Dragon Quest XI has a 10-hour-long demo live on Steam

Besides having an outrageously long name, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition stood out among other Japanese role-playing games when it came out last year. The game released to critical acclaim, introducing new and old players to its fantastical world of smiling slimes, intriguing characters and gorgeous music. The game originally launched in 2017, but it’s now heading to PC with all of its bells and whistles and then some. For those unfamiliar with the strange world of Dragon Quest, a demo has just gone live on Steam, offering 10 hours of playtime that will carry over to the game’s full release.

While that may seem like a long time for a Dragon Quest XI demo (and compared to other games it certainly is), it’s just barely scratching the surface of the game. Between the game’s main story and the inevitable grind for XP players will have to go through, Dragon Quest XI can stretch over 80 hours. This long playtime is one of the game’s main critiques. That being said, having 10 hours to try the game out will more than familiarize players with its systems. It’s also more than enough time to know whether or not it’s worth picking up.

Before you try

Before trying the game out on Steam though, prospective players should keep in mind that the game will also come to PC via Xbox Game Pass for PC. Those that already have the game or are looking to subscribe to the service will want to check out this demo on the Windows Store instead. Doing so will allow their progress to carry over to that platform’s version of the game.

It’s also important to note that the version of Dragon Quest XI being ported over to PC is “S,” the version of the game on the Nintendo Switch. That means players will get the full Switch experience, for better and worse. While this version of the game comes with new quests and a retro 16-bit 2D mode, its visuals are also based on what could be done on the Switch, which simply isn’t as impressive as the game’s performance on the PlayStation 4.

Regardless of how it’s played, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is coming to PC on December 4.