| DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Review Overview
What is DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake?
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake is a reimagining of the first two adventures in the Erdrick Trilogy, presented in the same HD-2D style as the Dragon Quest III remake. The two games are bundled together in one package, launched on October 30, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake will stay true to the classic gameplay of the original titles. Players will take on the roles of Erdrick's descendants, leading their parties on a grand adventure across towns, caves, and various landscapes—helping people, uncovering secrets, and facing a looming evil that threatens the world. The remake features traditional turn-based combat alongside modern quality-of-life improvements to enhance the overall experience.
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake features:
⚫︎ Two Games in One
⚫︎ Classic Turn-Based Combat
⚫︎ Modernized Pixelated HD-2D Graphics
⚫︎ Combat Balance Changes
⚫︎ Newly Added Content For Both Games
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake’s gameplay and story.
| Digital Storefronts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Steam |
 PlayStation |
 Xbox |
 Switch |
 Switch 2 |
| $59.99 | ||||
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Better Worldbuilding Improved Storytelling Impactful Gameplay Changes Noticeable Quality of Life Improvements |
Not a Walk In the Park Repetitive Music Not Fully Voice Acted |
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Story - 10/10
While the original stories of both games are relatively straightforward, Square Enix has managed to expand upon a trilogy so beloved through addition. The added context through worldbuilding, lore, and new characters, plus the new and amazingly presented cutscenes, results in a more cohesive and understandable narrative that goes beyond text boxes. It’s the gold standard of how to modernize a timeless classic, let alone two really beloved titles.
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Gameplay - 8/10
The franchise doesn’t stray away from its simplistic turn-based formula, and it’s no different here. The gameplay changes of both titles add so much variety and nuance to the game that it feels fresh, despite staying mostly true to the tried and tested turn-based gameplay. That being said, they’re no cakewalks, either, as both titles feature difficulty spikes that feel like you either win or lose because of RNG.
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Visuals - 9/10
Square Enix continues to flex their creative chops when it comes to their HD-2D titles. These remakes in particular boast a beautiful presentation by having stunning graphics and smooth animations. There’s not much else to say other than the game being the quintessential case of nostalgia remade.
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Audio - 8/10
The iconic score of the series remains one of the aspects that further the identity of the game. It sounds like what you’d expect from a fantasy RPG adventure, and the classic sound effects enhance the nostalgia factor even more. However, the repetitive music, mostly due to the nature of the JRPG genre, and the on-and-off voice acting are the aspects that aren’t as stellar as the rest.
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Value for Money - 10/10
With two titles in one package, it’s not difficult to say that the remake’s value is amazing. The $60 price tag is justifiable considering that you’re paying for two massively upgraded titles. The additional content, quality of life changes, and overall presentation for both remakes are so far beyond better than expected that the price feels like a steal.
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Overall - 90/100
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake is the perfect example of how to expand a historic trilogy that was released more than 30 years ago and turn it into something greater. Square Enix set the bar high with breathtaking presentation, impactful gameplay changes, and, most of all, an expanded narrative. It isn’t just a faithful recreation of the original titles; it’s a modern-day evolution of turning one of our nostalgic favorite titles into a package that honors and further immortalizes its legacy.
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Review: The Classics, Immortalized
There are not a lot of franchises that could be said that pioneered a genre and still be as popular as they are today. Franchises like Street Fighter, Super Mario, and Wolfenstein are some of the few that are still alive, kicking, jumping, and shooting till now. But for a genre as popular and historic as JRPGs, Dragon Quest was that title.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that every JRPG fan knows the DQ franchise regardless of age. From the recognizable art of the late, great Akira Toriyama to the classic fantasy narrative of heroism to defeat a great evil, it was the franchise that popularized the genre we all know today as JRPGs.
Truth be told, I don’t consider myself a longtime fan of the series. I’ve only been able to play a couple of the well-known ones, specifically the eighth and eleventh installments. So when the remake of both the first and second installments was announced, I knew that it was my duty to actually play through the first Erdrick trilogy to experience why the series was so popular in the first place.
Erdrick’s Bizarre Adventure Continues
For the uninitiated, the plots of both games are relatively similar and straightforward.
