The original version of Dragon Quest XI featured Spirits of Lost Time, ghost-like creatures that have been a part of the world of Erdrea presumably since creation and who can impact its timeline in major ways. Working as both cutesy mascots and important characters to the overall storyline, these Spirits of Lost Time were featured even more prominently when Dragon Quest XI S: Definite Edition was released on Nintendo Switch (and eventually PS4, Xbox, PC, and Stadia).
[Warning: Spoiler for Dragon Quest XI and XI S are below.]
Tockles, a sort of rebranding for Spirits of Lost Time due to XI S' new mini-games and content (although they were present in the Japan-exclusive 3DS version), were often colored differently than their counterparts, appearing in hues of gold, green, purple, and dark blue (to name a few). They offered a fun mini-game, in which players could discover them in the game's overworld and learn a "pastword," a key to unlocking a past world in the Altar of Ages. To do this, players would need to visit Tickington - a nostalgic 2D world full of Tockles - and then inspect books in the Altar of Ages in order to be transported through time to revisit iconic scenes and locations from past Dragon Quest games - like the marriage decision in Dragon Quest 5 and Chateau Felix in Dragon Quest 8.
It was an interesting concept - and one that served equally as fan service to veterans of the series and a crash-course introduction to newcomers. Completing Tickingon and the Altar of Ages was also completely optional. Like a lot of the content in Dragon Quest 11, it's there for the people who want it - but it's not necessary to finishing the main story. The Tockles themselves were a mysterious and cute reminder of Time's importance in the narrative, but they're more than just potential rivals for Dragon Quest's slime mascots. Based on how prominently they're featured in the game, it's likely that some iteration of these Tockles will appear in future entries as well.
Why Tockles Could Be A Part Of Dragon Quest 12
It wouldn't be completely out of the realm of possibility that Tockles, as mascots, never appear in another mainline Dragon Quest game. Other games in the long-running JRPG series have introduced or featured now-beloved concepts that were shelved for later projects. Previous entries like DQ5 and 6 featured monster-recruiting mechanics, and DQ7 and DQ9 are among the titles that have Vocations systems - two different mechanics that are featured in multiple (but not a majority) of mainline Dragon Quest games.
With this in mind, then, it might be easy to dismiss the idea of Tockles being in other Dragon Quest games - since they're so inherent to Dragon Quest XI's world and story. However, it's the Tockles' ability to allow time travel (and players to visit other worlds) that makes them such a likely candidate for future entries. This is especially true if Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate, the next mainline game, is a direct sequel to XI.
It certainly wouldn't be the first time a Dragon Quest game has had a direct sequel, and given how often Time in Dragon Quest XI is split or altered, it's also possible DQ12 will take place on one of those alternate timelines. It would make sense, then, for Tockles (or some iteration of the Spirits of Lost Time) to be around. And even if Dragon Quest 12 weren't a direct sequel to 11, the Tockles' penchant for traveling through time and space could mean they appear in other worlds as well.
How Tockles Could Appear In Dragon Quest Treasures
Dragon Quest 12 isn't the only upcoming game on the horizon, though, as Dragon Quest Treasures will release sometime in the near future. Billed as a prequel of sorts to Dragon Quest 11, Treasures stars DQ11's Erik and Mia as children, as they go out to search for riches in what appears to be another world besides Erdrea.
However, given that Dragon Quest Treasures connects to DQ11, it's certainly possible Tockles could appear in the game. In fact, given how iconic they are to 11 S, it seems increasingly likely that players will encounter them in some way. As a way of explaining why Erik doesn't remember them in DQ11, perhaps this child version of him suffers amnesia (similar to what happens to him in Dragon Quest XI) or maybe it's an inconsistency that developers won't even be trifled with.
Interestingly enough, perhaps Tockles even play a role in getting Erik and Mia into their new world of adventure. It would be a nice wink and nudge to players, even if Erik and Mia don't see the Tockles themselves. And since Dragon Quest Treasures takes place in the past, it's all the more reason for Tockles to reapper in some capacity.
Tockles Could Even Appear In Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
The other big Dragon Quest game on the horizon is the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, which so far doesn't have a release date. The idea of Tockles appearing in this remake makes more sense given the true ending to Dragon Quest 11, which appears to pick up at the beginning of DQ3. The remake will likely make changes that go beyond aesthetics (although it may not make as big of changes as FFVII Remake did). If the goal is to tie DQ3's remake more closely to Dragon Quest 11's narrative, then Tockles would almost have to show up.
In many ways, Tockles and Spirits of Lost Time function in the same way as FF7 Remake's Whispers, correcting timelines and destines as need allows. In FF7 Remake, Whispers are used to explain differences in that game's story from the original PlayStation game. In a similar fashion, Dragon Quest 11's Tockles could be used to explain the differences Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake has with the NES classic (and its many ports).
So far, the Tockles remain exclusive to Dragon Quest 11 S (outside of appearing in Smash Bros. Ultimate). It's certainly possible they will remain that way, although it seems like a major missed opportunity to incorporate them into future games. Tockles make logical new mascots (or co-mascots, rather) for the series, and they play an important role when it comes to the narrative of Dragon Quest XI. It would be a shame for them to never show up again.