I loved Dragon Quest 3! Which one should I play next?

[Denmdm]

What's the most similar DQ to the third one? It was simply one of the best experiences in RPGs I had but I can't feel the same with the PS2 or DS games... So what are your recommendations?

 

[Zachery2112]

Dragon Quest IX has the most similar gameplay. Dragon Quest XI has the most similar story. In general, I would recommend all Dragon Quest games but those two best match what your asking.

 

[Tonberry]

What's the most similar DQ to the third one? It was simply one of the best experiences in RPGs I had but I can't feel the same with the PS2 or DS games... So what are your recommendations?

IX is the most similar in terms of "just make a cool party and fuck around going on adventures", which is one of the best parts about III, so probably that if that's the thing you want from a DQ!

 

[moonbits]

they're all the same

 

[Muklas]

I've played III, IV, V, VI and VIII, IV has the whole "how the squad got together" thing, V has generational stuff+you get to be a pokemon trainer(Golem and King Cureslime are big carries), VI has a busted class system and a billion characters you'll never have any reason to use after you pick 3 characters you like, also two worlds stuff(for what's it worth going all over two world maps looking for loot is a nice experience), VIII has the points skill system(for people whose brains release happy chems when they put points into stuff), the "spend turns psyching yourself up so you can hit harder" system, the first apperance of alchemy breaking the game in the franchise and Yangus, Yangus is great and worth the game on his own.

 

[ugly chuckie duckie]

IV

It's good to switch between the job heavy one like III and the ones that aren't. IV is latter but still great because they give great characters and is a nice break from managing jobs and stuff.

You get party members with predetermined jobs and you just play with the party members that you enjoy traveling with.

 

[Big Finger Jim]

I guess just go in order from there.

 

[UnDubious]

IX is the worst mainline entry, though. My favorites are VI and IV, so I'd really recommend IV next. VI has a unique, slightly darker dream-like atmosphere to it, it doesn't tend to get the love it deserves. IV invented the chapter system lots of RPGs did after - each major character gets their own story chapter, then you get to the main chapter where the real hero gets everybody together.

I & II aren't essential for now.

 

[KirboDeku]

V is the best of the series imho.

 

[Bonkers225]

V is often cited the best in Japan. So I suggest that. Go for the PS2 version, it's translated, and available in repo

 

[RageBurner]

My suggestion would be 5. Rather than suggesting the PS2 version, though, I'll suggest tue DS one. 4, 5 and 6 are all very good, and all are on DS.

 

[Denmdm]

Ty all, I think I'll play IV and VI now then

 

[Tonyz95]

Dragon Quest I. It's the story of Erdrick's descendant, 50 years later. Plus, It is even simpler.

 

[solnK!]

I suggest IX, it´s my fav and also the most similar to III, altough all DQ are amazing and worth playing

Post automatically merged: Feb 27, 2025

Yangus is love yangus is life

I've played III, IV, V, VI and VIII, IV has the whole "how the squad got together" thing, V has generational stuff+you get to be a pokemon trainer(Golem and King Cureslime are big carries), VI has a busted class system and a billion characters you'll never have any reason to use after you pick 3 characters you like, also two worlds stuff(for what's it worth going all over two world maps looking for loot is a nice experience), VIII has the points skill system(for people whose brains release happy chems when they put points into stuff), the "spend turns psyching yourself up so you can hit harder" system, the first apperance of alchemy breaking the game in the franchise and Yangus, Yangus is great and worth the game on his own.

 

[Graw]

I'd say Dragon Quest VI. It has the vocation system and once you reach about a third of the way into the game it opens up the same way DQ3 does and you don't really have much guidance and there's a bunch of things you can explore. DQ VI is a lot more focused on vignettes and individual adventures and really feels like you're on a magical fairy tale adventure with your friends.

Only thing is. The game's a bit broken. Most of it's too easy and then you reach the final boss and unless you've actively been trying to grind out job levels while you've been playing you'll get destroyed.

I tried playing IX and I didn't really like it very much.

 

[MistHunter]

Ty all, I think I'll play IV and VI now then

Some general advices:

If you play someday Dragon Quest IX, invest your skill points directly to the job's skill tree (and later, choose wisely your weapon of choice). Seeds are quite a trick to get.

The game is like Dragon Quest II:
At the least, unbalanced. So, it is critical to have a Priest in your team or someone who can cure enough HP...
Or a Gladiator (mix it with a Falcon Blade and you will see).

Try to make a balance, when you choose a party and when you change jobs. And don't overlevel so much (in case you want to fight the 12 grotto bosses, they are optional, but have a specific order, regarding the level of your main character.
Yes the last one is possible, without finishing the game, believe or not).

Try to take your time, gathering resources, getting enough money and the necessary equipment, for Alchemy.
Specially when you are reaching End-Game and Post-Game.
The choice is yours!

Some weapons, are extremely good, for specifical effects or properties!
Like the Falcon Blade or the Demon Spear, with the right skills...
(The Demon Spear can kill sometimes Metal Slimes and its variants)

Do you want a funny way to defeat enemies?
Don't overstimate the power of "Have a Ball" Skill (looks strength-based and can surprise you).
(Feels like The Joker, launching stuff with a party/toy gatling gun, just saying)

If you try to go a grotto, blue chests may differ in content.
Don't think about its content, because is a special mechanic, like a Roulette.
There are Ranks about this...
Same for monster in grottoes, like a hierarchy system.
All calculated, via your main character's level.

