Earlier this month, I grabbed my Switch and dove headfirst into Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Honestly, I’ve never played the original, so this was quite the ride. Two big thoughts crossed my mind: First, the sprite work is top-notch, seriously gorgeous stuff here. Second, man, does it get grindy. Like, we’re talking old-school RPG grindy. Your options? Stick it out or flip to this “Dracky Mode” where you basically can’t lose. Yep, I totally took the easy way out.
So, why did I do this? Well, I had just spent a good 25 minutes on a demo for Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake on a PS5 at PAX East 2025. Needed a reference point before scribbling down this preview. Just a heads-up, this is gonna be a bit different. Not a whole lot to dissect, mechanically speaking. But concept-wise? Now that’s way more intriguing to me.
Alright, let’s get into it. In the Dragon Quest I part of the demo, I went from the starter town into the wilds and down into some cave. Fought some monsters, wandered a bit, didn’t spot much new. But wow, it looks stunning. Those small changes, like battling multiple monsters, add a neat layer of depth.
And Dragon Quest II? Eye candy galore as well, playing out more like the Dragon Quest III remake with its low-angle world and voiced cutscenes. If you know II, you know it’s kind of a love-it-or-hate-it deal. It’s got that tricky in-between vibe, stuck midway between the grind of Dragon Quest and the larger scope of Dragon Quest III.
You can’t really glean much from a few minutes, but if Square Enix gave II the same love they showered on III, and they sure seem to have (quicker battles, difficulty options, smoother experience), then this might just be the best way to explore a game that many fans feel all sorts of mixed feelings about.
What really caught my fancy, conceptually, is how the developers crafted I & II to feel like they’re sequels to the III remake from last year. While III stars Erdrick and is technically a prequel, I & II feature his descendants. They didn’t just match the visual flair with III; they tied in new bits of story and gameplay to unify this trilogy. Makes playing III -> I -> II feel just right.
Chatting with a Square Enix rep, they mentioned that trying both remakes together is roughly the same length as Dragon Quest III was, which took, what, 30-40 hours on normal difficulty? They got all animated when I suggested the new remake might make Dragon Quest II more of an “easy hang.” Turns out, giving II some needed upgrades was a big priority for the team.
Oh, and today is Dragon Quest Day — fitting timing, right? Square Enix just announced Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake drops on October 30, including on the new Switch 2! My gut reaction? Looks like they nailed it, just like with III! But, lurking beneath, you can tell Square Enix is dreaming big with these remakes. Definitely something to keep an eye on.
