Dragon Quest Video Game Series
A bestselling series of fantasy reality cRPG games. The series is developed by the Armor Project development studio with the support of other development teams. The rights to the brand are held by the Square-Enix publishing conglomerate.
Genesis of the series Dragon Quest is connected with a programming contest organized in 1982 by Square with a prize of a trip to AppleFest '83 in San Francisco. One of the winners - Yuji Horii came across the series there. Wizardry i Ultime, which became the inspiration for him to create a new cRPG game. The first installment of the series Dragon Quest was released in 1986 in a version for the Nintendo Entertainment System console. Over the course of more than a quarter of a century, the series lived to see 10 installments on more than a dozen popular hardware platforms. Games included in the mainstream were also accompanied by numerous spin-offs like DragonQuest Swords, DragonQuest Wars, or mini-series DragonQuest Monsters i Mystery Dungeon.
A common element of the games in the series Dragon Quest is a fantasy world inhabited by many fantastic creatures (including dragons, mummies, skeletons and shadows). The plot usually focuses on the struggle with evil powers that want to take over the picturesque lands, and the player directs the actions of the hero, who must thwart their plans.
The gameplay duplicates a number of schemes known from the series Ultima i Wizardry. The game focuses on exploring locations (including a vast underground), completing assigned tasks and fighting enemies. The latter is based on a classic turn-based system. Most duels result from randomly generated encounters. The exceptions are clashes with bosses, which often require the use of appropriate tactics and careful planning of the team composition. As befits the cRPG genre, many types of weapons and accessories appear in the games, as well as the possibility of developing the attributes and skills of the character based on the experience system.
Among the characteristic features of the series Dragon Quest includes visuals in manga style. Depending on the hardware platform, the graphics can be two- or three-dimensional. However, it is always maintained in intense colors. Music in the games of the series DQ is the work of Koichi Sugiyama.
According to Square Enix's calculations, by March 2013 the games in the series of Dragon Quest had reached total sales of 62 million copies. The series has also received numerous adaptations in the form of manga comics and anime series.
Dragon Quest Series Evolution
2026
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
2025
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
2024
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
2023
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince
2022
Dragon Quest Treasures
2021
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai - A Hero's Bonds
2021
Dragon Quest Tact
2020
Dragon Quest of the Stars
2019
Dragon Quest
2019
Dragon Quest Builders 2
2017
Dragon Quest Rivals
2017
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
2016
Dragon Quest Heroes II
2016
Dragon Quest Builders
2015
Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below
2014
Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line
2012
Dragon Quest X
2011
Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation
2010
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie
2009
Dragon Quest: Wars
2009
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
2008
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
2008
Dragon Quest V
2007
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
2005
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
February 5, 2026
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Remaster/remake, Singleplayer, Turn-based.
A complex remake of the classic jRPG, originally released in the year 2000. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined features not also greatly refreshed graphics (with 3D models or characters and dioramas), but also reworked story plots and a modernized combat system for a better experience.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
October 30, 2025
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Package, Remaster/remake, Singleplayer, Turn-based, Xbox Play Anywhere.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a compilation of the first two games of this popular jRPG series. They have the same stories and turn-based combat mechanics. The main differences is in the graphics - the HD-2D style combines 8-bit original versions with 3D elements.
OpenCritic
Steam
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
November 14, 2024
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Remaster/remake, Singleplayer, Turn-based.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is, according to the title, a remake of the classic 8-bit jRPG game. Compared to the original, the game primarily improves the graphics, offering a very attractive visual combination of 3D locations and 2D characters.
OpenCritic
Steam
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince
December 1, 2023
RPG, Fantasy, Internet, jRPG, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, TPP, Turn-based.
The next installment in a spin-off series of jRPGs by Square Enix. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince tells the tale of the titular demon prince, cursed to be unable to fight monsters. He thus becomes a Monster Wrangler, capturing them and commanding them to battle.
OpenCritic
Steam
Dragon Quest Treasures
December 9, 2022
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Action RPG, Singleplayer, TPP.
A TPP action RPG that is a spin-off of the Dragon Quest series. In Dragon Quest Treasures, we play as two heroes who traverse the fantastic land of Draconia, tame the monsters that inhabit it, search for treasure and fight the gangs that prowl the area.
OpenCritic
Steam
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai - A Hero's Bonds
April 26, 2023, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, Internet, jRPG, Co-op, Manga and Anime, Multiplayer, Action RPG, Singleplayer, TPP, Free-to-play.
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai - A Hero's Bonds is a Japanese action RPG based on the manga Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai. The game features two story modes. While the first follows the events of the original, the second takes us to a new world.
