Everything You Need To Know About Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake

This HD-2D remake of a classic RPG comes with a ton of quality of life improvements and a gorgeous new visual presentation

Billy Givens

PublishedNovember 7, 2024

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Start Slideshow

An illustration of a fantasy world shows a character weilding a sword and shield while glancing off at a castle in the distance. — Image: Square Enix

It’s been nearly four decades since Dragon Quest III first landed and it rapidly became one of the most adored RPGs out there. Whether you’ve played the highly-praised original or want to dive into the game for the first time, you’re in luck! Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake brings the experience to modern hardware with a slew of changes and improvements.

This top-tier RPG, which serves as a prequel to Dragon Quest and Dragon Quest II, launches on November 14, so you don’t have to wait much longer to check it out. But if you’re on the fence, or just want to know more about what’s headed your way in the remake, here’s what you need to know.

Previous Slide

Next Slide

2 / 6

What’s new in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake?

A cast of characters stands before a person sitting on a throne. — Screenshot: Square Enix

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake isn’t the first Dragon Quest game to get remade, but it is the first to be reimagined in the HD-2D format, which has become a popular visual style since 2018's Octopath Traveler broke onto the scene. This charming aesthetic allows the game to maintain its retro vibe while looking modern at the same time, which should help it appeal to nostalgic fans and newcomers equally.

But its snazzy new graphical style certainly isn’t the only fresh addition to this full-blown remake of the RPG classic. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake also comes sporting numerous quality-of-life changes to ensure that the adventure is accessible to old and new fans alike.

Here’s the coolest new stuff you can expect from the game:

You can save anywhere! Woohoo!
You can increase the speed of battles and dialogue! Very cool!
You can choose between three difficulty modes! Rad!
You can pick a new vocation called the Monster Wrangler! Nice!
You can finally use Chimera Wings to fast travel even when you’re inside. Hell yeah!
You can navigate the world easier with new objective markers. Right on!

These changes, along with other minor upgrades along the way, make this the definitive way to play Dragon Quest III.

Previous Slide

Next Slide

3 / 6

What platforms if Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake on?

A screenshot of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake shows a fantasy city with water fountains. — Screenshot: Square Enix

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

And yes, you read that right: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is not available for older consoles like PS4 and Xbox One. So if you’re still rocking one of those older machines, you’ll need to wait until you upgrade to current-generation hardware to play this one.

Previous Slide

Next Slide

4 / 6

Will my PC run Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake?

A party of characters traverse grassy hills while snowy mountains fill the background. — Screenshot: Square Enix

If you’re planning to play Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake on your PC, rest assured that it’s not a particularly demanding game. The minimum specs to run it are pretty reasonable. Here are the minimum and recommended specs.

Minimum specs:

Windows 10
Intel Core i3-6100 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 / AMD Radeon RX 460 / Intel Arc A380
20 GB available storage space
8 GB RAM
DirectX 12

Recommended specs:

Windows 10
Intel Core i3-6100 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 470 / Intel Arc A580
20 GB available storage space
8 GB RAM
DirectX 12

Previous Slide

Next Slide

5 / 6

How much is Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (and does it have any pre-order bonuses?)

A party of characters do battle against enemies. — Screenshot: Square Enix

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake costs $59.99 on every platform.

If you know for a fact you’d like to pick it up, you can earn a nifty bonus for pre-ordering it. All digital pre-orders will receive a trouble-free travel kit.

What is a trouble-free travel kit, you ask? Well, it’s a neat little collection of items that can help you get a headstart in the game. Here’s everything you get:

One pair of elevating shoes
Three seeds of life
Three seeds of strength
Three seeds of defense
Three seeds of agility
Three seeds of magic

The seeds can be used to increase a character’s stats by a small amount each, while the elevating shoes grant you EXP as you walk, which is pretty damn cool.

You know what else is cool? This HD-2D remake of a beloved game is only the first on the way. Keep an eye out for the combo-title Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake in 2025 if you want to own the full Erdrick Trilogy.

6 / 6