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The Ultimate Dragon Quest Series Guide: Which Order to Play and Best Versions
Welcome back, folks! Recently, I’ve been asked a recurring question by new fans of the Dragon Quest series: “What order should I play the Dragon Quest games in, and which versions should I play?” With thirty years’ worth of titles and remakes, I can see why some may not be sure where to start, so I’ll clear it up.
Playing Dragon Quest Games in Order
In my opinion, playing the games in numerical order from One to Eleven is the best way. By playing the games in order of release, you can see how the series evolved over time and have a stronger appreciation for the games. Some Dragon Quest games are standalone entries that do not require previous experience; however, they all benefit from it. Every Dragon Quest game is a product of its time and reflects that, as they each have some unique aspect that differentiates them from the others, and I’ll get to that shortly.
The Erdrick Trilogy: Dragon Quest I, II, and III
For those of you who are anticipating Dragon Quest XI on the Nintendo Switch or looking forward to the PS4 and PC versions and haven’t played them yet, I would recommend at least finishing the first three Dragon Quest games: DQI, II, and III. The reason I say this is because Dragon Quest XI, while it is a very standalone entry, has an incredible amount of throwbacks and references to the first three Dragon Quest games that you could only understand if you finish the first three games. It is a game made for longtime Dragon Quest fans, and in order to get the full experience, in my opinion, it is very important to play the original trilogy.
Dragon Quest I, II, and III share a connected story and serve as staples of the RPG genre. Being referred to as the Erdrick Trilogy by western fans, DQI originally released in 1986 for the Famicom and later on the NES as Dragon Warrior, with a noticeable improvement in graphics and an added save feature, making it the better version. Its sequel, Dragon Quest II, released on the NES the year after and boasted a huge and mysterious open world. While the first game had you play as one hero, the Scion of Erdrick, the sequel has you play as his three descendants, so it features the first party system in the series and requires a ton of investigative work as you travel the world.
These two games would end up being remastered on the Super Famicom as a double pack with both games on one cartridge. However, we never got this version in the West. We eventually did get the GameBoy version, which included both games on a cartridge for the Nintendo GameBoy. This version of both games is nearly identical, apart from a graphical overhaul and a more simplified interface. The original version of all the NES Dragon Warrior games had a menu system that required you to go into a small menu to perform specific actions, while the GameBoy version mapped everything to the A button, making it much more convenient.
The only downside, I would say, is that the GameBoy version has a script not being quite as good, with the old-style English dialogue being replaced by more simplistic writing, and many names and spells are using the Japanese words, which make some inconsistencies with the rest of the franchise. The only other version of the first two games that we’ve gotten in the West are the mobile ports of DQI and II, which are once again remade, this time with a brand new script that retains the old English writing style. The first two games don’t take that long to complete; I estimate DQI taking about ten hours and DQII taking twenty overall. The mobile ports on Android and iOS are a great and convenient way to play them, though all versions of 1 and 2 are nearly identical.
Dragon Quest III: A Fan Favorite
Dragon Quest III is the last game in the Erdrick trilogy and is widely regarded as the best. It is here where the bulk of old-school references in Dragon Quest XI point to, and this marks an important entry in the series, with a new party system featuring different jobs and custom characters, making for a personal adventure. Dragon Quest III released on the NES and was later remade on the Super Famicom. We eventually got a GameBoy Color version of the game based on the Super Famicom version, with the simplified menu system and even an added bonus dungeon and new classes not in the original game.
All remakes of Dragon Quest III add more to the game, so they are definitely a good way to play them, with the only downside being the simplified script in the GameBoy version. Dragon Quest III was recently brought over to mobile devices like its predecessors, and this time it utilizes the assets from the Super Famicom version. It’s a very good way to play the game. Although the mobile port lacks the Monster Medals and Ice Cave exclusive to the GameBoy Color version and has no moving enemy sprites like in the Super Famicom version, it does have a new script that is consistent with the current Dragon Quest games and is still a good way to experience it.
The Zenithian Trilogy: Dragon Quest IV, V, and VI
Dragon Quest IV, V, and VI have a loosely connected story and make up the Zenithian Trilogy. They have almost nothing to do with the Erdrick trilogy and can be somewhat standalone. They each have a unique aspect to them, with Dragon Quest IV being about training a large cast of characters across several chapters, Dragon Quest V being much more story-oriented, and Dragon Quest VI introducing an innovative party system, giving it a lot of replay value. These differences give them all value and make each one worth playing through, as they are all sizeable RPGs.
Dragon Quest IV originally came overseas as Dragon Warrior IV for the NES and was later drastically remade on the PlayStation in Japan. We wouldn’t get this remake until later on the Nintendo DS, which was graphically an improvement over the original. However, the localization team did not finish the companion dialogue. The Nintendo DS remake was later ported to mobile devices, this time with the companion dialogue completed, making the mobile version on iOS and Android the single best version to play.
Luckily, Dragon Quest V and VI did not have this issue regarding the companion dialogue, and they were released in a complete state at the time. Dragon Quest V and VI were Super Famicom games that the West did not see for a long time due to Enix of America having issues at the time. Dragon Quest V was later remade on the PS2 in Japan only and once again remade on the Nintendo DS, with this being the West’s first chance to play it. Dragon Quest V is largely considered one of the best RPGs of all time, and the upcoming animated Dragon Quest film, Dragon Quest: Your Story, is based on the events in this game. The DS remakes of V and VI are identical to the mobile versions, so you could choose either version to get the full experience.
