Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a reinterpretation of the Japanese RPG that came out in 1988. It remains a single-player adventure with a freely assembled party of heroes, turn-based battles and a connected fantasy world. What's new is mainly the presentation: pixel characters move through richly designed towns, landscapes and dungeons.

The title tells the chronological beginning of the Erdrick Trilogy, although Dragon Quest III came out as the third main game. Alongside the graphics, story scenes and game systems have also been expanded.

The remake came out on Nov 14, 2024 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. On PC it is available through Steam and the Microsoft Store. The original from 1988 is a different product with its own release history.

An older PlayStation 4 version of Dragon Quest III must not be confused with the HD-2D remake. The later-released Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is also a standalone game package.

The remake was released natively for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch. PS4 and Xbox One are not among the native platforms of the HD-2D version. Steam and Microsoft Store offer PC versions, not separate platform generations.

On Nintendo Switch 2, the Switch version runs with a free update that is meant to make the visuals sharper and smoother. It offers a choice between quality and performance modes. This is not evidence of a separate native Switch 2 release.

The journey begins in Aliahan and leads the party across a vast world map to villages, castles, caves and towers. Conversations with residents provide hints, while battles earn experience and gold. New equipment, spells and job-specific abilities affect which enemies you can overcome.

The adventure keeps the classic mix of exploration, turn-based battles and preparation. New comfort options change the pace but do not turn the game into a real-time action RPG.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a standalone full game. The so-called HD-2D Erdrick Trilogy Collection combines it with the separate Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. This package is not an expansion for the third part.

The additional Ortega scenes, the Monster Tamer career and the Monster Arena are part of the remake. They are part of the regular game content and are not needed as a separate story expansion.

Steam lists Windows 10 or 11 in the 64-bit version, 8 GB of RAM, DirectX 12 and 20 GB of storage. For 720p at 60 fps, the minimum list includes the GTX 750 or RX 460, among others. Recommended for 1080p at 60 fps are a GTX 1060 or RX 470. Intel Arc graphics cards are also on the official list; here 16 GB of RAM is required.

On their sixteenth birthday, the young hero is tasked by the King of Aliahan with continuing the unfinished mission of their father, Ortega. The goal is to defeat the Demon King Baramos. From there, the journey takes them through different regions with their own places and challenges.

The remake includes additional story sequences about Ortega. They expand on the family background and connect the prehistory more clearly to the rest of the Erdrick Trilogy.

The remake depicts characters as two-dimensional pixel sprites and combines them with richly lit 3D environments. Towns and dungeons keep their characteristic layout, but through perspective, lighting and material design they feel considerably more spatial.

Producer Masaaki Hayasaka explained that the size and spacing on the world map were readjusted for the remake. The depth-of-field blur of the backgrounds was also deliberately reduced during development to keep the image easier to read.

The main character travels with up to three companions. In Patty's party management, you can create new recruits with a job, appearance and voice. Personality affects how their stats develop, while the job determines the available equipment and the skills they can learn.

The larger selection of hairstyles and voices is a new feature of the HD-2D version. This means the party is not limited to the preset characters of the original game.

The job selection includes classic roles such as Warrior and Mage. The HD-2D version adds the Monster Tamer, who uses abilities built around the creatures of the game world. According to Square Enix, his skills range from attacks on several enemies to healing effects.

Because jobs allow different strengths and equipment, forming your party is a lasting part of the game strategy and not just a cosmetic choice.

Friendly monsters can be found in towns, dungeons and remote parts of the world. For the new monster arena, you put them together into teams of three creatures. The teams fight largely on their own; players give them a tactic in advance.

The tournaments have different ranks and award rewards. This makes hunting for monsters a separate task alongside the main story.

In the classic command battles, players choose attacks, spells and job-based abilities. The roles of the companions and their equipment decide which strategy will succeed against an enemy. If you prepare your party well, you can balance strengths and weaknesses more precisely.

The remake also offers automatic battle sequences and different battle speeds. This lets you speed up frequent encounters without turning the system into real-time combat.

The journey runs across a large world map to towns, castles, caves and towers. Conversations with residents help you find goals and routes. Those who explore off the main route will discover extra challenges and hidden places.

For the HD-2D look, the layout and distances on the maps were rebalanced. This affects how the landscapes feel, while the familiar locations and their basic role remain unchanged.

On PC, the user interface and subtitles are available in German. According to Steam, spoken dialogue is offered in English and Japanese; full German voice acting is not mentioned. Compared with earlier versions, the remake adds voiced event scenes and orchestral music.

The German text version lets you follow the story regardless of the selected audio language.

Nintendo provides a free update for the Switch version on Switch 2. According to the company, it improves image sharpness and smoother display. Users can choose between a focus on image quality and a focus on performance.

The application remains the Nintendo Switch version. This means there is neither a separate Switch 2 game nor another native platform listing in the price comparison.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a single-player RPG. The companions you can create are characters in your own party, not online players. Steam lists cloud saves, achievements and partial controller support.

The changes to character customisation and battle speed make it easier to adapt the game to your own pace. They do not change the basic structure of a classic single-player adventure.