Dragon Quest Series

ConsoleNameReleaseGenreDeveloperLucca's Notes
3DSDragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past2016Turn-BasedArtePiazzaA whole new translation (for better or worse), changed encounter types from random to field enemies, and tweaked the class progression slightly
3DSDragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King2017Turn-BasedSquare EnixAdds new characters, story elements, and balance changes, but removes the orchestrated soundtrack and is not as visually appealing
DSDragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime2006ActionTosePart Zelda-like adventure starring a slime (with increasable health), part tank warfare as only Dragon Quest can provide (the stats of the tank itself can also be upgraded)
DSDragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen2008Turn-BasedArtePiazzaClassic JRPG gameplay broken up into chapters following specific protagonists, has one more chapter than the NES version
DSDragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies2010Turn-BasedLevel-5Intended to be a multiplayer JRPG, all party members are customizable
DSDragon Quest Monsters: Joker2007Monster CollectingToseMore Dragon Quest-themed monster collection and synthesis! Also features a DQ VIII- like skill system
DSDragon Quest Monsters: Joker 22011Monster CollectingToseNot a direct sequel to Joker, adds monsters of varying sizes but otherwise plays the same
DSDragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride2009Turn-BasedArtePiazzaFirst release of DQV in North America, featuring monster taming and a multi-generational story
DSDragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation2011Turn-BasedArtePiazzaFirst appearance of DQVI in the west, same turn-based gameplay, plot revolving around two separate worlds
GB+GBCDragon Warrior I & II2000Turn-BasedToseKeeps the same QoL changes brought by the SFC version, albeit with some naturally downgraded graphics
GB+GBCDragon Warrior III2001Turn-BasedToseMaintains the QoL changes of the SFC version, adds an extra bonus dungeon, downgrades graphics a bit
GB+GBCDragon Warrior Monsters2000Monster CollectingToseSort of Dragon Quest's answer to Pokemon, but with fusion as well
GB+GBCDragon Warrior Monsters 2: Cobi's Journey/Tara's Adventure2001Monster CollectingToseLeans harder into the Pokemon slant with 2 different versions
JP 3DSDragon Quest Monsters: Joker 32016Monster CollectingSquare EnixMore monsters to scout, synthesize, and ride around the various worlds; turn-based combat with in-depth skill trees.
JP 3DSDragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland 3D2012Monster CollectingSquare EnixA remake of Dragon Warrior Monsters, with more monsters to train/breed, a larger party size, and a 3D world to explore
JP 3DSSlime Mori Mori Dragon Quest 3: Daikaizoku to Shippo Dan2011ActionSquare Enix
JP GBADragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart2003Monster CollectingToseStars a young Prince Keifer from DQVII, where you recruit humans and monsters for your growing caravan
JP PS2Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu no Hanayome2004Turn-BasedArtePiazza/Matrix SoftwareA 3D remake of the Super Famicom classic with an increased party size
JP SFCDragon Quest I + II1993Turn-BasedChunsoftCombined, debatably definitive version of DQ I and II
JP SFCDragon Quest III1996Turn-BasedHeartbeatArguably the definitive version of the game
JP SFCDragon Quest V: Tenkuu no Hanayome1992Turn-BasedChunsoftMonster capture and marriage/children ahoy!
JP SFCDragon Quest VI: Maboroshi no Daichi1995Turn-BasedHeartbeatThird game in the Zenithian trilogy, return of the class system
JP SFCTorneko no Daibouken: Fushigi no Dungeon1993Dungeon CrawlerChunsoftFirst game in the Mystery Dungeon series, with a Dragon Quest coat of paint
NESDragon Warrior1989Turn-BasedChunsoftSolo questing to save the kingdom!
NESDragon Warrior II1990Turn-BasedChunsoftRescuing the kingdom, now with a party!
NESDragon Warrior III1992Turn-BasedChunsoftIntroduces a class system to the series, far less linear than its predecessors
NESDragon Warrior IV1992Turn-BasedChunsoftBreaks up the story into chapters with different protagonists that come together in the end
PS2Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King2005Turn-BasedLevel-5Can you really say no to more slimes? In a fully 3D environment?
PS4Dragon Quest Builders2016Action/SandboxSquare EnixSee Vita
PS4Dragon Quest Builders 22019Action/SandboxOmega Force/Square EnixRestore the world of Dragon Quest 2 by completing requests for villagers and questing for materials, leveling both your character and village along the way
PS4Dragon Quest Heroes II2017ActionOmega ForceAdds more traditional JRPG elements such as overworld traversal and questing to break up the gameplay, but is otherwise similar to the first
PS4Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below2015ActionOmega ForceA Dragon Quest-themed musou, with many playable characters from throughout the series' history
PS4Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition2020Turn-BasedArmor Project/Square EnixSee Switch
PS4Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age2018Turn-BasedArmor Project/Square EnixNo random encounters, a free-form camera in combat, and tons of traditional but loveable style; considered by some to be the best in the series
PSXDragon Warrior VII2001Turn-BasedHeart BeatLooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong Dragon Quest game
PSXTorneko: The Last Hope2000Dungeon CrawlerChunsoft/Matrix SoftwareRoguelike sequel to Torneko no Daibouken (SFC), second localized Mystery Dungeon game
SwitchDragon Quest (DL only)2019Turn-BasedArmor Project/Matrix Software/Square EnixPort of the relocalized mobile version, with redrawn character/monster sprites
SwitchDragon Quest Builders2018Action/SandboxSquare EnixSee Vita
SwitchDragon Quest Builders 22019Action/SandboxOmega Force/Square EnixSee PS4
SwitchDragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line (DL only)2019Turn-BasedArmor Project/Matrix Software/Square EnixPort of the relocalized mobile version, with redrawn character/monster sprites
SwitchDragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation (DL only)2019Turn-BasedArmor Project/Matrix Software/Square EnixPort of the relocalized mobile version, with redrawn character/monster sprites
SwitchDragon Quest Treasures2022Action/Monster CollectingSquare EnixA prequel of sorts to DQXI where treasure hunting with your merry monster band is the name of the game
SwitchDragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition2019Turn-BasedArmor Project/Square EnixLots of QoL changes including adding the symphonic score, extra quests/party chat, and more; can be played in either 2D or 3D modes
VitaDragon Quest Builders (DL only)2016Action/SandboxSquare EnixA sort-of mashup between Minecraft and Dragon Quest, where you have to increase each town's base level to rebuild the destroyed world by crafting the necessary items
WiiDragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors2008ActionGenius Sonority/EightingAn on-rails hack-and-slash RPG utilizing the Wii's motion controls
Xbox OneDragon Quest Builders 22021Action/SandboxOmega Force/Square EnixSee PS4
Xbox OneDragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition2020Turn-BasedArmor Project/Square EnixSee Switch
Xbox SeriesDragon Quest Builders 22021Action/SandboxOmega Force/Square EnixSee PS4