Dragon Quest Monsters 4 Adds Online Co-op and Roguelike Mode

Ready to team up with other monster masters and take down giant beasts together? Square Enix just dropped a fresh batch of details for Dragon Quest Monsters 4: The Withered Land's Bianca and Flora, and there's a lot to dig into.

First up, the online side of things. The game supports cross-platform play, and once you push the story forward, you'll unlock communication features that open up several modes. The headline addition is Online Co-op, where you and other players can challenge giant monsters together. There are general quests with monsters that change daily, plus event quests that let you face off against classic special monsters from the series.

General quests split those giant monsters into three tiers based on strength, so you can pick a challenge that matches your team. You can go in with other players or tackle it solo if you prefer. During battles, message commands let you communicate with your teammates, and supporting other monster masters with healing and buffs builds up a co-op bonus. The higher that multiplier climbs, the more damage and healing everyone in the party puts out. Beyond the visible rewards, co-op also gives you a shot at monster eggs, which hatch into new partners for your roster.

If competition is more your thing, there's the Master Ranking Match, where you climb through seven ranks from Novice all the way to Legend. You can also set up custom private matches. Then there's the Online Otherworld Master, which pits you against teams uploaded by other players. Winning there spins a wheel for items like Mini Medals and monsters. And the Communication Shop sells rare items, with its stock refreshing as the story progresses and the days of the week change.

Not everything needs an internet connection, though. The Arena sits in the Withered Land town that Bianca and Flora visit during their journey, and it hosts tournaments to crown the strongest monster master. You enter monsters you've raised yourself, and there are two counters: Arena Battles and Co-op Battles, each with competitions running from G to A class, seven groups in total. Take first place in a group and you earn rewards.

Push the story further and the Arena unlocks the Road to True Monster Master, a mode that really tests your skills. Here you build teams from different monsters that the mischievous spirit prepares each time, then fight through a 50-win elimination streak. Winning lets you strengthen your squad through breeding, and you can pick monsters from your previous battle as breeding partners for the next fight. Monsters and items earned here can't be brought back to your adventure, but the Master Points you collect work in a dedicated training shop for items that help boost your team.

Dragon Quest Monsters 4: The Withered Land's Bianca and Flora launches December 3, 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Will you be picking this up?