If a Point of No Return happens, I recommend to take your time with the Bestiary to hunt... And its Drops.
Trust me, it is a pain, but for the better avoiding future headaches.

 

[Cu-Neo]

Go for all of them it's a great franchise.
But in a single answer go for IX it has the party system of 3, creating characters and assign them a class that you can change later).

 

[UnDubious]

People who are saying Dragon Quest VI is broken must have played the DS remake. I think they may have screwed up the balance. The original SNES game is relatively tough throughout and it pays to make use of the caravan and the different skills you gain through classes. That's the one I played. I wonder if maybe Western DQ fans don't like VI as much because they played an inferior remake? People just always assume that the remake must be better but that's often not the case.

 

[MistHunter]

People who are saying Dragon Quest VI is broken must have played the DS remake. I think they may have screwed up the balance. The original SNES game is relatively tough throughout and it pays to make use of the caravan and the different skills you gain through classes. That's the one I played. I wonder if maybe Western DQ fans don't like VI as much because they played an inferior remake? People just always assume that the remake must be better but that's often not the case.

(Dragon Quest IV...
Is the only one who is not having a Super Famicom Remake, right `_`?
Or are you referring to the PlayStation 1 Remake ?_?)

 

[Graw]

People who are saying Dragon Quest VI is broken must have played the DS remake. I think they may have screwed up the balance. The original SNES game is relatively tough throughout and it pays to make use of the caravan and the different skills you gain through classes. That's the one I played. I wonder if maybe Western DQ fans don't like VI as much because they played an inferior remake? People just always assume that the remake must be better but that's often not the case.

I've played both the snes and DS versions. It's probably my favourite Dragon Quest game. It's broken in both versions because of the way job levels work. You can absolutely get to the end of the snes version with your jobs underlevelled. All it took for me was to give hero and Ashlynn one extra job and it completely screwed me over. Hero never reached the hero class and Ashlynn never learned Kazing. The only way around it was a lot of mindless, tedious grinding. If the game had a job point system instead of just number of counting the number of battles fought it would work a lot better. If you get to the final boss with only one Kazing user, you will struggle in either version.

 

[MistHunter]

(Dragon Quest IV...
Is the only one who is not having a Super Famicom Remake, right `_`?
Or are you referring to the PlayStation 1 Remake ?_?)

(Sorry, never mind. Looks I readed backwards ? )

 

[UnDubious]

I've played both the snes and DS versions. It's probably my favourite Dragon Quest game. It's broken in both versions because of the way job levels work. You can absolutely get to the end of the snes version with your jobs underlevelled. All it took for me was to give hero and Ashlynn one extra job and it completely screwed me over. Hero never reached the hero class and Ashlynn never learned Kazing. The only way around it was a lot of mindless, tedious grinding. If the game had a job point system instead of just number of counting the number of battles fought it would work a lot better. If you get to the final boss with only one Kazing user, you will struggle in either version.

I agree that the classes level too slowly. Same with DQ7, except the game is a lot longer and it feels like class progress is even slower.

It's okay to struggle to beat the final boss, though. It was a very close battle for me but I used the caravan to build some kind of strategy involving switching party members in and out and barely beat him. Made it that much more memorable. Did the same with the bonus dungeon boss, though of course I had to grind a lot for that one, it's pretty much mandatory.

 

[Graw]

I agree that the classes level too slowly. Same with DQ7, except the game is a lot longer and it feels like class progress is even slower.

It's okay to struggle to beat the final boss, though. It was a very close battle for me but I used the caravan to build some kind of strategy involving switching party members in and out and barely beat him. Made it that much more memorable. Did the same with the bonus dungeon boss, though of course I had to grind a lot for that one, it's pretty much mandatory.

I don't mind some grinding. It's to be expected but coming off of V where the grinding was limited to just a few points in the game only to kind of breeze through most of VI after a certain point just to hit a wall that really amounts to watching the ai play the game for me while I hit 'A' to cast whistle for a few hours just to fight enough battles to get a couple of extra spells so I can deal with the boss's instakills was kind of a bummer after enjoying the rest of the game more than V. The second time I made sure to space out the grinding but that first time felt like kind of a slap in the face.

 

[miguk]

I've gone over this in another thread, so I'm going to go in a different direction with this:

• DQ8: Get the 3DS version, and you get to marry best wifu Jessica. Basic wifu Medea is the only one you can marry in the PS2 version.
• DQ11: The largest selection of wifus to marry. Jade is my favorite, but Serena and Gemma are also very good choices. Go with Sylvando if you want the best husbando. And you have 4 other wifu/husbando choices as well.
• DQ5: Get the DS version, as it has 3 wifus that you can marry, as apposed to the 2 wifus of the original version.
• DQ4: No marriage allowed, but Alena can be considered a wifu in spirit. Meena and Maya are also good choices. Also, you can play the female hero and be your own wifu.
• DQ1: Only 1 wifu to marry at the very end. Protip: You can carry her with you everywhere if you never bring her home.