Dragon Quest Tact
February 29, 2024, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Singleplayer, Tactics, Turn-based, Free-to-play.
A mobile spin-off of the Dragon Quest series, in which we once again face a variety of monsters. However, in Dragon Quest Tact players also command many of these creatures in tactical battles. The game was developed at Aiming studio under the guidance of Yuji Hori, the father of the Dragon Quest series.
Dragon Quest of the Stars
February 29, 2024, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, Internet, jRPG, Co-op, Manga and Anime, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Turn-based, Free-to-play.
Dragon Quest of the Stars is a mobile version of the popular jRPG series, which focuses on a four-player co-op mode. The production is characterized by a simplified gameplay model - the gameplay consists mainly in turn-based clashes.
Users
Dragon Quest
February 29, 2024, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Singleplayer, Turn-based.
Dragon Quest is a refreshed version of the 1986 jRPG game. During the adventure, the player takes on the role of a young hero with a mission to save the kingdom of Alefgard. Square-Enix is responsible for the game.
Dragon Quest Builders 2
February 29, 2024, End of Life
RPG, Crafting, Fantasy, Internet, jRPG, Multiplayer, Sandbox, Singleplayer, TPP.
A continuation to the well-received spin-off of the Dragon Quest series. The player again assumes the role of a hero gifted with the power of creation - their task will be to face the forces of darkness. Compared to its predecessor, the game introduces a series of changes, improvements and completely new concepts - above all, one can swim or glide in mid-air, fill cavities or player-made pools with water, and place three times more blocks on top of one another while constructing. What is also worth noticing, is the multiplayer mode, which allows up to three other players to join one's game.
OpenCritic
Steam
Users
Dragon Quest Rivals
July 5, 2021, End of Life
Puzzle, Fantasy, Internet, Card Games, Multiplayer, Turn-based, Free-to-play.
A card game developed by Square-Enix, set in a fantasy world of the Dragon Quest series. We participate in turn-based one-on-one fights, during which we use our own card decks with pictures of characters and enemies known from other entries in this series (such as Huser from Dragon Quest X or Camus and Martin from Dragon Quest XI) – each of the characters has their unique abilities and using them is the key to success. Our goal is to reduce our enemy's health bar to zero, which allows us to win a fight. Getting new cards increases our battle potential. The graphics in Dragon Quest Rivals are pleasant, made in manga style with vivid colors.
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Singleplayer, TPP, Turn-based.
The eleventh major installment of the popular jRPG series by Square Enix. The action of Dragon Quest XI: In Search of Departed Time takes place in a fantastical land of Lotozetasia, while the player assumes the role of a inhabitant of the Ishi village. On his 16th birthday, he discovers that he is an incarnation of a hero who saved the world from annihilation many years ago. Since then, the youngster’s life takes a radical turn, and his further fate is uncertain. Accompanied by loyal friends, the protagonist embarks on a journey which will seal his destiny. The production is very sandbox — at its core are exploration of the environment, conversing with non-player characters, and performing quests given by them. Turn-based combat is an integral part of the gameplay. To win a battle, we have to adequately develop our character and adjust our equipment accordingly.
Steam
Users
Dragon Quest Heroes I & II
July 5, 2021, End of Life
Action, Crossover, RPG Elements, Fantasy, Hack'and'slash, Co-op, Package, Singleplayer, Slasher, TPP, Nintendo Exclusive.
Dragon Quest Heroes I & II for Nintendo Switch is a collection of two third-person hack-and-slash games and Dragon Quest series spin-offs developed by Omega Force. Both games are 3D hack-and-slash titles, very similar to the Dynasty Warriors series in terms of gameplay. As we play, we will explore enormous open locations and fight with hordes of enemies. The available heroes have different attacks and special abilities. They can block and evade attacks, which comes in handy when facing the gigantic bosses that require from the players a bit more tactical approach. The Nintendo Switch versions of the games previously released on PlayStation include all DLCs and exclusive content, and brand new characters and scenarios.
Dragon Quest Heroes II
July 5, 2021, End of Life
Action, RPG Elements, Fantasy, Hack'and'slash, Internet, Co-op, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Slasher, TPP.
An action game with numerous RPG elements. Similar to its predecessor, it is a spin-off title in the Dragon Quest franchise by Square Enix, and although it retains a similar atmosphere, it offers several new solutions. The plot of Dragon Quest Heroes II references the events of its predecessor. Despite the lack of any direct links to the core Dragon Quest productions, there are a few familiar faces to see here. As befits a hack and slash game, Dragon Quest Heroes II focuses on quick and spectacular combat. The player fights hordes of enemies who would pose no threat in a one-on-one fight but can be dangerous in larger numbers. Moreover, from time to time, the protagonist faces powerful bosses; to defeat them, it is necessary to use more advanced tactic. Although the game focuses on arcade hand-to-hand combat, it does not lack a complex plot and script. Dragon Quest Heroes II offers three-dimensional graphics which resemble Japanese manga and anime stylistics.
