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.

In Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, Bianca and Nera from Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride are transported by a mysterious fairy to Witherwood, a kingdom in an unfamiliar world, where they adventure to obtain some Leaves of Life to cure their sick fathers. However, dark forces have drained the land of its living energy, so the girls must become monster wranglers and lead their team of loyal allies across this strange new world.

Summary:

• Becoming a Monster Wrangler: Players can begin the adventure as either Bianca or Nera. Each finds it easier to befriend monsters from different families, and has a Wrangler’s Spirit ability with different beneficial effects in battle. After answering a series of questions from Fluffy, players receive their first monster, then grow their roster by using a Show of Force in battle or scouting monsters on the fly while exploring.
• Witherwood Castle: The castle town serves as a home base, with King Withers, the Paddock and the Item Shop among the many useful resources available to players. As the story unfolds, Tony will offer scouting trials for rewards, townsfolk will offer their monsters for special synthesis through Monster Matchmaking, and an Accessory Workshop will open to upgrade monsters’ accessories.
• Exploring the Witherwood Region: The first main area that players will journey into is Witherwood, which is divided into sub-areas that change as day shifts to night. Reviving Roots of Creation with the Waterwing Can unlocks fast travel and a one-stop shop for healing, adjusting the party, synthesizing and changing the time, while helping Lifebuds bloom provides permanent passive boosts. Dungeons are full of danger and treasure, including mini medals that can be exchanged for prizes at the Mini Medal Swap Swap.
• Strengthening the Team: Before they can start synthesizing, Bianca and Nera must team up to take down the massive monster Enorman in a Joint Battle and win Category G at the Battle Arena. Players can then combine two monsters at Level 10 or above to synthesize a new one, with child monsters able to inherit their parents’ Talents. From there, they’ll be ready to explore the next region: Pays de l’Oseille!

Explore a Strange World with a Team of Your Favorite Monsters!

Our protagonists on this adventure are none other than Bianca and Nera from DRAGON QUEST V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride.A mysterious fairy transports the girls to Witherwood, a kingdom in an unfamiliar world, where they hope to obtain some Leaves of Life that they believe will cure their sick fathers. However, Witherwood is beset by dark forces that have drained the land of its living energy, all but eradicating the Leaves of Life from existence. To ensure the Leaves of Life will grow once more, Bianca and Nera must become monster wranglers—plucky types with the power to befriend monsters—and lead their team of loyal allies on an adventure across this strange new world.

Take your favorite monsters along with you as you explore all corners of the world. What new adventures await you beyond the curve of the horizon?

You can now scout monsters on the fly as you explore, as well as in battle. It’s never been easier to befriend all the monsters you want!

The Synthesis feature lets you combine two monsters to create a new one. You’ll have to synthesize many, many monsters on your quest to build a powerful party.

It’s your job to rid the world of the evil forces that drain the land of its life energy.

The Early Adventure: Becoming a Monster Wrangler

Soon after arriving in Witherwood to look for the Leaves of Life, Bianca and Nera are given the power to befriend monsters and set out on their quest as fledgeling monster wranglers. Once you’ve decided which character you want to control and have your starting monster, it’s time for you to go off and befriend a few more!

Bianca or Nera: Who will you choose?

You can choose to begin the adventure as either Bianca or Nera. Each protagonist will find it easier to befriend monsters from different families, and their Wrangler’s Sprit ability provides different beneficial effects when it activates during battle. So, examine their differences and pick your favorite!

Fluffy gives you your first monster!

After you answer Fluffy’s questions, he’ll present you with your first monster. The monster you get depends on your responses, but there’s no need to overthink things!

Keep battling to grow your roster!

When you enter battle, the monsters you’ve befriended will fight under your command. Give them specific orders or set their general tactics and march your way to victory! Use a Show of Force in battle to attempt to befriend an enemy monster. If you succeed, the monster will join your team. On rare occasions, a monster may even ask to join you of its own accord after a battle ends!

The Early Adventure: Witherwood Castle, Your Base of Operations

Witherwood Castle will soon become something of a home base for Bianca and Nera as their adventure ramps up. Conveniently, the castle town is home to many amenities that will serve the girls well on their quest.

