Yuji Horii's How to Make Dragon Quest RPG Guide Gets July 17 Release Date
This is the first time Horii has systematically laid out his game design principles in a single volume, making the book a primary document for understanding the creative logic behind the Dragon Quest series.
Reporting from 2 sources: 4Gamer.net, Inside.
Square Enix announced on May 27 that "Yuji Horii's How to Make Dragon Quest," a co-authored RPG creation guide by Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii and former Famicom Tsushin editor-in-chief Gozo Shiozaki, will be released on July 17. The book, priced at 2,200 yen including tax, presents Horii's game design philosophy and practical know-how in a systematic format for the first time. Chapters include "Blueprint of Role-Playing," "Think of the Story from the Demon King," "If You Don't Become the Characters, the Story Passes You By," "Hidden Parameters," and "One-Point Essence of Game Making." The volume also features a dialogue segment titled "Game Talk between Yuubo and Famibo." Reservations are open via the Square Enix e-STORE. The guide is intended for aspiring RPG creators and fans interested in the design thinking behind one of Japan's most influential game series.
Square Enix will release "Yuji Horii's How to Make Dragon Quest" on July 17, 2026, the company announced on May 27. The 2,200-yen (tax included) guide is co-authored by Yuji Horii, the creator of the Dragon Quest series, and Gozo Shiozaki, former editor-in-chief of Famicom Tsushin. The book organizes Horii's game design thinking into chapters such as "Blueprint of Role-Playing," "Think of the Story from the Demon King," "If You Don't Become the Characters, the Story Passes You By," "Hidden Parameters," and "One-Point Essence of Game Making." A dialogue corner called "Game Talk between Yuubo and Famibo" is also included. The sources agree on the release date, price, and chapter lineup. Reservations are available through the Square Enix e-STORE. The guide targets both aspiring RPG developers and fans who want to understand the design decisions that shaped the Dragon Quest series.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.