BODY: Dragon Quest's most beloved blobs just got a shimmery makeover. On August 1, Square Enix began selling five new "Smile Slime: Sparkly with Glitter! Keychains" through its official e-STORE, giving fans a pocket-sized way to carry the series' iconic monsters wherever they go.
Each keychain packs embedded glitter and a light-up function, so the translucent monster designs catch the eye whether they're glinting in daylight or glowing after dark. It's a small accessory with an outsized amount of charm—exactly the sort of low-stakes merchandise that keeps the four-decade-old franchise woven into everyday life in Japan.
The lineup covers a satisfying spread of the series' monster roster. Metal Slime, Slime Knight, and Marine Slime each retail for ¥1,650, while the chunkier King Slime and the precariously stacked Slime Tower come in slightly higher at ¥1,760 apiece. The modest price gap tracks with the larger, more elaborate designs.
For collectors, the Metal Slime is the obvious standout—the elusive, high-XP monster that has tormented and delighted players since the 1980s—but the Slime Tower's teetering silhouette may prove the most eye-catching in glittering form.
The insider take
In Japan, Dragon Quest occupies a cultural space closer to a national institution than a mere game series, and its slimes function as an all-ages mascot on par with anything from Nintendo or Sanrio. Small, affordable goods like these keychains—sold direct through the e-STORE rather than as limited event exclusives—are precisely how Square Enix keeps the brand humming between mainline releases. Expect these to turn up dangling from schoolbags and train passes across Tokyo well before the next numbered entry arrives.
Originally reported by GAME Watch (Japanese).