The first game is set in the land of Alefgard, where the Dragonlord has risen to wreak havoc and claim the realm for himself. As a descendant of the great hero Erdrick, it’s your destiny to defeat him and rescue the world from his evil clutches.
It’s more of a "save-the-princess" and fulfill-the-prophecy type of plotline, which is to say it was the first of its kind during its time. What makes it special is that the first game was a solo endeavor, meaning that the Hero was a one-man army against the Dragonlord’s forces.
On the other hand, the second game is set 100 years after the first game, where you play as one of the princes in one of the three kingdoms founded by their forefathers, The Prince of Midenhall. As the forces of darkness threaten the peace of the realm once again, it’s your duty to rally your fellow descendants and protect the world once again from evil.
While the narrative was still relatively straightforward and similar, where you journey to find certain items to help you fight against the big bad, it was different in the sense that you now have allies to help you in battle. On top of that, it was the game that introduced a new means of travel, which was the introduction of the ship.
In terms of worldbuilding, the remake adds and changes quite a lot of details to the overall plot. For instance, Rubiss, also known as the main deity and creator goddess of the trilogy, is more involved in the first game as well. She helps in orchestrating the Hero to rescue Gwaelin and ultimately defeat the Dragonlord through communicating within the Hero’s dreams. On the other hand, the five Sigils are also present in the first game, meaning that you’ll also need to craft the Charm of Rubiss, as it also becomes a huge part of the plot to help you defeat the forces of evil.
In terms of specifics, a new questline revolving around Rubiss is also added to the second game, which further ties both titles together. It's also worth noting that the amount of references to the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake also makes it a full circle experience, one that makes you appreciate the various details that connects all three games together.
The overall plot of both games remains relatively unchanged, but the addition of details that tie the whole trilogy together is an example of how to expand on an existing world. All of the details and worldbuilding aspects added in the remake are so cohesive and natural that they never feel forced. There are times when remakes and remasters change certain things or add new details that alter the original story, but in the case of the remakes of both DQ 1 and 2, it was more of an additive change that never overstays or adds confusion to the plot.
Cutscenes and Visuals Make All the Difference
While we’re on the topic of the remake’s changes to the original plot, it’s important to note that the remake adds animated cutscenes using the same sprites. This is important because the original games were mostly told through text boxes in the NES, and now that you can actually visualize the events that are happening in the story, it adds so much more to the experience.
Not only that, but the models are also well-animated and choreographed as they contribute to the game’s emotional weight. For example, there are a couple of scenes during Gwaelin’s capture where both the voice acting and animations were just perfect. Another example is when you finally rescue Gwaelin as well, when you carry her heroically back to Tantegel. I didn’t think they were going to add a specific animation where you can move around freely (let alone cast Zoom or Evac) while carrying her.
The cutscenes are definitely the highlight of the game, but if we’re being honest, the whole game looks amazing. Square Enix has definitely been on fire with their HD-2D projects like Octopath Traveler, Triangle Strategy, and even last year’s Dragon Quest 3 Remake. The vibrant color palette paired with the great spritework makes for a wonderful overall visual experience. It evokes the nostalgic feeling of being able to experience the classics, but has a modern flair to it that just makes it look better than ever.
Improved Dialogue Results in a Better Story
With the added cutscenes and visuals, the changes in the dialogue also need to be mentioned especially when it adds so much to the game overall. For context, the dialogue in the first game adds so much character to the supporting cast, with the noteworthy characters being Princess Gwaelin and the other faeries like Arm-Twister, Overseer, and more.
While it's not the first remake to enhance the story with better dialogue, it should be noted that it's one of the best out there. The added personality of each character because of their enhanced dialogue along with the better visuals and worldbuilding completely change the experience of the Erdrick trilogy for the better.
But this is felt even more in the second game, especially with the banter between the cousins.
Each prince and princess' personality bounces with each perfectly, which is seen in how they interact with others and among themselves as they explore the world in their quest to defeat Hargon. There was one particular scene in the game where the Prince of Cannock expressed his guilt about being cheerful on their adventure, given the circumstance that they're on a serious endeavor to save the world. It was a memorable moment of vulnerability for a character that's always so cheerful, especially when he doesn't want his fellow cousins to think that he wasn't serious about the whole thing.
