runtime. The overhauled turn-based system also speeds up combat by letting each character act individually rather than queuing the entire party first.
In Case You Missed: Nioh 3: How To Complete The Great Shogun of the Heian Era Myth?
The free demo covers the first 8 to 10 hours, from the prologue in Pilchard Bay through Ballymolloy. Progress carries over to the full game, so players lose nothing by trying it first.
