Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride is a role-playing video game for the Nintendo DS and the fifth installment in the Dragon Quest series. Players navigate a turn-based battle system, gaining experience and leveling up by defeating enemies. A notable feature is the ability to recruit monsters into the party, with a total of 71 creatures available to assist in battles and grow alongside the protagonist.
Dragon Quest V uses basic role-playing video game mechanics seen in the rest of the series, which includes leveling up by gaining experience points through battle, first person turn-based battles, and equipping weapons and armor. Something new to the Dragon Quest series is the ability to tame monsters into the player's party. The monsters can be used in battle and level-up like the human characters. Monsters sometimes request to join the Hero after battles if the party is strong enough. There are a total of 71 monsters that are capable of joining the Hero's party