Classic Turn-Based Combat With More Strategy
As with all of the mainline Dragon Quest games, the gameplay loop doesn’t stray too far from the formula. It’s still a simple turn-based game at its core, where the gimmick of the remake is simply having boosted passive buffs and empowered skills depending on the Sigils that you have. But it’s never always just that simple.
In the first game, it’s established that you’re an army of one and master of all spells and abilities. If you’ve played any other turn-based RPG with a party system, then you would understand that having only one character is a bit trickier.
For instance, the original game was balanced around one-on-one combat against the Dragonlord’s forces. In the remake, they’ve made it so that you can battle multiple enemies at once on your own. This may seem unfair, but it’s balanced around the fact that you also have access to skills that can hit multiple targets.
In contrast, the remake of the second game adds a fourth member to round out your squad, with the Princess of Cannock bringing her expertise in both physical and magical prowess. While on paper, this should clash with the role that the Prince of Cannock brings, they both have unique spells and abilities that separate them from each other.
These two are the "glue" to the squad’s contrasting roles and abilities, as the Prince of Midenhall is proficient with physical attacks and the Princess of Moonbrooke is skilled in magic. As with most turn-based RPGs, the key to victory lies in exploiting the enemies’ weaknesses and using your team’s strengths to the maximum advantage.
Saving the World Isn’t Easy
Despite the simple gameplay, don’t let the introduction of the game fool you into thinking that this is a walk in the park. As both games were balanced with the newly added combat systems in mind.
With the first game having multiple enemies, the midgame becomes a lot trickier than it seems, especially when you come across opponents that can attack multiple times and deal significant amounts of damage. By the time you reach the midgame, turns become more strategic as you need to make actual decisions that may cost you the fight, like, would you want to go all in and end the fight with an empowered Lightning Slash since that’s the enemy’s weakness, or do you want to play safe and heal or buff yourself to secure yourself another turn?
In contrast, the second game has a much more different experience, as you have more characters to play with. But the thought remains the same. As you progress through the game, there may be times when you’re unfortunate enough to be destroyed by RNG, like when a group of mobs gets the first turn or when attacks just don’t connect.
Thankfully, the game has a very generous autosave system, so dying doesn’t feel as bad. If things get too hard, you do have options to make it easier with the different difficulty settings and the option to turn on invincibility if you just want to finish the story.
Is DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Worth It?
Yes, Especially For Fans of the Genre and the Series!
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake is a remake worth your time, plain and simple. There’s no doubt that the remake is the best way to experience the first two games of the series by far. I would go so far as to say that this might very well be one of the best remakes out there, especially with how it just elevates the whole trilogy to a whole other level. The narrative additions, gameplay changes, added content, and amazing presentation all add up to an amazing experience. Don’t forget the fact that you’re actually paying for two games as well.
I would easily recommend this to people who want to get into the series, as both remakes have streamlined their gameplay and progression enough to make you interested in trying the later games. It’s also an easy recommendation for those who just want to play a classic-style JRPG, especially since the newer ones have started to add more and more gimmicks into the mix.
| Digital Storefronts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
PlayStation |
Xbox |
Switch |
Switch 2 |
| $59.99 | ||||
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake FAQ
What are the System Requirements for PC to play DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake?
The System Requirements as listed on Steam are as follows:
| Specifications | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 | |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen™ 3 2300X / Intel® Core™ i3-8100 | AMD Ryzen™ 3 2300X / Intel® Core™ i3-8100 |
| Memory | 8GB RAM | |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon™ RX 460 / Intel® Arc™ A380 / NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 750 Ti | AMD Radeon™ RX 470 / Intel® Arc™ A580 / NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 |
| Storage | 20GB | |
| Additional Specs | 1920 × 1080, Graphics Preset "Lowest", 60FPS. 16GB RAM required when using Intel Arc GPU. | 1920x1080, Graphics Preset "Highest", 60FPS. 16GB RAM required when using Intel Arc GPU. |
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DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Product Information
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| Title | DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D REMAKE |
|---|---|
| Release Date | October 30, 2025 |
| Developer | Square Enix, ARTDINK |
| Publisher | Square Enix |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Genre | Adventure, RPG |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| ESRB Rating | E10+ |
| Official Website | DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Official Website |
