Dragon Quest III: HD-2D Remake

Some excellent enhancements make this the ultimate version of Dragon Quest III, but it could still do more to make it wholly welcoming to newcomers.

A vast fantasy romp whose charming, breezy tone is occasionally threatened by little irritations and ugly stereotypes.

A bold renewal, rather than a blast from the past.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is how a classic game should be remade. The new graphics style brings Dragon Quest III into the modern era while maintaining the original iconic designs. The quality-of-life improvements also make the 36-year-old game feel modern without sacrificing the core elements of the original experience. There are certain aspects that may not appeal to everyone, such as maintai...

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake comes with plenty of great quality-of-life improvements like difficulty settings, auto-save features, and even hints that circle places on the world map to help navigate the more open-world portions of the game. However, it also includes new features that really add to the enjoyableness of this remake. Most notable are the new Monster Wrangler vocation and the Monster A...

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a prime example of enhancing a classic without taking away the things that made it so endearing. It's a must-play experience and well worth diving into for fans of the original.

You won't find a more fundamental JRPG than Dragon Quest III, and this is easily the best way to experience it

Make no mistake, this is definitely the superior version of Dragon Quest III. The modern mechanics and slick visuals strike that balance between retro and modern sensibilities. Combat is as easy or as difficult as you need it to be. I wish the auto-battle system was less powerful, but it’s still an optional mechanic. Beyond all my gripes about it, playing this game was still a relaxing, compelling...

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a gorgeous and engaging remake while sticking to a lot of older JRPG tropes, for better and worse, and it's a blast on the Steam Deck.

You always know what you're getting with a mainline Dragon Quest game. The series is pretty much the epitome of consistent, having stuck to its timeless Japanese RPG formula for decades. But that comfy feeling of familiarity somehow hits even harder with Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake — a powerfully nostalgic rebuild of a true classic.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a piece of eye candy that falls a bit flat on all other aspects. 7

For the Dragon Quest-curious, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake offers a slickly designed new way into the venerable RPG franchise. It’s a solid starting point, thanks to its relative simplicity and ease of play. It’s also the very first Dragon Quest game chronologically, setting up the story for next year’s Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake. So if you’ve ever been charmed by Dragon Quest’s Slimes but wer...