What's a good starting point for a Dragon Quest newbie?

[King Koopa's iconKing Koopa]

I've never played the Dragon Quest games except the Dragon Quest Monsters series. What's a good game to start with? The first one or is there a different one that's better? I've played a lot of JRPGs new and old so I'm not new to the genre.

 

[BlissfulBandit]

The first one is perfectly fine, it's also a gaming hallmark, any rpg fan should play it at least once.

 

[King Koopa's iconKing Koopa]

The first one is perfectly fine, it's also a gaming hallmark, any rpg fan should play it at least once.

Any specific version or is the original NES one fine? I know some old NES rpgs can have bugs or poor translations.

 

[Boog111]

I would say Dragon Quest XI or Dragon Quest IX on the DS if you are wanting to start with a more modern one. VIII is also good but it's a little more old school.

 

[Elwiwi]

The first one is perfectly fine, it's also a gaming hallmark, any rpg fan should play it at least once.

Agree with that , but 11 is also good to get into

Post automatically merged: Feb 20, 2025

Any specific version or is the original NES one fine? I know some old NES rpgs can have bugs or poor translations.

I played the super Famicom , if that helps

 

[99nereids]

user @Aziamuth actually did a couple of really nice write ups detailing which dq games are good entry points for beginners :)
- Mainline games
- Spinoff games

 

[Tonberry]

Oh boy, let's tango!

Personally, I think there are more good starting points than bad, for various reasons, I'll try to summarize my suggestions here:

• Dragon Quest 1 is the optimal "I want to play through everything in release order" for obvious reasons. It's a quaint and simple game, but I think it's fantastic. It's also a good point if you're open-minded and like seeing a series evolve. Every version is good. My favorites are the translated SFC version and the NES version.
• Dragon Quest 3 is in many ways the ultimate DQ game, and perfectly fine to start with. The first three games are part of a trilogy, and you'll miss out on some very cool details if you start with 3, but it's such a behemoth of a game in all the best ways that it's perfectly fine to start with. While it lacks distinct characters, you create your own party and wander the world at your leisure, discovering adventures and doing heroic deeds while you follow the overarching plot a bit more loosely until it starts to tighten up. Amazing game. Best versions are HD2D or translated SFC.
• Dragon Quest 4 is great because it's the first in the 4-6 trilogy. It's presented in an episodic format, where you play through each main character group's storyline until they all converge later down the line. Has one of the best RPG parties in existence. Best version is DS, but NES is good too.
• Dragon Quest 5 is straight up the best game in the series, imo. It's got an extremely special story structure, where you start as a kid and play through your life. Characters you meet early on are encountered later on as an adult. It's got a lot of sweet and memorable moments, and you can recruit monsters as party members. Best version is DS by a mile. The PS2 translated one is fine, because it's pretty and has orchestral music, but it's not as snappy as the DS versions, and lacks QoL features, and some new content the DS version added.
• Dragon Quest 8 is the first big blockbuster DQ game. It feels notably "darker" and grown-up than previous entries, in a very good way. It's absolutely gigantic, has super good encounter design throughout the whole game, from enemy packs to bosses, and is all around an amazing experience. There's no definitive best version, because the PS2 and 3DS versions have individual strengths imo. I tend to prefer the PS2 version for presentation and orchestral music, but 3DS has enemies roam the world instead of random encounters, and various QoL settings. It's also got Yangus who is my favorite DQ character of all time.
• Dragon Quest 11 is a good entry-point if you want to play the most modern entry. As far as stories go, I personally think it's kind of uninspired for a Dragon Quest story. The cast is big but the characters range from very good to really uninteresting. I also think it kind of feels a bit bloated in terms of content. The 'XI S' is better in every single conceivable way, aside from that the vanilla version has sliiiightly better graphics, but it's not very noticeable at all.

There you have my personal "entry point" list. Any of these choices are good, I think. It depends on what kind of experience you're looking for.

Have fun!

 

[Elwiwi]

Oh boy, let's tango!

Personally, I think there are more good starting points than bad, for various reasons, I'll try to summarize my suggestions here:

