Dragon Quest Builders 2 is an open-world base-building adventure that takes the popular Minecraft idea in a role-play direction. Play involves exploring the world, crafting equipment and buildings and developing your character as they fight ever more fierce monsters. It stands out for offering a deeper narrative and more interesting characters while not stinging on the creative building options.

You wake up on a ghost ship overrun by monsters but soon escape when you land on the Isle of Awakening, a man named Malroth who has lost his memory. Together, you embark on an island-hopping adventure, meeting new characters, building bases, and completing quests to strengthen your community. The story serves as a vehicle for teaching you the ins and outs of crafting, combat and base building. But also it creates a real sense of connection to each of the villagers who joins your cause.

As you progress you steadily hop between islands, meet locals and set up a new base with them. Taking on side quests then strengthens the community's morale and provides upgrades. There are also loads of secret caves and locations with mini-puzzles to solve for a particular benefit.

The result is a game that really does give Minecraft a run for its money. Particularly if you want something more involved and great focus on role-play (or without those Minecraft in-game purchases). Dragon Quest Builders 2 improves on the first game in the series, with charming characters, a lot to do and a refined gameplay loop.