OpenCritic
Steam
Users
Dragon Quest Builders
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Crafting, Fantasy, Internet, jRPG, Multiplayer, Sandbox, Singleplayer, TPP.
A spin-off game from the popular Dragon Quest series, developed by a subsidiary studio of the Square Enix company as fantasy jRPG with sandbox features. It takes place in the land of Alefgard, which has been the arena of a great conflict between humans and monsters. Eventually, humans suffer defeat, after their legendary hero falls into enemy trap, and their only hope for rebuilding the civilization is a young hero with astounding skills of creation, controlled by the player. Our task is to gather resources and use the hero’s powers to create items, castles, or even entire towns strengthening humanity, and occasionally face monsters in arcade battles. As befits an RPG game, character progression plays a crucial role in Dragon Quest Builders, as does creating weapons and armors for our hero.
OpenCritic
Steam
Users
Dragon Quest: Monster Parade
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, Internet, jRPG, Multiplayer, Browser, Singleplayer.
Dragon Quest: Monster Parade is a browser RPG based on the world of one of the most popular Japanese game series. The game tells the story of an expedition to a distant land, organized by the King to find the current avatar of a legendary priestess. We play as a young adventurer who was given the task of forming a caravan and carrying out that mission. Our convoy is made of friendly creatures that help us fight the enemies we encounter on the road. Those friendly creatures automatically move in a straight line, we have to manipulate their order and type according to the encountered threats. Each creature has its own stats and special abilities that can be leveled with the experience we gather during our adventures. After finishing each segment of our journey we can scout ahead and catch new creatures. Every once in a while we will find a village where we can resupply. We have to, however, remember that our caravan has a limit to how much it can carry.
Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below
July 5, 2021, End of Life
Action, RPG Elements, Fantasy, Hack'and'slash, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Slasher, TPP.
A three-dimensional action game with RPG elements, based on the well-known jRPG series, Dragon Quest. Contrary to other productions that employ the Dynasty Warriors formula, Dragon Quest: Heroes has its own story which is not directly tied to any installment of the core Dragon Quest series. Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below allows the player to traverse vast locations and fight hordes of enemies whose strength lies in their numbers. Bosses present an even bigger challenge — to defeat them, one must adopt an adequate tactic. The player's character possesses several regular attacks and special abilities that we unlock having acquired a certain amount of experience. The game offers cartoonish 3D graphics, with characters designed by a famous mangaka, Akira Toriyama. Thanks to the 8th-generation consoles' capabilities, the developers introduced previously unavailable visual effects and increased the number of opponents visible on the screen simultaneously.
Steam
Users
Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, 2D, Fantasy, jRPG, Remaster/remake, Singleplayer, Turn-based.
Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line is a mobile conversion of a classic 8-bit RPG by Japanese company Square Enix. While playing, players explore the vast world, develop characters and fight turn-based battles with a variety of opponents. Compared to the original, the interface and graphics have been improved.
Users
Dragon Quest X
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, Internet, jRPG, Multiplayer, Online, Singleplayer, TPP.
Dragon Quest X is the next installment of the popular jRPG series set in the climates of fairytale fantasy.
Users
Dragon Quest Wii Collection
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Package, Singleplayer, Turn-based, Nintendo Exclusive.
A set of classic RPG games from the Dragon Quest series in original audiovisual setting. The first three parts of the game from the NES console, as well as two conversions from Super Nintendo are at our disposal. Travelling around the world of fantastic creatures, we face different enemies and perform many different tasks with a complex storyline background.
Users
Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, 2D, Fantasy, jRPG, Remaster/remake, Singleplayer, Turn-based.
Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation is a remake of the popular 1988 jRPG game. Production offers a powerful world, mostly open-structure, turn-based combat system and an extensive system of classes. Compared to the 8-bit prototype, graphics have been improved and the gameplay has been enriched with several new elements.
Users
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, LAN, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Nintendo Exclusive.
The next installment of the classic turn-based RPG game, allowing you to catch and control creatures known from the Dragon Quest series. In the game we can collect and modify the skills of hundreds of small creatures, and the game is very similar to the Pokemon series. Compared to the previous part, the graphics have been significantly improved.
Users
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Singleplayer, Turn-based.
Remake of the sixth part of the Dragon Quest series, originally released at the end of 1995 in Japan for the SNES console. It is also the last part of the Zenithia trilogy, which includes all versions of this RPG from the fourth to the sixth part.
