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Yes, with one important caveat: DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is an excellent first Dragon Quest for players who want a traditional, turn-based party RPG with a large world to explore. Square Enix positions it specifically as a starting point for newcomers, and it is the narrative beginning of the connected Erdrick Trilogy. Its adjustable battle speed, auto-battle option and modernized interface reduce routine friction, but they do not turn the game into a streamlined action RPG. You still need to enjoy choosing a party, exploring without constant hand-holding and learning the logic of a classic role-playing game.
Why Dragon Quest III makes sense as a first game
Dragon Quest III occupies an unusually useful position for a newcomer. It is both a self-contained adventure and the first chapter of the Erdrick Trilogy. You can begin here without knowing earlier Dragon Quest plots, while players who continue to the HD-2D remakes of Dragon Quest I and II will be following the trilogy’s story in its intended narrative order.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake (NSW) | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dragon Quest Builders (Nintendo Switch) UK IMPORT | $59.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus - Nintendo Switch | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Dragon Quest III 3 HD-2D Remake | $44.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The premise is straightforward. You play as Ortega’s child, who leaves home on their sixteenth birthday to continue Ortega’s failed mission: defeating the Archfiend Baramos. That setup gives a new player an immediate objective, but the game does not reduce the journey to a narrow sequence of missions. The adventure expands through towns, caves, dungeons and a broad world map, with the player deciding where to investigate and how to prepare.
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#1 Best Overall
- DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is a stunning reimagining of the beloved masterpiece and narrative beginning to The Erdrick Trilogy – the first three games of the mainline DRAGON QUEST series. Featuring vibrant HD-2D graphics, new and modernized features, and a refined narrative, players are invited to set out on an epic fantasy adventure to save the world from a dark evil.
- A fully modernized remake of the original: Stunning HD-2D visuals fuse pixel art with 3D graphics, bringing players into the world of DRAGON QUEST III like never before, along with an improved and modernized UI, and other quality of life improvements.
- Traditional DRAGON QUEST style battles: A refined take on the classic turn-based battle system, featuring new animations, additional improvements such as an adjustable battle speed, an auto-battle setting, and more.
- Immersive world: Deep exploration of a vast world map with an abundance of rich and captivating locations to discover, challenging players to overcome many unexpected encounters during the journey.
- Experience a timeless musical score: An immersive, authentic, and diverse musical composition that captures the timeless essence and magic of the DRAGON QUEST universe.
Where it fits in the Erdrick Trilogy
Story order is the strongest objective reason to start with III. Square Enix’s official game page describes it as the narrative beginning of the Erdrick Trilogy. The later Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake continues and concludes that trilogy, according to Square Enix’s May 27, 2025 press material.
| Game | Place in the connected story | What that means for a newcomer |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake | Narrative beginning of the Erdrick Trilogy | Start here if you want the trilogy in chronological story order. |
| Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake | Continuation and conclusion of the Erdrick Trilogy | Play after III if you want to follow the connected arc forward. |
You do not need to complete I or II before beginning III. Starting with III gives you the premise, world context and central hero’s quest at the point Square Enix identifies as the trilogy’s beginning. It also avoids asking a first-time player to begin with an older installment simply because it was released earlier.
What you actually do minute to minute
Turn-based battles
Combat follows a traditional turn-based format. You select commands for your party, see those decisions resolve, and then adjust your plan for the next round. This structure rewards learning enemy patterns, managing resources and deciding when to fight, flee or prepare rather than relying on reflexes.
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Party creation at the beginning
The party is chosen at the start of the journey. That early decision is part of the game’s appeal: you are not merely following a fixed cast through a preset sequence. You establish the group that will accompany the hero and then live with the consequences of that choice as the adventure develops.
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Because the sources do not establish a universally optimal beginner party, treat the opening selection as a preference decision rather than a test with one correct answer. Read each available description, consider whether you prefer direct damage, support or flexibility, and remember that experimentation is part of the experience.
Exploration instead of constant waypointing
The journey moves through towns, dungeons, caves and a large world map. Progress is not described as a permanently guided checklist; discovery and self-directed travel are central to the format. You may need to talk to residents, inspect a new location, revisit an earlier area or work out your next destination from the information you have gathered.
This is the main adjustment for players raised on highly guided modern RPGs. The game gives you a quest premise, but it expects you to participate in navigation and problem-solving. If you enjoy mapping out possibilities and finding optional detours, that freedom is a strength. If you want every objective marked and every route explained, the older structure may feel demanding even with the remake’s convenience features.
Which remake features help first-time players
Square Enix lists several quality-of-life changes designed to make the classic structure more comfortable on modern hardware:
- Adjustable battle speed: lets you control how quickly routine encounters resolve.
- Auto-battle: can handle appropriate stretches of combat when you do not want to select every command manually.
- Modernized user interface: presents commands and information in a contemporary layout instead of reproducing the original interface unchanged.
- Other quality-of-life updates: reduce friction around ordinary play without replacing the underlying exploration-and-battle design.
