On paper, Dragon Quest Builders seems like an ideal game for Nintendo’s Switch. Its combination of a Minecraft-like building game with a quest-driven storyline provides many hours of enjoyable play, and it’s simple graphics and relaxed pace of play look to be within the grasp of the Switch’s limited hardware. Add the fact that the game is similar in spirit, if not in specifics, to Stardew Valley which turned out to be the best-selling eShop game for the Switch in 2017, and DQB on the Switch looks like a winner.
At least it looks like a winner on paper. We won’t know if DQB is popular with Switch owners until the game is released on February 9th. In the meantime, we can get an idea how the game will play on the Switch thanks to Digital Foundry’s analysis of the beta which is available now from Nintendo’s eShop.
Docked mode
Dragon Quest Builders runs at 1080p on the PS4 which is the Switch’s native resolution when docked. DQB, however, renders at 720p and targets a 60 fps frame rate in docked mode. As can be seen in the picture above, DQB looks better in 1080p but dropping resolution down to 720p doesn’t reduce image quality to the point where it looks like the game would be unpleasant to play. In fact, I was surprised at how good it looks on our 65” 4K TV. Text is clear and sharp, jagged edges are present but hardly noticeable unless you’re looking for them, and the game’s simple textures look good. Playing in 720p docked isn’t a problem.
Resolution was limited to 720p in order to produce smooth gameplay at 60 fps. Can the Switch do it? Yes, for the most part. Digital Foundry’s tests showed DQB running at 60 fps most of the time. There are occasional brief periods that are hardly noticeable when a one or two fps drop occurs. Frame rate can also drop into the 50 to 60 fps range for longer periods when the screen is busy with foliage or alpha effects. However, frame rate quickly returns to 60 fps when the view changes to a less busy area of the environment.
Undocked mode
Resolution remains at 720p when the Switch is undocked. The only graphical difference Digital Foundry noticed between docked and undocked was the loss of shadows at far distances when the game is undocked. Otherwise, docked and undocked look the same.
The difference between docked and undocked is frame rate is reduced when the Switch is undocked. Digital Foundry is not able to gather frame rate data when the Switch is in undocked mode. They estimated that frame rate is uncapped although it plays at or near 30 fps most of the time.
The good news is that the reduction in frame rate from near 60 fps docked to around 30 fps undocked really doesn’t make much difference due to DQB ’s relaxed pace of play. I found differences in performance were inconsequential when switching back and forth between docked and undocked. Playing with frame rates in the neighborhood of 30 fps undocked isn’t a problem.
Conclusion
Based on what we’ve seen thus far, Dragon Quest Builders looks and plays well at 720p and 60 fps when docked, and at 720p and 30 fps when undocked. It should be kept in mind that we’re talking about a beta version, and the game may be different when it releases. However, it looks and plays great now, and it’s unlikely to get worse if it changes at all.
Dragon Quest Builders seems like it’s going to be just what it appears to be on paper – a game with graphics and performance demands that are ideally suited to the Switch’s hardware.
