Dragon Quest Smash/Grow is a worthy idle RPG with some engaging elements. But its initial promise of exciting Survivors-like action quickly falls apart. However, if you approach it from the perspective of it being a regular growth-focused casual RPG with plenty of more hardcore elements, you'll have fun. And both the visuals and audio have that familiar, nostalgia-infused Dragon Quest flavour.

DRAGON QUEST Smash/Grow is a serviceable “survivors-style” RPG that looks and sounds just as you’d expect from the historic franchise. Its lackluster roguelite mechanics and lack of mechanical depth anchor its gameplay, ultimately making it a repetitive experience that’s easy to play and drop at a moment’s notice. However, players should be wary of the game’s abhorrent monetization scheme and progression walls, as these are not only worse than most gacha games but also a huge time sink that offers little satisfaction beyond repetition.

Dragon Quest Smash/Grow is a simple, straightforward action game that provides some fun.