These options matter most during repeated encounters and travel. A new player can slow battles down while learning the system, then increase the speed once commands and enemy behavior become familiar. Auto-battle is useful for low-risk encounters, but it should not be treated as a substitute for understanding the party or for making deliberate decisions in situations where the game expects your attention.
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The evidence does not support promising that these settings eliminate all difficulty, backtracking or resource management. They make the presentation more convenient; they do not erase the classic RPG structure.
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What remains old-school
The remake’s visual and interface updates do not change the type of game you are buying. You should still expect:
- Turn-based encounters rather than action combat.
- A party whose composition is decided near the start.
- Frequent movement between towns, caves, dungeons and the world map.
- Periods in which you must infer the next step from conversations and exploration.
- A self-directed adventure rather than a strictly linear mission list.
Those qualities are not flaws, but they determine whether III is a good personal starting point. A player who wants a compact, heavily scripted introduction may prefer a different style of RPG. A player who wants the foundations of a long-running Japanese role-playing series will find the format representative.
New content in the HD-2D version
Square Enix’s December 6, 2024 press material highlighted several additions and enhancements beyond the original adventure. They include voiced scenes, orchestral music, the Monster Wrangler, the Monster Arena and episodes involving Ortega.
These additions give returning players extra material and give newcomers a more contemporary presentation. They should not be confused with a change to the game’s basic identity: the central experience is still the hero’s journey, party-based turn-based combat and world exploration. The listed additions are reasons to choose this remake rather than seek out an older version, but they are not evidence that the game has become a different genre.
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- Turn-based combat system and characters with multiple vocations
- Stunning HD 2D graphics that bring the world to life like never before
- Explore a big world full of exciting places and unexpected encounters
- Experience a timeless soundtrack and immerse yourself in the magic of the Dragon Quest universe
Who should start with it?
| If you want… | How well III HD-2D Remake fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A chronological entry into the connected Erdrick story | Strong fit | It is identified as the trilogy’s narrative beginning. |
| Classic turn-based party combat | Strong fit | The battle system keeps the traditional command-based format. |
| Exploration with room to choose your route | Strong fit | The adventure spans a broad map, towns, caves and dungeons. |
| A game with modern conveniences around an older design | Good fit | Battle speed, auto-battle and interface updates reduce routine friction. |
| A fully guided, real-time action RPG | Weak fit | The remake does not replace turn-based combat or self-directed exploration. |
The table is a preference guide, not a claim that III is objectively easier than every other Dragon Quest entry. The available sources do not provide a controlled comparison of difficulty, playtime or beginner suitability across the series.
Platforms and the practical purchase decision
Square Enix’s North American Store lists a standard physical edition for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Square Enix’s release announcement also lists PC versions through Windows and Steam. Platform availability, stock and regional product pages can change, so confirm the listing for your country and chosen system before buying.
The physical product is platform-specific: select the edition that matches the console you own. The store page also lists game-related collectible merchandise, but that is separate from the game purchase and should not be treated as part of the software edition.
Square Enix reported more than two million worldwide shipments and digital downloads in a December 6, 2024 press release. That is a publisher-reported sales milestone. It indicates substantial reach, but sales are not proof that the game will match your preferred pace or combat style.
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How to make your first hours smoother
- Decide whether you want the trilogy’s story order. If yes, begin with III; you do not need prior Dragon Quest knowledge.
- Read the opening party options carefully. The group is chosen at the beginning, so select a mix that matches how you like to play rather than copying an unverified “best” setup.
- Start battles at a comfortable speed. Use a slower setting while learning commands, then raise it for routine encounters if you prefer a faster rhythm.
- Use auto-battle selectively. It can reduce repetition, but take manual control when you need to adapt to a dangerous encounter or test a new approach.
- Keep notes about leads. When a resident points you toward a place or item, record the clue. The world expects you to remember and investigate.
- Explore before assuming you are stuck. Check towns, caves, dungeons and nearby map areas for information or routes you may have missed.
- Adjust your expectations, not just the settings. The remake removes some interface friction, but it intentionally preserves the slower, exploratory rhythm of a classic RPG.
Should you choose another Dragon Quest game instead?
There is no evidence here for a definitive series-wide ranking. Choosing another entry is mainly a matter of taste and priorities. If you want the Erdrick Trilogy’s connected story, III is the clear starting point because it begins that narrative. If you are more interested in a different cast, setting or structure, another Dragon Quest game may appeal more, but that does not make III a poor introduction.
The most useful distinction is between “best chronological start” and “best match for my preferred RPG style.” III is the former by the series’ own story description. Whether it is the latter depends on your response to turn-based commands, party planning and unguided exploration.
Final recommendation
Start with DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake if you want to experience the Erdrick story from its narrative beginning and are comfortable with a classic turn-based adventure. The HD-2D presentation, adjustable battle speed, auto-battle and modernized interface make the original design easier to approach without hiding what kind of game it is. Choose a different entry only if you specifically want a more guided or more action-focused experience; not because III requires knowledge of earlier Dragon Quest games.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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