Product Info

Platform

Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC

Publisher

Square Enix

Developer

Square Enix

Series

Dragon Quest

Genre

RPG

Players

1

File Size (Minimum)

5 GB

Release Date (NA)

Oct 30, 2025

Release Date (JP)

Oct 30, 2025

Purchase From

Amazon

eShop

PSN Store

Microsoft Store

Steam

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a love letter to the first two original Dragon Quest (aka Dragon Warrior) games from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). There have been ports of these titles released over the years, but this remake is considered the best one to dive into. What makes it even better is that you’re purchasing one game for two Dragon Quest remake games.

The Game That Started it All

Dragon Quest I, the first entry in the Dragon Quest series introduced many elements not only to the series itself but also opened the floodgates of inspiration for other role-playing games and entertainment genres, such as anime. For example, the unique and simple design of the slime monster, thanks to Akira Toriyama’s work, is well-known worldwide. The original soundtrack, composed by Koichi Sugiyama, made its first appearance here and continues to be a staple of the Dragon Quest series. The remade soundtracks for both titles are both nostalgic and timeless, with orchestrated, harmonic tunes that include classic leveling-up tunes and the sound of footsteps when entering a new area. Classic scores of visiting the castle in Tantegel Castle to the battle theme are mesmerizing.

The Erdrick Timeline

Those who have played the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake should notice the subtle layouts and names of towns, key items, and more that are spread across each game. That is because the third entry of Dragon Quest is actually a prequel to the first Dragon Quest.

The releases of the remakes offer a new experience of the Erdrick trilogy with updated story content and visuals compared to the original NES versions and their ports. However, if you choose to play Dragon Quest in numerical order, it will not affect how the story is told but the experience will be different. If you are looking for a recommendation, with the third game, then play the first, and finally the second entry as the remake versions were intended to be played in that order.

Turning More Magical

The first installment of Dragon Quest for the NES has a simple and short story with little depth. The second installment improved much more on the first NES game with a party of three and longer and more depth in the story. In the remake versions, both games improve the story with additional dialogue content, cutscenes, voiceovers, and additional gameplay for players to enjoy further, making the experience far better. Though don’t expect a lengthy ride on the first Dragon Quest, this one can be completed in less than twenty hours but players who are enjoying it will want to take their time with it before jumping into a longer, story-driven game in Dragon Quest II.

 Dragon Quest I & II Remake picks up many of the styles and gameplay mechanics of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. For example, battle speeds, difficulty settings, and the 2D pixel art with 3D dynamic effects of lighting and more detailed environments. If you haven’t had a problem with the third game’s style, expect the same results in I & II. Earning mini medals for prizes carries over in these new remakes. A new feature in Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake are items called scrolls. These items give a one-time use to give a party member a new skill to learn. These scrolls are found throughout the game in dungeons or in closets in the nearest town, providing a new way to customize your fighters to work in your favor.

Players can use auto settings on their party to initiate turns for quicker battles. Auto settings work a good amount but don’t always work out as the game’s AI tends to do more than it should or not focus enough on certain aspects. For example, healing rather than constantly casting magic shields during battles with enemies that don’t cast magic spells. Sometimes it’s best to have the result of the battle in your hands.

Choosing offense and defense moves is straightforward and easy. However, selecting an enemy could be improved. When choosing an enemy, it is a simple command, but it is based on either a group of the same enemy type or a single foe outside the group. Currently, choosing an enemy within a group of the same type of fiends is not possible, as the game dictates which one you will attack. Having more freedom to select specific enemies would be beneficial.

When your party falls in battle, you’ll be prompted to have a rematch (if a boss battle), go back to the autosave point, return to a church (which costs you in-game currency), or load your last save data. This setup truly helps during these challenging games and saves some headaches.

 Like the third Dragon Quest remake, the first two Dragon Quest remakes will guide you in a better way than the original games with their dialogue saving and map indicators, but still give players the ability to roam anywhere they are eligible, such as using a ship to sail anywhere. Exploring is fun but dangerous if not careful.

