The game to play if you must start at the beginning: Dragon Quest I

Play it on: Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

An HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest I + II will launch in 2025

Pros

Honestly, I love Dragon Quest I. On one hand, it is exceedingly simple. Your main character is the only party member, battles have little strategy beyond attacking and healing, and the world map is hilariously small. Yet those are all reasons why Dragon Quest I is so great. It is the RPG reduced to its most basic form, and in that we see why the genre is inherently fun. Leveling up is always satisfying, and getting enough gold to buy a strong new weapon feels like a huge accomplishment. You’re always driven to become strong enough to fight more powerful enemies that subsequently award more experience points and gold.

Admittedly, Dragon Quest I can feel like a grindy slog if you play the original NES version. But all versions of Dragon Quest I available on modern consoles rebalance the game and highlight key items that you might otherwise miss without a guide. This also compresses the runtime of Dragon Quest I to about 8 hours, meaning you can easily finish it in a weekend. I’m not here to tell you that Dragon Quest I is somehow the best game in the series. But it is a game that I love to replay every couple years, and frankly I’m looking forward to running it again when Dragon Quest I&II HD-2D Remake come out in 2025.

Cons

I mean, read the above. If the loop of fighting monsters until you’re strong enough to fight stronger monsters doesn’t trigger the pleasure centers in your brain, then Dragon Quest I won’t do a whole lot for you. This is not a game you play for creative world building or a gripping story. Heck, the plot is literally “save the princess from the dragon.” While the upcoming HD-2D remake may at least offer some eye candy for you to enjoy, you’d probably be better off playing something like Octopath Traveler II if you don’t have a taste for NES-era gaming.

Also, some modern ports of Dragon Quest I streamline the game a little too much. For example, the iOS version outright reveals the location of key items that were designed to be uncovered following a series of riddles. This may not bother you that much, but it does create a disconnect when you’re uncovering clues about how to find a rare treasure that you already grabbed four hours ago.

If you like Dragon Quest I

Well, Dragon Quest II is a direct continuation of Dragon Quest I, so that’s the most logical game to play next. And honestly, if you’ve already started with the beginning of the series, then you might as well play them all sequentially. This will let you appreciate the evolution of Dragon Quest in real time, especially as each game becomes (slightly) more complex than the last. Playing every Dragon Quest game in chronological order is a huge time commitment, but it’s a great experience if you have the determination to see it through.