The mobile ports have a very good control scheme for mobile devices, only requiring one hand to comfortably play, and they feature a simple menu system. They are a convenient way to play the games if you do not have a DS.
Dragon Quest VII and VIII: Expanding the Series
Dragon Quest VII came out in North America late into the original PlayStation’s lifetime and was the first title the West received in nearly a decade. The original version, Dragon Warrior VII, boasts a massive script that was the biggest of its time and is a highly influential RPG. This version is only available on the PlayStation. However, we did get an enhanced remake on the 3DS years later, giving the game a new script, new 3D character models, putting enemies on the field that you can see, and trimming down the very long introduction. Other than that, the game is very close to the original. I think the 3DS version is a great way to play the game. However, the two-hour intro section from the original included some very fun puzzles that I do miss. Overall, DQVII is a very long game that can take over a hundred hours to beat, so it is best played over the course of a long period of time.
Dragon Quest VIII came out in 2005 in the West for the PlayStation 2, and the version we got had added features that weren’t present in the Japanese version. The English version of DQVIII has full voice acting as well as the orchestra version of the entire soundtrack, making it a very great way to experience DQVIII. We would later get both a mobile port and a 3DS port of Dragon Quest VIII. The mobile port on iOS and Android leaves a bit to be desired. This version of the game retains the same graphics; however, shadows are no longer as prominent, voice acting has been completely removed, and the game is now using a MIDI soundtrack rather than the symphonic score we had before. The only positive I can find in the mobile port is the ability to make battles more automated in the menu. However, this version is not as nice as the original. If you don’t have a PS2 or a 3DS, however, it still plays fine and is a decent, although not definitive, way to play the game.
The 3DS port that came out much later has a lot of great things going for it. To start off, you may notice that the graphics are not nearly as nice as the PS2 version, with textures appearing a bit more saturated and a lack of shadows. However, taking into consideration the 3DS’s power, I think this is quite an impressive game compared to other titles on the system. The 3DS version has enough benefits and changes to the game that make it nearly the definitive version of the game. Listing them off, the 3DS version of DQVIII has monsters out on the field that you can see, entirely new party members to join you, a much faster battle system compared to the very slow and drawn-out battles of the PS2 version, new voices for certain NPCs, more stat tweaking, new weapons, and finally, several entirely new story sequences and two bonus dungeons. The 3DS version, unfortunately, does not have the symphonic soundtrack from the PS2 version. However, even with these few drawbacks, this version still has so much bonus content that I cannot help but recommend it to anyone who owns a 3DS. Plus, I hear there’s a special mod that restores the original soundtrack, which makes the game much more enjoyable. If you don’t have a 3DS, the PS2 version happens to look very great running through a PC emulator on high settings.
Dragon Quest IX and X: Multiplayer Adventures
Dragon Quest IX is a very popular entry in the series that featured a handmade adventure similar to Dragon Quest III. In Dragon Quest IX, you can customize your character and party members entirely, making for a fun adventure, and there were even different classes. It was only ever released on the Nintendo DS. It has never gotten a remake or rerelease at the time of this video, so there isn’t much to talk about in terms of choosing a version. The game was well known for its multiplayer and social elements. Unfortunately, with Nintendo’s servers down for the DS, this aspect of the game isn’t playable. However, it is still a very good game and well worth picking up on the DS.
We never got Dragon Quest X. DQX is an MMO that launched on the Wii in 2012. Soon afterwards, later versions were brought over to the Wii U, PC, mobile devices, 3DS, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. It is currently very popular in Japan with many active players. At the moment, there is no English version of the game whatsoever. Recently, the IP ban for the game was lifted, so if you would like to play the game in Japanese, you can import it, but there is still a monthly subscription fee you have to pay. The All in One Package of the game, featuring all four version updates, is available for Wii U, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
Dragon Quest XI: A Modern Masterpiece
Dragon Quest XI is the latest entry in the long-running series, nearly thirty years after the release of Dragon Quest 1 on the NES. Like I mentioned earlier, it is a good entry point for newcomers. However, there are certain story elements you would appreciate much more after finishing the first three games, which don’t take too long to beat, and I would recommend playing those on mobile first so you don’t miss anything.
Dragon Quest XI came out in Japan on the PS4 and 3DS simultaneously. The two versions follow the exact same story; however, the 3DS version obviously has simplified graphics. What made the 3DS version unique is the fact that you could optionally choose a 16-bit version of the game that looks like DQIII on the Super Famicom, allowing for a completely unique way to play. About a year later, we got Dragon Quest XI in the West for PS4 and a brand new PC version on Steam. We did not get the 3DS version, unfortunately. The Steam version of DQXI allows for higher resolutions and framerates than its PS4 counterpart, and there is a growing mod community, making it an excellent way to play the game.
This fall, Nintendo is bringing over Dragon Quest XI to the Nintendo Switch with a simultaneous release of Dragon Quest XI S: Definitive Edition. This version of the game adds a new soundtrack straight from the game’s symphonic suite, replacing the old MIDI soundtrack from the regular version of the game. Even more exciting are new features, including new mounts, the 16-bit version from the 3DS release, voice drama DLC, new story arcs for the various party members, and alternate marriage options. This version of the game is looking to be, as its name suggests, the definitive release of Dragon Quest XI, and I am very excited for it.
