ESTARD ISLAND & THE FIRST PUZZLE
The Shrine of Mysteries
Solve the 3DS-remixed Shrine puzzle, find the first 3 Yellow Fragments, and unlock the path to the past.
RECRUITING MATILDA & EARLY GRIND
The Gray World & Rexwood
Enter the colorless past. Recruit the powerful guest Matilda, farm EXP, and uncover the secret of the gloomy village.
THE GREEN GEM PUZZLE
Colorstone Mine
Master the 'Match-2' block puzzles, retrieve the Green Gem, and trigger the critical 'Wooden Doll' story flag.
MATILDA BOSS & THE SHIP
The Finale: East Tower
Confront the tragic boss, restore the continent, and unlock the Ship to explore the open seas. The Demo conclusion.
Essential Tips for the Demo
1. Understanding the Shard System
Unlike traditional RPGs where you walk to new towns, DQ7 requires you to reconstruct the world. You must find color-coded Fragments (Shards) and place them on the pedestal in the Shrine of Mysteries.
- 🟡 Yellow Shards: Unlock the initial islands (Rexwood).
- 🟢 Green Shards: Unlock the Colorstone Mine region.
- 🔴 Red Shards: Unlock the fire-themed Emberdale (End of Demo).
2. The "Guest" Party Member Mechanic
Throughout the early game, you will be joined by temporary allies like Matilda and Hanlon. These characters are often stronger than your main party.
Pro Tip: Do not give valuable stat-boosting seeds (like the Seed of Strength) to guest characters. When they leave your party, those items—and the stats—are gone forever.
Lore Primer: A Broken World
Dragon Quest VII begins with a startling premise: Estard Island is the only landmass in the entire world. The inhabitants believe the ocean is endless and they are alone. However, the protagonist and Prince Kiefer discover the truth inside the Shrine of Mysteries.
The world was sealed away by the Demon King centuries ago. Each island was cut off from time and encased in darkness. By collecting "Fragments," you aren't just unlocking map areas; you are time-traveling to the moment just before the seal was placed. Your goal is to solve the crisis of the past to restore the land in the present.
Combat & Stats Guide
The Demo focuses on the early game before the Job System (Vocations) is unlocked. This means you must rely on base stats and character-specific growth rates.
The Hero (Austere)
Balanced stats. He learns healing spells (Heal) early, making him a critical off-healer. Keep him equipped with the best boomerang or sword you can afford.
Kiefer (Prince)
Pure physical DPS. He has the highest Strength and HP but 0 MP. He cannot cast spells. Give him every Seed of Strength you find to maximize his "Flame Slash" damage.
Maribel (Mage)
Glass cannon. She learns offensive magic (Frizz) and crowd control (Sap, Snooze). She is physically weak, so keep her in the back row and prioritize defensive gear.
Demo FAQ
⏱️ How long is the demo?
Most players finish the main story in 3 to 5 hours. Completionists finding all Mini Medals may take 6+ hours.
💾 Does progress carry over?
Yes. Save data created in the Demo can be imported into the full retail version upon release.
⚔️ Is the Job System available?
No. The Demo covers the prologue before Alltrades Abbey (Dharma Temple) is unlocked. You are locked to base stats.
🎮 Is it turn-based?
Yes. DQ7 uses a traditional turn-based combat system. You input commands for all party members at the start of the turn.
Platform Targets
- Switch 2 4K / 60fps
- Steam Uncapped
- Steam Deck Verified (90fps)
Missing a Fragment?
Don't get stuck wandering the map. Use our interactive Shard Locator Tool to filter fragments by region, color, and story progress.
🧩 Open Shard Locator