Dragon Quest is another iconic Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) published by Square Enix. Unlike Final Fantasy, Square’s most well-known franchise, Dragon Quest, was not as well-known. It did have releases globally, but the series was not a household name in the United States right away. The series took off when Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age was released in 2017. Selling more than 6 million copies, Dragon Quest XI became the game that launched the series into popularity in the Western markets. It also was an easy entryway for newcomers to the series, which helped its marketability.

Latest Nintendo Direct Announces Remasters

Since that release, Square Enix has viewed the series differently. The yet-announced release date for Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate will be the first of the series to be released at the same time across the world. Trying to capitalize on the series’ newfound popularity, Square has rereleased or remade several of the mainline titles as well as a few spinoffs. Specifically, the recent Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake was a great success. Releasing on November 14, 2024, Square Enix announced only a couple of weeks later that it had already broken sales projections and surpassed 2 million copies sold and was the highest-selling game of 2024 for Japan.

That success is what Square is banking on again, with its upcoming release of Dragon Quest I and II: HD 2D Remaster. Following the same art style as the aforementioned III, as well as other successful titles such as the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters and Octopath Traveler, the remakes will utilize pixel sprites overlayed on a 3D background to give a crisp, modern retro feel. The Nintendo Direct on March 27th, 2025, gave us some more insight into what to expect from these games.

What Did We Learn About the Dragon Quest Remakes?

Nintendo Direct dropped a new trailer for the games on March 27th, leading off their Nintendo Direct presentation. Weirdly, these two games are part of the Erdrick Trilogy, the final game of which was Dragon Quest III. It seems strange that Square did not release them in chronological numerical order. However, Square Enix has explained that although Dragon Quest III had released the last of the trilogy, it takes place before the others in a timeline. In essence, it acted as a prequel, which is why they released that remake first.

We still do not know the release date, but the trailer does offer some other information on what to expect. Aside from the art style, which we already knew as it is a style made famous by Square Enix, we got our first look at the actual gameplay. Aside from the original storyline, we were introduced to a new character that would add to and deepen the storyline. We also saw both individuals and the party traveling through the world, maxing out at a group of 3 in the trailer. This seems to match the originals, where you played solo in the first game and gained three character-party mechanics in the second.

What We Have Yet To See About the Remakes

What we did not see, however, was any actual combat. Given they were originally turn-based, and that was present in the Dragon Quest III remake as well, it seems safe to assume that they will continue. We also did not get introduced to any actual storyline. Given that Square Enix bills the game as a reimagining, we can safely expect some changes to the dialogue and storyline. The question remains: How drastic will the changes be? Given that the changes were not major in Dragon Quest III, one would assume they won’t be here either, although a new character could certainly mark a bold new direction.

We may be able to extrapolate a few other changes as well from looking at the previous HD 2D remake. Characters gained voice-over scenes and were far more customizable. We can make some assumptions, but otherwise, we will have to wait to learn more. That said, the trailer gives enough of a tease to keep fans excited for the release. Dragon Quest is carving a place on the worldwide stage, and hopefully, this two-remake package will continue to move the series in the right direction.