THIS GAME IS GOOD FOR KIDS WHO NEED HELP WITH

Planning

Developing a systematic approach for setting and achieving goals.

The sandbox elements in Dragon Quest Builders can be compared to Minecraft, and they allow players something we refer to as digital freeplay. Just because kids are creating from their imagination, however, doesn’t mean they aren’t using the planning thinking skill. Thinking about a structure a player wants to build, what kinds of materials they will need, and what they already have in their inventory, are all important aspects of the planning process. Players can also make use of building blueprints they acquire throughout the game. Though these blueprints take most of the in-game planning out a player’s hands, they reinforce an important aspect of the real-world process -- a drawn or written plan.

Organization

Arranging and coordinating materials in order to complete a task.

Organization skills are exercised in any game with a sizeable inventory, but they are particularly stretched in Dragon Quest Builders. As with most games, players begin collecting items almost immediately, and they appear in an inventory bar at the bottom of the screen. Unlike some games where players have tight storage space and must pick and choose which items are most valuable, Dragon Quest Builders enables players to craft massive storage chests. Though this means less of the prioritization practice that accompanies a small inventory, it can be even more challenging to keep track of items when storage space is virtually limitless. Players will also find that items disappear from their inventory as they transition from chapter to chapter, forcing them to re-examine and rearrange items in storage periodically.

Working Memory

Recalling and retaining information in our minds while working.

Dragon Quest Builders is unique in that it blends a sandbox building game that is very much like Minecraft with RPG elements that are reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda. This combination couldn’t be better for exercising the working memory thinking skill. As heroes travel through Alefgard, they’ll encounter villagers who need help. Players will need to keep in mind what a quest-giver has asked them to do -- fetch a torch or rebuild a wall -- as they work to complete each quest.

Another thing that sets Dragon Quest Builders apart in the Minecraft-style building genre is the use of blueprints. When players place these building plans, a footprint of the building is created on the ground. Players must build the structure to the specifications in the blueprint, and they can access a 3D model to go by to make sure they are on track. This constant referencing from blueprint to actual structure is excellent working memory practice. Where does the door go? How many blocks high are the walls? Where does this desk go? And what about the chest?

Additionally, because none of the dialogue is spoken aloud, players read to understand what is going on and what is asked of them. Reading practices working memory on a very basic level, as readers must remember what has come before in a text in order to glean information and make larger connections.