• Dragon Quest 1 is the optimal "I want to play through everything in release order" for obvious reasons. It's a quaint and simple game, but I think it's fantastic. It's also a good point if you're open-minded and like seeing a series evolve. Every version is good. My favorites are the translated SFC version and the NES version.
• Dragon Quest 3 is in many ways the ultimate DQ game, and perfectly fine to start with. The first three games are part of a trilogy, and you'll miss out on some very cool details if you start with 3, but it's such a behemoth of a game in all the best ways that it's perfectly fine to start with. While it lacks distinct characters, you create your own party and wander the world at your leisure, discovering adventures and doing heroic deeds while you follow the overarching plot a bit more loosely until it starts to tighten up. Amazing game. Best versions are HD2D or translated SFC.
• Dragon Quest 4 is great because it's the first in the 4-6 trilogy. It's presented in an episodic format, where you play through each main character group's storyline until they all converge later down the line. Has one of the best RPG parties in existence. Best version is DS, but NES is good too.
• Dragon Quest 5 is straight up the best game in the series, imo. It's got an extremely special story structure, where you start as a kid and play through your life. Characters you meet early on are encountered later on as an adult. It's got a lot of sweet and memorable moments, and you can recruit monsters as party members. Best version is DS by a mile.
• Dragon Quest 8 is the first big blockbuster DQ game. It feels notably "darker" and grown-up than previous entries, in a very good way. It's absolutely gigantic, has super good encounter design throughout the whole game, from enemy packs to bosses, and is all around an amazing experience. There's no definitive best version, because the PS2 and 3DS versions have individual strengths imo. I tend to prefer the PS2 version for presentation and orchestral music, but 3DS has enemies roam the world instead of random encounters, and various QoL settings. It's also got Yangus who is my favorite DQ character of all time.
• Dragon Quest 11 is a good entry-point if you want to play the most modern entry. As far as stories go, I personally think it's kind of uninspired for a Dragon Quest story. The cast is big but the characters range from very good to really uninteresting. I also think it kind of feels a bit bloated in terms of content. The 'XI S' is better in every single conceivable way, aside from that the vanilla version has sliiiightly better graphics, but it's not very noticeable at all.

There you have my personal "entry point" list. Any of these choices are good, I think. It depends on what kind of experience you're looking for.

Have fun!

I enjoyed so much playing dragon quest 1

 

[King Koopa's iconKing Koopa]

Oh boy, let's tango!

Personally, I think there are more good starting points than bad, for various reasons, I'll try to summarize my suggestions here:

• Dragon Quest 1 is the optimal "I want to play through everything in release order" for obvious reasons. It's a quaint and simple game, but I think it's fantastic. It's also a good point if you're open-minded and like seeing a series evolve. Every version is good. My favorites are the translated SFC version and the NES version.
• Dragon Quest 3 is in many ways the ultimate DQ game, and perfectly fine to start with. The first three games are part of a trilogy, and you'll miss out on some very cool details if you start with 3, but it's such a behemoth of a game in all the best ways that it's perfectly fine to start with. While it lacks distinct characters, you create your own party and wander the world at your leisure, discovering adventures and doing heroic deeds while you follow the overarching plot a bit more loosely until it starts to tighten up. Amazing game. Best versions are HD2D or translated SFC.
• Dragon Quest 4 is great because it's the first in the 4-6 trilogy. It's presented in an episodic format, where you play through each main character group's storyline until they all converge later down the line. Has one of the best RPG parties in existence. Best version is DS, but NES is good too.
• Dragon Quest 5 is straight up the best game in the series, imo. It's got an extremely special story structure, where you start as a kid and play through your life. Characters you meet early on are encountered later on as an adult. It's got a lot of sweet and memorable moments, and you can recruit monsters as party members. Best version is DS by a mile.
• Dragon Quest 8 is the first big blockbuster DQ game. It feels notably "darker" and grown-up than previous entries, in a very good way. It's absolutely gigantic, has super good encounter design throughout the whole game, from enemy packs to bosses, and is all around an amazing experience. There's no definitive best version, because the PS2 and 3DS versions have individual strengths imo. I tend to prefer the PS2 version for presentation and orchestral music, but 3DS has enemies roam the world instead of random encounters, and various QoL settings. It's also got Yangus who is my favorite DQ character of all time.
• Dragon Quest 11 is a good entry-point if you want to play the most modern entry. As far as stories go, I personally think it's kind of uninspired for a Dragon Quest story. The cast is big but the characters range from very good to really uninteresting. I also think it kind of feels a bit bloated in terms of content. The 'XI S' is better in every single conceivable way, aside from that the vanilla version has sliiiightly better graphics, but it's not very noticeable at all.

There you have my personal "entry point" list. Any of these choices are good, I think. It depends on what kind of experience you're looking for.

Have fun!

Oh wow this is very helpful thank you very much I appreciate it. Lately I've been playing a lot of RPGs I've never played before and since Dragon Quest is such a major series I wanted to start it properly to have a decent opinion. Whether I like it or I not I still want to see what people like and how it was impactful for RPG/video game history.

 

[BlissfulBandit]

Any specific version or is the original NES one fine? I know some old NES rpgs can have bugs or poor translations.

Nothing worng with the NES version, it's a very simple game but that's what gives it charm

 

[Tonberry]

I enjoyed so much playing dragon quest 1

Same here. I can play through it an infinite amount of times.

Oh wow this is very helpful thank you very much I appreciate it. Lately I've been playing a lot of RPGs I've never played before and since Dragon Quest is such a major series I wanted to start it properly to have a decent opinion. Whether I like it or I not I still want to see what people like and how it was impactful for RPG/video game history.