Users
Dragon Quest: Wars
July 5, 2021, End of Life
Strategy, Fantasy, Internet, LAN, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Nintendo Exclusive.
Strategy embedded in the universe of the "Dragon Quest" series, in which we move our units on the board, striving to eliminate the forces of competition.
Users
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, LAN, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Turn-based, Nintendo Exclusive.
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is a studio-produced 5 Level jRPG game, the ninth installment of the series created by Yuji Horia. The hero, whose actions are controlled by the player, is transformed into a human angel. In order to regain its old form, he must find a magical divine fruit. The game has been prepared primarily with a view to having fun in the mode of 4-person cooperation.
Users
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Singleplayer, Turn-based.
Remake of classic RPG. The game is divided into five chapters, and in each of them we get to know the new main character. We travel through a fairy-tale land, solving quests, killing monsters and finding treasures.
Users
Dragon Quest V
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, LAN, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Turn-based.
Dragon Quest V: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride to remake the 2004 release of Dragon Quest V, which in turn was a remake of a classic of the same title, debuting on the market in 1992 in the version for the SNES console.
Users
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, LAN, Multiplayer, Singleplayer, Nintendo Exclusive.
The next installment of the popular series, focusing the player's attention on the need to catch the monsters encountered during the game. These creatures can then be put up for duels with opponents or other players.
Users
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Singleplayer, Turn-based, Nintendo Exclusive.
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors is another position in the cult series of Japanese cRPG games, launched in 1986 and also known as Dragon Warrior. This production is only addressed to Wii console owners.
Users
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
July 5, 2021, End of Life
Adventure, RPG Elements, Fantasy, LAN, Multiplayer, Platformers, Action Adventure, Singleplayer, Nintendo Exclusive.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime is a combination of cRPG, adventure and platforming. The title gives us the opportunity to lead one of the most popular creatures from the world of Dragon Quest - Blue Slime.
Users
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Remaster/remake, Singleplayer, TPP, Turn-based.
Another installment in the bestselling jRPG series which has been in development since the mid-80s. It is the first game in the franchise to be available for PlayStation 2. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is set in a well-known fantasy universe. The player controls a party of adventurers who have to stop the evil Dhoulmagus and remove the curse he placed on the king and his daughter. As we progress, the protagonists gain new abilities and items and become stronger. In combat, played in a turn-based system, they use not only typical medieval weaponry but also magic. They also encounter friendly NPCs with whom they can trade and talk. Visually, Dragon Quest VIII resembles Dark Cloud 2: it has three-dimensional graphics combined with cel shading rendering which gives them cartoonish looks. The characters' were designed by a famous mangaka, Akira Toriyama, known primarily for his work on the Dragon Ball franchise.
OpenCritic
Users
Dragon Quest VII
July 5, 2021, End of Life
RPG, Fantasy, jRPG, Remaster/remake, Singleplayer, Turn-based.
A remake of the classic Japanese RPG from PlayStation, which was released at the beginning of the 21st century. The version for the Nintendo portable console received a new audiovisual setting and a number of additions.
Users
Dragon Quest Series News
Everything announced during the PlayStation State of Play Japan
PlayStation's first-ever State of Play Japan featured 26 games, including some exciting DLC announcements for some of the year's biggest games.
video games
November 11, 2025
Fan Improved Remake of Iconic Dragon Quest 3 on PC
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, one of this year's best jRPGs, has received the DQ3Fix modification, which fixes some of the problems plaguing the PC version of the game.
Files and Mods
December 8, 2024
Monster Wrangler Class in Dragon Quest 3 (DQ3), New Job in Remake Explained
Everything you need to know about the new job in Dragon Quest 3 Remake (DQ3). As a Monster Wrangler, you can tame friendly creatures and use their skills in battle.
How to
November 15, 2024
Square Enix Prepares More HD-2D Remakes of 16-bit Hits
The remakes of Live A Live and Dragon Quest III will not be the end. Square Enix wants to refresh other 16-bit games in HD-2D style.
video games
February 22, 2022
Dragon Quest XII and Dragon Quest III Remake Announced
Square Enix announced Dragon Quest XII, a remake of Dragon Quest III, and several other new projects from the franchise.
video games
May 27, 2021
Dragon Quest XII and Dragon Quest III Remake Announced
Square Enix announced Dragon Quest XII, a remake of Dragon Quest III, and several other new projects from the franchise.
video games
May 27, 2021
10-hour Demo of Dragon Quest XI S: Definitive Edition Available
If you are not sure about the purchase of Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age, you will be pleased to know that a 10-hour demo has just been made available, and your progress in it can be transferred to the full version.
video games
November 4, 2020