 The random battle encounters feel excessive and become fatiguing when trying to grind through a dungeon or explore the outside world. The game gives players the option to use items or a magical spell to prevent weaker monsters from attacking for a brief time. If you’re facing equal or higher level monsters, best of luck. While there are difficulty settings that can be changed, having the ability to set the amount of random battles would be a nice addition. Sometimes players just don’t want to have to fight every battle every few steps and have to try and escape. Less time spent jumping into battles and more time enjoying the exploration and progressing with the story should be reasonable. Players may regret the decision if they fall in the upcoming boss fight.

The game’s menu interface and designs, much like Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, stay faithful to the original games with more modern mechanics. It’s not going to have a sleek, cutting-edge design and stays close to the original design, making it a simple navigation to understand. At least they are not overlapping and provide more details about each item and party member stats. Each party member can only hold a certain amount of items, including their equipment, but they have an item bag to hold much more. While many may frown upon it, it adds a different challenge to the game.

The First Installment

Taking place long after the events of Dragon Quest III, the Lord of the Underworld was defeated thanks to the legendary hero Erdrick. However, Dragonlord, the new antagonist, abducts the King’s daughter and seeks to turn the world upside down. A lone warrior, a descendant of Erdrick, pledges to the King to take down Dragonlord and bring back the Princess. Additional story content has been added to give the classic NES title more depth than just a damsel in distress. The remake showcases the Princess as having not only courage but also the power to hold her ground until the Hero arrives. Additional side characters, such as the castle guards, are given some spotlight to add depth to the game’s world. It’s not going to introduce new party members or ground-breaking content but gives enough of a story to bridge between the two Dragon Quest games.

 Just like the original, you’ll control only one character, which is rare in modern role-playing games. This changes up the strategic process, and those seeking a new type of challenge should welcome it. While in the original NES game you fought one monster per battle, now you are battling multiple monsters in random battles. Your fighter has also received upgrades with new abilities and spells at their disposal, making it a fair battle. Players will have to carefully strategize their turns as the game doesn’t hold back on giving you a fair fight if you aren’t prepared. It’s a welcoming challenge even if you are beaten many times over.

The Second Installment

Taking place after Dragon Quest I, descendants of Erdrick continue to live on and build three kingdoms. A tragic event brings down one of these kingdoms, leading you and your cousins to join forces to take down a new threat: a corrupt cleric named Hargon. Players who have experienced Dragon Quest III may recognize the name, creating another tie-in with the prequel game. Unlike the NES version of Dragon Quest II, this remake adds an additional character, Princess Cannock, to join your party, creating a four-member team. While Dragon Quest III allowed for a four-member party, this team feels lively with each member having their own unique personality, with the Hero, the character you control, remaining a silent protagonist. Each party member possesses their own unique skills, with the Hero excelling in physical and defense stats but lacking spells, while the other members provide different spells and skills to compensate for what the Hero lacks.

The progression in Dragon Quest II feels faster than the third installment. For example, acquiring your own ship happens much more quickly in this game. On the other hand, obtaining Princess Cannock as a permanent party member takes some time to complete your roster. Early in the game, players have the option to explore and take on various quests in no particular order. However, the strength of your enemies will dictate the order in which you should tackle them if you haven’t been leveling up. One way to overcome this is by finding a way to farm metal slimes, enemies that provide a significant amount of experience points but tend to flee most of the time. Otherwise, explore areas where you can overcome more easily. Players will travel underwater, which is a ride to enjoy, and in a variety of places on land. Dragon Quest II is an adventure many will enjoy.

This entry evokes more nostalgia from the first and third Dragon Quest games and focuses more on storytelling. There’s plenty of twists and lots of areas to explore for a retro title. Players should save this title for last to fully experience the Erdrick trilogy.

The Final Quest

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a must-play for role-playing fans who want to relive a classic tale and its challenges. It’s a love letter to what made Dragon Quest remarkable and how it shaped the genre. Serving as a reminder that this series still knows how to slime its way into our hearts.

A PlayStation 5 code was provided for this review. Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is set to release on October 30, 2025 for the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.