For what it's worth, I didn't like DQ when I first tried them. I thought they were too hard and cumbersome, but now it's my favorite video games series together with Final Fantasy.

I hope you find something you love in them!

A protip I can give is: Don't worry too much about not starting in the right place for any of the two "trilogies". The games are made so that they are easily understandable no matter which you start with, but you'll feel a little rewarded when you notice things like references. Especially 4-6 are pretty loosely connected by some narrative elements, but the worlds and characters are all different. I don't want to spoil anything though!

 

[Yousef]

Read these guides by @Aziamuth

How good is each Dragon Quest game for a beginner? Mainline Edition.

Hey, it’s about that time of the day again! That is, another Dragon Quest article. Frankly I should write more about this franchise. When you try to get into a franchise as a beginner, there’s always the same question: what’s a good game to start with? A lot of people will tell you that you go...

retrogametalk.com

How good is each Dragon Quest game for a beginner? Spin-off Edition.

Well met, again. I didn’t have enough with my last article about Dragon Quest, so I wanted to… complement, more or less, what I started last time. This time I’ll focus on the spin-offs. You know what a spin-off is, right? A product that deviates from what is considered mainline within a series...

retrogametalk.com

 

[King Koopa's iconKing Koopa]

Read these guides by @Aziamuth

How good is each Dragon Quest game for a beginner? Mainline Edition.

Hey, it’s about that time of the day again! That is, another Dragon Quest article. Frankly I should write more about this franchise. When you try to get into a franchise as a beginner, there’s always the same question: what’s a good game to start with? A lot of people will tell you that you go...

retrogametalk.com

How good is each Dragon Quest game for a beginner? Spin-off Edition.

Well met, again. I didn’t have enough with my last article about Dragon Quest, so I wanted to… complement, more or less, what I started last time. This time I’ll focus on the spin-offs. You know what a spin-off is, right? A product that deviates from what is considered mainline within a series...

retrogametalk.com

Thank you!

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

I've never played the Dragon Quest games except the Dragon Quest Monsters series. What's a good game to start with? The first one or is there a different one that's better? I've played a lot of JRPGs new and old so I'm not new to the genre.

Really anywhere besides maybe 6 is a good starting point. Just know that the earlier the game, the worse the grind. Reson I say except Dragon Quest 6 is because everything that game does was better in 5 lmao

There's also Dragon Quest 10 to not start with, but we don't even have that game overseas sooooo

 

[King Koopa's iconKing Koopa]

Really anywhere besides maybe 6 is a good starting point. Just know that the earlier the game, the worse the grind. Reson I say except Dragon Quest 6 is because everything that game does was better in 5 lmao

There's also Dragon Quest 10 to not start with, but we don't even have that game overseas sooooo

I've played some awfully grindy jrpgs so I'm not too worried about that.

 

[Tonberry]

That article is great.
I would personally suggest not starting with 9, though, as it plays very differently compared to other DQs. It's similar to 3 and 7 in many ways, but it's also designed around playing with your friends, so there's a lot of content that's impossible to access nowadays since there's no online for DS anymore (though I assume you can hack stuff in if you emulate it).
It's also really ugly and hard as balls and super grind-heavy if you play it solo, but that's purely my subjective opinion. It's still a good game (all of them are, even the weaker ones)

 

[miguk miguk]

My recommendations:

• Dragon Quest XI is the most modern game in the series. If you aren't used to old school JRPGs, this will work well for you. Go with the original release if you want slightly better graphics; get the Special "S" edition if you want better sound quality and an expanded plot. The only downside to starting with it is that you won't get any of the callbacks that appear in the 2D sidequests or the ending.
• Dragon Quest VIII is another good starter. It's the first of the "modern" DQ games, so it is halfway between DQXI and what came before. Only one minor callback in it and no other connections to other games, so it's a fine starter. Get the 3DS version for QoL updates that bring it closer to the current state of the series, 2 more playable characters, and most importantly the fan-favorite Jessica ending. (Also get the music/sound patch for it if you can.)
• Dragon Quest IX is an okay starter too. It has only a very weak connection to the rest of the series that can be ignored for now. The downside of it is that it is supposed to be played multiplayer, and it's hard to find others with a copy to join in. Likewise, it doesn't really represent a typical DQ game with its structure, so you'll get introduced to some aspects of what the series is like but not others.
• Dragon Quest III is a good one if you want to get a definitive idea of what old-school DQ is like. It is a prequel to DQ I & II and doesn't require you to have played those to get it. The HD version is probably your best option for using it as an intro to the series, as they upped the QoL on that one.
• Dragon Quest IV is a quirky little game that can also be a starter. It starts a storyline that continues into DQ V & VI. (This is good because DQV is one of the most popular in the series, so you can follow up with that.) The unique scenario system is a little divisive among fans, but I feel that a newcomer would probably appreciate it for what it does differently. The DS version is the most up to date one, so get that for QoL and extended story.

