Series like Final Fantasy may get more international attention, but Dragon Quest has also been consistently producing some of the best RPGs ever since the series' inception in 1986. With Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate on the way, fans are understandably excited for the future of the franchise too.
For hardcore Dragon Quest fans, the question of which title in the long-running series is the best can be a topic of fierce debate. Luckily, the review aggregator Metacritic provides an easy way to see which of the modern Dragon Quest titles is the subject of the most acclaim.
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters Of The Chosen - 80
Dragon Quest IV was already a legendary game after its initial NES release, establishing many of the features that continue to be at the heart of the franchise. In 2008, it received a remake for the DS that brought its epic story and memorable characters to a new audience and gave it an entirely new dimension.
This came in the form of a 2D/3D hybrid style that is well-suited to the DS. Whilst the original game delivered a story in 5 chapters, each focusing on a different character's backstory before finally culminating in the hero's story, Chapters of the Chosen retains an additional sixth chapter from a previous PlayStation remake that functions as an alternative ending.
Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past - 81
Whilst there have been plenty of massive JRPGs to look forward to in recent years, there is something about the classic era of the genre that made every title feel like a treasure. Dragon Quest VII was no exception and its 2016 remake for the 3DS did an amazing job at keeping the retro charm whilst modernizing the more dated aspects of the game.
Critics praised the new visuals and the modern trimmings that came with it. The classic Dragon Quest character and worldbuilding is all present and, with a story that can easily take close to 100 hours to fully complete, the game feels like a comprehensive experience. Dragon Quest VII doesn't do a lot to set itself apart but it more than satisfies fans of the series.
Dragon Quest Builders - 83
Though Minecraft was originally a game made by just one person, it became a phenomenon that proved just how much a sandbox game with simple graphics could appeal to players. Dragon Quest Builders takes this concept of blocky sandbox fun and adds in some structure and some JRPG flair.
Unlike Minecraft, Dragon Quest Builders guides the player and presents a finite experience rather than endless freedom. This works to the game's advantage, however, as the feeling of always knowing what they're working towards helps keep the player engaged. As the player sets about building and restoring Alefgard, they are treated to an extremely well-made hybrid of two genres.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime - 83
Flipping the script in the most wholesome way possible, Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime puts the player in the role of a Slime named Rocket who is on a journey to save his friends from an evil cartel known as "The Plob". Although the game is ostensibly a spinoff aimed at a younger audience, there is a sense of fun to Rocket Slime that makes it worth playing for any Dragon Quest fan.
The action-adventure gameplay is simple and possibly a little easy for experienced gamers but it has enough variation to keep things interesting. For a game about the most simple basic enemies in Dragon Quest, the characters are great and the sense of humor makes the game consistently entertaining.
Dragon Quest Wars - 83
The advantage of spinoff titles in a franchise is that it gives developers the possibility to explore the worlds that players love with a different focus and different gameplay mechanics. In Dragon Quest Wars, the classic monsters from the series provide the basis for a surprisingly deep and fun to master turn-based strategy game.
From Intelligent Systems, the studio behind the success of the Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series, it is no surprise that the well-executed tactical gameplay was the biggest source of praise for Dragon Quest Wars. Whilst the lack of a classic JRPG-style narrative may prevent the game from being a fan favorite, it is a fun and addictive offering.
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride - 84
The natural follow-up after the success of the Dragon Quest IV remake for the DS was this overhaul of Dragon Quest V for the handheld console. The original Dragon Quest V was innovative in several ways, introducing an expansive narrative taking place across 30 years of the protagonist's life and, for the first time, allowed players to let monsters join their party in random encounters.
Considering it predates the first Pokémon games, it's easy to see how influential this was. Despite that, the game wasn't released outside of Japan until its later remakes. By using the same engine as the Dragon Quest IV remake and keeping faithful to the original game with a few notable additions, Dragon Quest V won a lot of fans.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 - 86
Improving on everything in the first Dragon Quest sandbox title but retaining the charm that set it apart, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is the perfect sequel. The Dragon Quest series is known for producing some great comfort games and Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a feel-good time sink of a title that perfectly exemplifies this.
The game brings new characters, a new storyline, and a whole new massive world that is ripe for destroying and rebuilding. Critics praised the title's knack for getting the perfect balance between freedom and structure that makes the entire experience so addictive, and the online multiplayer builder mode only adds to the fun.
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies - 87
A revolutionary title for the series in many ways, Dragon Quest IX was the first mainline game to be initially released for a handheld platform, namely the Nintendo DS. It also switched things up by de-emphasizing random encounters in favor of spawning enemies. Considered to be one of the most difficult Dragon Quest games, that didn't stop it from exploding in popularity in Japan and being well received worldwide.
Despite some bold choices including greater character customization and a focus on multiplayer gameplay, Dragon Quest IX still delivered on the expansive JRPG experience that players expect from the franchise. By keeping a good balance of old and new, the game managed to win over critics and fans alike.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King - 89
Dragon Quest VIII is the title that took Dragon Quest well and truly into the modern era with 3D graphics that are great for the PlayStation 2. Of course, the combat doesn't let the game down either whilst a breathtaking story, amazing soundtrack, and delightfully huge main world round off one of the most complete Dragon Quest experiences.
The game has aged considerably in the nearly 20 years since its original release but it holds up better than a lot of similar PS2 titles. Of course, there are some alternative options for players including a 2017 3DS reimagining that brings a ton of small enhancements to the original experience.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition - 92
There are many classic JRPGs on the Switch and other modern consoles but when it came to amazing modern JRPGs, they were somewhat lacking. Luckily, Dragon Quest XI helped change that with a masterpiece of storytelling and design that is perfect for fans of the series, sneaking in tons of references to previous titles, as well as newcomers.
There is a sense of refinement to the 11th mainline Dragon Quest game that makes it stand out from the rest of the series and that's even more true for the definitive edition which features an expanded plot and a variety of charming bonus features. While fans eagerly await Dragon Quest XII, this title remains the best title in the franchise.