Square Enix Officially Announces Free Download For Huge 2026 RPG

6 days ago 14

Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond.

Square Enix is one of the most popular Japanese gaming studios in existence, largely because of their catalog of top-tier story-driven RPGs and iconic franchises like Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, etc. Fans of Square Enix's beloved Dragon Quest franchise are in for a treat in 2026.

Square Enix has reportedly announced an official free demo of Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined that is set to launch tomorrow, January 7 (via Gematsu). The game is scheduled for a full release on February 5, and the demo will allow players to get started in the game and carry over their save data to the full version upon release.

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined Is Getting A Free Demo

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is an exciting and massive RPG from Square Enix that is a full remake of the classic game that brings an overhauled visual and gameplay experience to players on modern platforms. The game "brings a timeless classic to life in a whole new way with charming diorama visuals, updated gameplay mechanics, and a streamlined story."

Dragon Quest 7 was originally released on PlayStation in 2000 and was a massive, slow-burning JRPG that kept players busy exploring for hours. You explore a fragmented world made up of lost islands trapped in the past, solving mysteries with surprisingly dark themes. Infamous for its length, the Reimagined version promises a truncated experience with the story that won't require such massive time investment.

DQ7 Reimagined promises to introduce major improvements, visual upgrades, and pacing adjustments to make the game far more approachable while preserving what made it great, and according to a recent Square Enix announcement, you can play the free demo soon.

You Can Download It Starting Tomorrow

Ahead of the DQ7 Reimagined launch in February, Square Enix is making a demo version available to play for free starting tomorrow, January 7, 2026. The demo will be available on all major platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, as well as Steam and other PC storefronts.

Players can also wishlist the game now and pre-order from the aforementioned platforms as well, and the demo apparently allows carryover saves to the full version. It isn't clear how much gameplay the demo includes, but it's sure to give players a sense of what they'll be getting in the full experience. Square Enix fans will definitely want to check out this free demo for Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined ahead of its official release next month.