As for where NOT to start:

• Dragon Quest X is a MMO that can't be accessed outside of Japan and is the most different game in the series. Don't bother with it.
• Dragon Quest I & II are very old school (really, some of the earliest JRPGs). They are so simple that they won't give you a good idea of what the series became later. (Though the HD versions haven't been released yet, so this might change afterwards.)
• Dragon Quest VII is a long game and tires out a lot of people. The 3DS version fixes up some of this, but might still intimidate some newcomers. It's a good game, but it's definitely for veteran DQ fans, not newcomers.

In general, you should always play the latest rerelease of a DQ game instead of the original version. The games get really good QoL enhancements every time they are released again, and you'll get more enjoyment out of them as a result.

 

[MasterEn]

i like dragon quest monsters 2, so i suggest that one.

 

[Kamako]

I started with VIII for PS2 and it was easy to get accustomed to! The series is quite friendly to newcomers.

HOWEVER I would strongly encourage you to start with the recent Dragon Quest XI S (the S is for a special edition they released later with a boatload of extra content and QoL improvements)
It's a marvelous game with difficulty modifiers you can toggle on and off to suit your preferred experience.

 

[Tonberry]

I feel like a scumbag for saying XI is merely an okay, but not perfect, starting spot.
DQ games are often ridiculed for having basic-ass stories (which I don't really agree with, they're great at telling original and exciting stories in a pretty safe, highly recognizable setting) but I really do believe that DQ11 has a really uninteresting storyline with a pretty weak party, particularly for DQ standards, which is kind of a detriment to the game since it's so long.

It does so many things well mechanically as a video game though, and I want people to play DQ games. I feel like I'm dishonoring my knightly oath to spread the word of Dragon Quest because I find 11 slightly overrated, lol.

 

[Lena CE]

DQXI is great but it also serves as a celebration of the franchise, so while it is perfectly fine as a standalone title you won't be able to enjoy all the little nods they sprinkle in.

I'd say DQIII, DQV and DQVIII are the best starting points. Any version of them will work great though I'd advise against DQIII on Gameboy Color and DQVIII on 3DS as your first exposure to those games unless you vastly prefer handhelds. They're great versions, I just don't think they're the best versions.

 

[Tonberry]

DQXI is great but it also serves as a celebration of the franchise, so while it is perfectly fine as a standalone title you won't be able to enjoy all the little nods they sprinkle in.

Thank you. That's a better way of putting it than what my tired brain could conjure.

 

[Aziamuth]

I feel like a scumbag for saying XI is merely an okay, but not perfect, starting spot.
DQ games are often ridiculed for having basic-ass stories (which I don't really agree with, they're great at telling original and exciting stories in a pretty safe, highly recognizable setting) but I really do believe that DQ11 has a really uninteresting storyline with a pretty weak party, particularly for DQ standards, which is kind of a detriment to the game since it's so long.

It does so many things well mechanically as a video game though, and I want people to play DQ games. I feel like I'm dishonoring my knightly oath to spread the word of Dragon Quest because I find 11 slightly overrated, lol.

I think Erik and Sylvando are pretty charismatic characters, Serena gets some nice development towards the end and the Eighth character is quite well written. But yeah, 11 is far from the best as many people say. 5 and 8 (and at times 6) clear completely.

It's also really ugly and hard as balls and super grind-heavy if you play it solo, but that's purely my subjective opinion. It's still a good game (all of them are, even the weaker ones)

They messed up by making the game 2D EXCEPT for the important characters.

Post automatically merged: Feb 20, 2025

I have nothing to say because, as you already know, I published two articles about the subject. I still stand by what I said in them (I mean it hasn't been that long since I published them)

 

[TheWanderer]

Based on my experience I'd say XI
But you can't go wrong with either V or VIII

 

[Jeanfranc]

I've never played the Dragon Quest games except the Dragon Quest Monsters series. What's a good game to start with? The first one or is there a different one that's better? I've played a lot of JRPGs new and old so I'm not new to the genre.

Play the original versions and avoid all remakes.
Release order is always the correct answer when asking where to start a series (anime, game and such)

All of these games are really basic for their times, they were meant to be beginner's rpgs, made to to introduce the genre to console gamers who were unfamiliar with it.

Any specific version or is the original NES one fine? I know some old NES rpgs can have bugs or poor translations.

The american nes versions of I, II, III and IV have a very different (I would say better) script than their modern remakes, the same goes for the fan translated sfc versions of V and VI.
Unlike in the modern official translations these do not have the bizarre accents and lack the "party chat" feature introduced with IV's remake

Also II really gets too much hatred, It's good and way better than I.