Dragon Quest, originally called Dragon Warrior in North America until 2005, is a series of role-playing video games created by Japanese game designer Yuji Horii (Armor Project), character designer Akira Toriyama (Bird Studio), and composer Koichi Sugiyama (Sugiyama Kobo). The games are published by Square Enix (formerly Enix). From the beginning, development of the games was handled by many outside companies until the tenth game. Later versions of the games for the Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch were published by Nintendo outside of Japan. The first game was released in 1986, and there are now eleven main-series games, along with many spin-off games. Additionally, there are many comics, cartoons, and books related to the Dragon Quest franchise, with most main-series games having a related adaptation.
The series introduced many new ideas to the role-playing game genre and influenced the creation of other games. The games have been released on computers, consoles, handheld devices, and mobile phones. In the early years, the games were called Dragon Warrior in North America to avoid a trademark conflict with a different tabletop game called DragonQuest. Square Enix did not register the Dragon Quest trademark for use in the United States until 2002.
Most Dragon Quest games follow the story of a hero (called "Hero" in spin-off fiction, but players can name their hero in the games) who must save the land from a powerful enemy, often with a group of companions. Common features in the series and its spin-off games include turn-based battles, recurring monsters like the Slime (the series' mascot), a text-based menu system, and random battles in most main-series games.
As of 2024, all games in the series involve Yuji Horii, the scenario writer and game designer. Before their deaths, Akira Toriyama and Koichi Sugiyama contributed to most games in the series. The original ideas for the games were inspired by Western role-playing games like Wizardry and Ultima. A main goal of the series is to make gameplay easy for players to understand. The games also include religious themes, which were heavily censored in the NES versions outside of Japan.
Media
The first game in the Dragon Quest series was released in Japan on May 27, 1986, and was called "Dragon Quest." Since that time, the series has included eleven main games, several spin-off games, and two animated productions.
The first four games were released for the Famicom in Japan and the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America. The first two games were also released on the MSX in Japan the same year. All four games have been recreated for newer systems. Dragon Quest was first released in Japan on May 27, 1986, and in North America as "Dragon Warrior" in August 1989. Dragon Quest II, titled "Akuryō no Kamigami" in Japan, was released in Japan in 1987 and in North America in 1990 as "Dragon Warrior II." Dragon Quest III, titled "Soshite Densetsu e…" in Japan, was released in Japan in 1989 and in North America in 1992 as "Dragon Warrior III." Dragon Quest IV was released in Japan in 1990 and in North America in 1992 as "Dragon Warrior IV." A 2001 Japanese PlayStation remake of "Dragon Warrior IV" was planned for North America but was not released there. A Nintendo DS remake of "Dragon Quest IV" was released in North America, Europe, and Australia under its original translated title. The European version removed the number from the title.
Two games were released for the Super Famicom: "Dragon Quest V" in 1992 and "Dragon Quest VI" in 1995. Both games have been re-released on newer systems. "Dragon Quest V" was originally planned for release in North America but was canceled due to unconfirmed reasons. The Nintendo DS remakes of these games were released in North America, with "Dragon Quest V" also released in Europe and Australia, where the numbering was removed from the title. One game, "Dragon Quest VII: Eden no Senshi-tachi," was released for the PlayStation in Japan in 2000 and in North America in 2001 as "Dragon Warrior VII." "Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King" was released for the PlayStation 2 in Japan in 2004, North America in 2005, and Europe and Australia in 2006. The European version removed the number from the title. "Dragon Quest VIII" was the first main series game released in North America under the "Dragon Quest" title and the first main series game released in Europe. "Dragon Quest IX," the only main series game initially released on the Nintendo DS, was released in Japan in 2009 and in North America, Europe, and Australia in 2010. "Dragon Quest X" was announced for the Wii in December 2008 and later for the Wii U with Nintendo 3DS connectivity in September 2011. It is the first MMORPG in the series and the only numbered game not released outside Japan. "Dragon Quest XI" was released in Japan on July 29, 2017, and worldwide on September 4, 2018.
"Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate" was announced in 2021. According to the game's creator, the game will have a darker tone, include more meaningful choices, and change the traditional turn-based combat style. "Dragon Quest XII" will be the first main series game released after the deaths of series music composer Koichi Sugiyama and character designer Akira Toriyama, who were involved with the series since its beginning.
The franchise includes several spin-off games, such as "Dragon Quest Monsters RPG." The series has also inspired arcade games, like "Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road," where players use cards with monster data given by the arcade machine. This is the only spin-off series not released outside Japan. The "Mystery Dungeon" and "Itadaki Street" series use characters and elements from Dragon Quest games. The "Mystery Dungeon" series later became its own franchise.
In 1993, Chunsoft developed a SNES game featuring Torneko, a character from "Dragon Quest IV." The game "Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon" continues Torneko's story as he tries to make his store famous by exploring dungeons. A direct sequel, "Torneko: The Last Hope," was released in Japan and the United States in 2000. A third game, "Fushigi no Dungeon 3 Torneko no Daibouken," was released for the PlayStation 2. The second and third "Torneko" games were remade for the Game Boy Advance. A later game, "Dragon Quest: Young Yangus and the Mystery Dungeon," follows Yangus, a character from "Dragon Quest VIII," before he meets the hero. The success of "Torneko no Daibōken" led to the creation of the "Mystery Dungeon" series.
When Enix took over the "Itadaki Street" series, which is inspired by Monopoly, the Dragon Quest franchise became part of the game in its second version, "Itadaki Street 2: Neon Sain wa Bara Iro ni." The first "Itadaki Street" game, released by ASCII, did not include Dragon Quest elements. The fourth "Itadaki Street" game, "Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special," included characters from the Final Fantasy series, and later versions added characters from Mario.
Like the main series, "Dragon Quest Monsters" was originally released in the United States under the name "Dragon Warrior Monsters." The next game, "Dragon Warrior Monsters 2," was split into two versions: "Cobi's Journey" and "Tara's Adventure," named after the main characters. Each version has slight differences, such as the monsters that appear. "Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart" is a prequel to "Dragon Warrior VII," following a character named Keifer as he searches for items to return to his world. The release of "Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker" was the first spin-off title released in English using the "Dragon Quest" name. Its sequel,
Common elements
In most Dragon Quest games, players control one or more characters who can travel to towns to buy weapons, armor, and items to fight monsters outside of towns, such as on the world map or in dungeons. However, in the first Dragon Quest game, only one character could move on the map. In most games, battles happen randomly when monsters attack, and players must repeat battles to gain experience points to level up their characters. The series includes cursed items, challenging dungeons where players must use resources carefully, and tough boss battles. When characters fight monsters, the game changes to a menu screen where players choose actions like using weapons, magic, or fleeing. These menu-based battles are a key feature of the series. After defeating monsters, characters earn experience points to level up, which improves their abilities. They also receive gold to buy items. Sometimes, monsters drop items that players can collect.
To save progress in most Dragon Quest games, players must visit a church (called a House of Healing in older versions) and speak to a priest or nun. In earlier versions, players had to talk to a king to save their progress, while the first two games used a password system. If the party dies in battle, they lose half their gold and are sent to the nearest save point, where they are revived. Players must pay a priest or nun to bring their characters back to life.
Some Dragon Quest games include "Puff Puff," characters described as massage girls. These characters are based on a Japanese word and were replaced with text descriptions in later games. Some North American translations removed these descriptions.
In Dragon Quest III, VI, VII, and IX, players can choose different character classes for their party, such as Cleric, Fighter, Thief, and Mage. Some games also include advanced classes like the Sage and monster classes.
Dragon Quest IV introduced "mini medals," small gold-like items with a star in the center. Players collect them by opening chests, breaking objects, or searching in bags. They can trade them for items but are not needed to finish the game.
Many monsters appear in the series, including Slimes, Drackies, Skeletons, and Dragons. These monsters were designed by Akira Toriyama. Some games allow players to recruit monsters to join their party, such as a Healer monster in Dragon Quest IV or monsters in Dragon Quest V and VI.
The Slime, designed by Toriyama, is the official mascot of the series. It is a small blue creature with a face and appears in every game. It is often the first monster players meet.
