First Dragon Quest Builders screenshots show off Square Enix's Minecraft-like RPG

Square Enix released the first in-game screenshots of Dragon Quest Builders, giving us a little more clarity into how the upcoming Minecraft-esque PlayStation game will play.

In short, players will assume the role of a hero who's tasked with rebuilding in the kingdom of Alefgard — the setting of the original Dragon Quest — by harvesting materials from the world with his giant mallet.

It appears that players will be able to gather all manner of resources: rock, wood, fruit, plantlife, slime ooze and more. Players can also build and manage a base in which Alefgard's citizens can find shelter as well as battle classic Dragon Quest monsters.

Here's a peek at some of the crafting and base-building players will take on in Dragon Quest Builders.

Dragon Quest Builders is slated for release on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in Japan. A North American release has not been confirmed.