Dragon Quest III: HD-2D Remake

Square Enix have gone above and beyond honoring the original duology's legacy, whilst addressing virtually every single flaw both games originally had. Dungeons are massive labyrinths that'll challenge you every step of the way; the world is dense with secrets for those who can't help but explore every nook & cranny; and the series' deceptively deep combat is equal part addictively fun and rewardingly strategic. Stylish, gripping, and full of the heart that's defined the series since 1986, Dr...

Consisting of remakes of the first two games in the series, Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake is a somewhat simpler experience than Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. You play the first game with just one party member, for example. It's still charming, though, with Dragon Quest 2 being a highlight, but both titles still might feel a little too archaic in ways.

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 maintaining the original first-person battle perspective instead of changing it to the more animated one seen in more recent Dragon Quest games, or the omission of the Pachisi minigame. Even with these criti...

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 Arena, both of which require recruiting friendly monsters to progress through. New story beats featuring Ortega, the hero's warrior father, were another pre-launch selling point.

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 experience. I love level grinding, scouring dungeons, and taking down nasty monsters. The story is simple, but in a sweeping, grand fashion perfectly suited for Dragon Quest. Whether or not you’ve pl...

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.

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 weren’t sure where to start on your adventure, strangely, it’s the glossy remake of the third installment in the franchise.