Erdrick, known as Loto in Japanese, is a legendary hero in the first three Dragon Quest games. These games are part of the Erdrick trilogy. The hero in the first game is a descendant of Erdrick who fights the Dragonlord. In Dragon Quest III, the hero is honored with the "Order of Erdrick." The name "Erdrick" cannot be used in the original version of Dragon Quest III because it is a prequel to the first two games.
In Dragon Quest XI, the player controls a warrior chosen by the world tree Yggdrasil to defeat a villain named Calasmos. After winning, Yggdrasil gives the hero the title of Erdrick.
Torneko, a traveling merchant who appears in Dragon Quest IV, is known for collecting rare items. He later stars in the Mystery Dungeon series and appears in other games.
Zenithia, a floating castle first seen in Dragon Quest IV, appears in several games. Though it is in three games, each game has its own story and world. The name "Zenithia trilogy" is sometimes used, but the games are separate stories.
Development and history
The monsters, characters, and box art for the Dragon Quest series were designed by Akira Toriyama. The music for the series was composed by Koichi Sugiyama. In the past, main Dragon Quest games were developed by companies such as Chunsoft, Heartbeat, ArtePiazza, and Level-5. Starting with Dragon Quest X, Square Enix became the first company to develop a main Dragon Quest game. Yuji Horii’s company, Armor Project, was responsible for writing scripts and designing games published by Enix and Square Enix.
In 1982, Enix held a video game contest in Japan that brought together members of the Dragon Quest team, including creator Yuji Horii. The prize was a trip to the United States and a visit to AppleFest ’83 in San Francisco, where Horii discovered the Wizardry video game series. Contest winners Koichi Nakamura and Yukinobu Chida, along with Horii, released the Enix NES game The Portopia Serial Murder Case. Sugiyama, who composed jingles and pop songs, was impressed by the group’s work and sent a postcard to Enix praising the game. Enix asked Sugiyama to compose music for its games. The group then decided to create a role-playing game that combined ideas from the Western RPGs Wizardry and Ultima. Horii wanted to introduce RPGs to more Japanese players. He chose the Famicom because, unlike arcade games, players could save their progress and avoid spending more money if they failed. Horii used the full-screen map from Ultima and the battle screens from Wizardry to create Dragon Quest’s gameplay. Akira Toriyama, who knew Horii through the manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump, was asked to draw characters and monsters to make the game stand out. Horii created the main game designs, which Toriyama then redrawn under Horii’s guidance. When Dragon Quest was first made, many people doubted that a fantasy game with swords and dungeons would be popular in Japan. However, the series became very successful there. Horii has been the games’ scenario director since its creation. Sugiyama composed the music for Dragon Quest after previously working on Wingman 2. He said it took him five minutes to write the original opening theme. His musical ideas from the first game have stayed mostly the same.
The first six Dragon Quest games are divided into two sets of three. The first three games follow a hero named Roto (or Erdrick/Loto in some versions). Games IV–VI are set in a sky castle called Zenithia, known as "Tenku" in Japan, meaning "heaven." From Dragon Quest VII onward, each game in the main series is a separate story.
Early Dragon Quest games were called Dragon Warrior in North America to avoid legal issues with the pen-and-paper RPG Dragon Quest, which was published by Simulations Publications in the 1980s. After Simulations Publications went bankrupt in 1982, the company was bought by TSR, Inc., which continued publishing the game as an alternative to Dungeons & Dragons until 1987. In 2002, Square Enix registered the Dragon Quest trademark in the United States for use with manuals and video games. In 2003 and 2016, Square Enix filed for more detailed trademarks. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King was the first Dragon Quest game released outside Japan, as earlier games used the Dragon Warrior name.
Dragon Quest was not as successful outside Japan, where it was overshadowed by the Final Fantasy series. Enix closed its North American branch in the mid-1990s, so Dragon Quest V and Dragon Quest VI were not officially released there. No Dragon Quest games were released in Europe before the Dragon Quest Monsters spin-off. After Square and Enix merged in 2003, Dragon Quest games were released in many countries. In 2008, Square Enix announced localized versions of Dragon Quest IV, V, and VI for North America and Europe, known as the "Zenithia" or "Tenku trilogy." At that time, all main Dragon Quest games had been released outside Japan. The ninth game was released in Japan in 2009, with North American and European versions following in 2010. The tenth main game was released for the Wii. Nintendo has been a major publisher for Dragon Quest outside Japan, including the first Dragon Quest game in North America and Dragon Quest IX worldwide. The Nintendo DS version of Dragon Quest VI is published by Nintendo in North America.