• The King of Witherwood: The kingdom’s ruler, King Withers, holds court in his throne hall, from where he provides the girls with invaluable advice. See what he has to say if you find yourself at a loss for where to go next.
• The Paddock: The paddock is where your monsters hang out when not in your party. From here, you can also access the monster depot when you want to make changes to your team line-up.
• The Item Shop: The item shop sells a range of wares, including meat, which monsters absolutely love! The stock changes as you progress through the story, so check back regularly to see what’s new.

The changing face of Witherwood Castle

As the story unfolds, you’ll start to see changes in Witherwood Castle and the adjoining town. For starters, a monster called Tony will appear and challenge you to complete scouting trials for a reward, and townsfolk will offer their monsters to you for synthesis in the form of matchmaking opportunities. Also, the accessories you can equip to your monsters can be upgraded at a workshop that will open after a while. Witherwood has plenty on offer to help our young wranglers strengthen their team in preparation for the next step of their adventure!

Tony’s Trials: This odd monster will give you clues describing a very specific monster he wants you to show him. The trials get more difficult with each one you complete, but the rewards get better to match.

Monster Matchmaking: Some townsfolk will offer you their monsters to use for synthesis. You can contribute any monster you like, but if you can provide the one the townsperson mentions, you’ll be able to perform a special synthesis!

Accessory Workshop: With the right crafting materials and enough gold, you can upgrade your accessories twice at most. You’ll find these materials when you’re out exploring, but monsters sometimes drop them after battle as well.

The Early Adventure: Exploring the Witherwood Region

Once all the preparations are complete, it’s time to start exploring the game’s first main area: Witherwood! The region is divided into several sub-areas, each with its own distinct vibe and unique changes that occur as the day shifts to night. With Roots of Creation and Lifebuds to locate, as well as super-strong monsters and dungeons to discover, every area is worth exploring to its fullest.

• An ever-changing world to explore: Each area is home to monsters that may disappear or behave differently as day becomes night. For example, the teenie sanguini is strictly nocturnal, meaning you’ll find a different monster if you return to the same place during the daytime.
• What to do with the withered Roots of Creation and Lifebuds?: Give a Root of Creation a sprinkle with the Waterwing Can to revive it. Doing so will add it to the Zoom list for fast travel and create a one-stop-shop for healing monsters, adjusting your party, synthesizing, and changing the time. Helping the Lifebuds to bloom will provide your party with permanent passive boosts, such as increased experience points, that will really benefit you. If you see a Lifebud, be sure to give it a drink!
• Beware of monsters with a red aura!: The monsters you see stomping about with a red aura around them are incredibly powerful. You can try fighting them at the start of the game if you really want, but it’s advised to wait until you have a stronger team.
• Dungeons full of treasure!: While dungeons are home to hordes of monsters, they also contain valuable treasures, like mini medals that you can exchange for superb prizes at the Mini Medal Swap Swap in Witherwood.
• Dungeons full of danger...: In the depths of a dungeon, a ferocious monster often lies in wait. But before you jump into battle, it’s a good idea to head to a nearby Root of Creation to heal up and prepare your party.

The Early Adventure: Strengthen Your Team and Head to the Next Region

Before they can start synthesizing, Bianca and Nera must team up to take down a massive monster in a Joint Battle, as well as emerge victorious at the Battle Arena. But you can’t just synthesize with any old riffraff—you’ll need two monsters at Level 10 or above in order to synthesize a new one. With enough battles under your belt and a few strong monsters synthesized, you’ll be ready to explore the next region: Pays de l’Oseille!

• Team up to beat the massive monster Enorman: If you’re controlling Bianca for the Joint Battle, she’ll command your main party, with Nera in charge of your reserves—and vice versa if you’re using Nera. When a massive monster becomes enraged, each of its attacks will deal heavy damage, but it’ll be more susceptible to damage itself. Keep calm and use the opportunity to attack!
• Win Category G at the Battle Arena: If you find the Battle Arena to be tough going, try leveling up your party and including some monsters in your team that can use spells or healing abilities.
• With both trials done, go to the Starry Shine in the castle to start synthesizing: If you have two monsters at Level 10 or higher, you can combine them to synthesize a new one. You can even synthesize monsters from any Root of Creation you find out in the wider world. Child monsters born through synthesis can inherit the Talents of their parents. Some monsters can only be made through synthesis, so try to explore as many combinations as you can.
• A teleportal to a new region: A number of regions beyond Witherwood are waiting to be explored. Hunting for treasure in a sunken shipwreck, adventuring among giant fruits and veggies, and many more adventures await you!

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 December 3, 2026 at $59.99.