When Yuji Horii first made Dragon Quest, computer and video game RPGs were only popular with a small group of fans. He wanted to create a game that was easy to understand and emotionally engaging. He designed the game so players could learn how to play without needing a manual or tutorial. Ryutaro Ichimura, who worked with Horii on Dragon Quest VIII, has implemented Horii’s ideas even when their purpose was unclear at first.
Dragon Quest games have an upbeat tone. Players control a group of heroes who must defeat a powerful villain threatening the world. The story includes smaller events with other characters. This structured story helps players who are new to RPGs. Players can choose when to follow certain story paths, but every path offers a reward. Early in the game, rewards are easier to reach to help players feel confident. While the game starts with a linear story, players can explore freely after a short beginning. Characters start with strong abilities and gain more power as they level up, though the benefits of each level increase less over time.
When Dragon Quest was first made, Akira Toriyama was not well known outside Japan. The hero in the original game was drawn in a "super deformed" manga style, but the Dragon Warrior version used a more traditional Western medieval hero look. This style continued in the first four games, though later artwork for weapons and armor included more of Toriyama’s original designs.
Reception
In 2006, readers of the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu voted for the top 100 video games of all time. Dragon Quest III was third, Dragon Quest VIII was fourth, Dragon Quest VII was ninth, Dragon Quest V was eleventh, Dragon Quest IV was fourteenth, Dragon Quest II was seventeenth, Dragon Quest was thirtieth, and Dragon Quest VI was thirty-fourth. In 2009, Yuji Horii received a special award at the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association Developers Conference for his work on the Dragon Quest series.
According to Satoru Iwata, former President of Nintendo, the popularity of Dragon Quest is because it is "made so that anyone can play it…and anyone can enjoy it depending on their different levels and interests." He said the games are designed so players can begin playing without needing to read the manual. Ryutaro Ichimura, a producer at Square Enix who played the game since childhood, said the Dragon Quest storylines let players feel a sense of achievement by taking the role of a hero saving the world. Horii believed the series' ability to attract both casual and hardcore gamers is because it lowers the difficulty for new players without making the game too easy. Iwata and Ichimura said the games are created so both groups can enjoy their own goals: casual players can focus on the story and battles, while others can find more content to explore.
Although the series is very popular in Japan, its success in North America did not happen until the 2005 release of Dragon Quest VIII. Earlier games released in America generally received good reviews, but Nintendo had to give away copies of Dragon Warrior. These four games became highly sought-after for the NES, especially Dragon Warrior III and IV. It was not until Dragon Warrior VII was released that Dragon Quest received better reviews in North America, though opinions were still mixed. The series gained more praise with Dragon Quest VIII and began selling better outside Japan. Dragon Quest IX sold over 1 million copies outside Japan.
A key point critics mention about the series is that it "never strays from its classic roots." Unlike other modern, complex RPGs, Dragon Quest on the DS keeps the simple gameplay from the first game, which some critics find refreshing and nostalgic. Some issues include its battle system, simple storylines, lack of character development, and older graphics. However, the games are praised for their episodic storytelling with non-player characters. Stories avoid drama and have simpler characters compared to games like Final Fantasy. Exceptions include Dragon Quest V, which received praise for its emotional storytelling. Battles are simple and finish quickly. Yuji Horii said the lack of save points and difficulty were intentional to create tension. If the party dies, players return to their last save point with half their gold. Horii said he does not mind criticism, as it shows people played the game and shared their thoughts.
As of March 2022, the Dragon Quest series has sold over 85 million copies worldwide. Dragon Quest III set sales records in 1988 by selling 1.1 million game cartridges in Japan in one day and 3 million in a week. It earned ¥20 billion ($143 million) within a month and $230 million by 1991. Dragon Quest IV sold 1.3 million copies in Japan within an hour, and Dragon Quest V sold over 1.3 million cartridges in one day. The series sold 10 million copies by 1990 and 15 million by 1993, with each sequel earning several hundred million dollars. By 2007, all main series games and three spin-offs had sold over a million copies in Japan. Dragon Quest VII was the highest-selling single release, selling over four million copies. The remake of Dragon Quest VI sold 910,000 copies in Japan in the first four days after its release.
Legacy
The original Dragon Quest game is often called the first console role-playing game (RPG). GameSpot said it is the most influential RPG ever made, explaining that many Japanese RPGs since then have used ideas from its gameplay. Next Generation called it "probably the first ever 'Japanese style' RPG" and ranked the series as number 56 on their list of the "Top 100 Games of All Time." They noted that while it was not as ambitious as the Final Fantasy series, later Dragon Quest games were very large and long-lasting. Gamasutra reported that Quinton Klabon from Dartmouth College said Dragon Quest helped bring the experience of playing Dungeons & Dragons to video games and set standards for the RPG genre. Many other games, such as Mother, Grandia, Lunar, Atelier, Shin Megami Tensei, Rune Factory, Story of Seasons, Breath of Fire, and Lufia & the Fortress of Doom, were inspired by Dragon Quest. Dragon Quest III introduced a system that lets players change character roles, which influenced other RPGs, especially Final Fantasy. Its day and night time changes were considered a major innovation. Dragon Quest IV had a "Tactics" system that let players control how non-player characters (NPCs) acted, which was similar to Final Fantasy XII's "Gambits" system. Dragon Quest V included mechanics for recruiting and training monsters, which inspired games like Pokémon, Digimon, and Dokapon. It also made pregnancy and the choice of a mother a key part of the story. Dragon Quest VI's setting of a real world and a dream world influenced later Square RPGs like Chrono Cross and Final Fantasy X. The Dragon Quest series holds six world records, including "Best Selling Role Playing Game on the Super Famicom," "Fastest Selling Game in Japan," and "First Video Game Series to Inspire a Ballet."
Dragon Quest is a major cultural influence in Japan. Ryutaro Ichimura and Yuji Horii said the game is so popular that it is a common topic of conversation in Japan and is considered the country's national game. William Cassidy of GameSpy noted that people in Japan often draw the "Slime" from the game as an onion-like shape. In 2009, a restaurant named Luida's Bar, inspired by Dragon Quest, opened in Roppongi, Tokyo. This was unusual because Tokyo's gaming culture is usually centered in Akihabara. The restaurant looks like a medieval pub and serves food inspired by items and monsters from the games. A Western journalist compared it to a mix of a Disneyland resort and a maid café. Dragon Quest also inspired a live-action TV drama called Yūsha Yoshihiko, which aired in 2011 and had a sequel in 2012. In 2012, Google created a fake "NES version" of its Google Maps service for April Fool's Day, using graphics and music from Dragon Quest.
There is a story that the release of Dragon Quest III caused Japan to pass a law limiting when video games could be sold, but this is not true. When Dragon Quest III was released, over 300 students were arrested for skipping school while waiting for the game. The story claims that productivity dropped when a new Dragon Quest game was released, and there were many thefts of the game, but no law was ever passed. Dragon Quest games were usually released on Saturdays until Dragon Quest X, which came out on Thursday, August 2, 2012.
Dragon Quest's music has influenced many areas of the arts. It was the first video game series to be adapted into live ballet performances, and concerts and CDs based on the series have been made. Since 1987, the music has been performed yearly in Japan. Early Dragon Quest concerts inspired Nobuo Uematsu's work on the Final Fantasy series. "Lotto's Theme" was played at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and was the first video game music piece to be performed there.
Dragon Quest is also in the 2018 game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as downloadable content. The "Hero" character is a slot that can be used by four different characters from the series: Eleven from Dragon Quest XI, Arusu from Dragon Quest III, Solo from Dragon Quest IV, and Eight from Dragon Quest VIII. Other elements from the series, like Slimes and a stage based on Yggdrasil's Altar from Dragon Quest XI, are also included.