More Thoughts From #177: The Year of Dragon Quest

Every game has its “year” or at least it feels like it. I think Dragon Quest has had more than one year, surely, but this year is without a doubt feeling like Dragon Quest’s year. Why is that? Why should you care? Why do I care? What are my favorite games in the series? Why am I glad the series is still around? I’ll answer some of those questions in today’s More Thoughts!

Not only is Dragon Quest Builders 2 coming out at the end of this week, but the Hero of DQ11 (and friends) are coming to Smash Bros this summer! And if that wasn’t enough, Dragon Quest 11 S: Definitive Edition is coming to the Nintendo Switch in September. All of this adds up to make this Dragon Quest’s year, for fans and for hopefully making new fans.

Dragon Quest has been around for a really long time now. Thankfully the series hasn’t changed much. Yes, there are now spinoffs like Dragon Quest Builders, but the main series is still a turn-based affair. This is so different from the Final Fantasy series which has gone full action rpg. DQ leaves all that action stuff for its spinoffs.

Sure, sooner or later, Square Enix might make a main series game into an action game. That would really suck though. Dragon Quest, aside from the one online game that hasn’t come to the West, has remained a turn-based mostly single player focused series. Though my favorite game in the series, Dragon Quest 9, did add in optional local multiplayer mode!

The reason Dragon Quest 9 is my favorite of the series is because on the DS, the game offered optional local multiplayer. I took advantage of that and teamed up with my dad to take on some of the hardest parts of the game. My dad and I also ventured into some of the random treasure map dungeons together too. The multiplayer was so much fun. The game was still turn-based and an absolute blast.

I also love Dragon Quest 8, the remake of 7 for the 3DS, and of course Dragon Quest 11 for the Playstation 4. I can’t wait to play the Definitive Edition on the Nintendo Switch.

What makes Dragon Quest so special though? Other than it being a turn-based rpg I should say. The Dragon Quest series has a certain charm to it, a very old school “more adventure around the next corner” vibe. There are very few games like Dragon Quest anymore. I am very thankful to Square Enix for keeping this series like it is. I am also thankful for the wonderful spinoffs, like the Builder series. And its so great to the series will have repesentation in Smash Bros. It absolutely deserves it.

I can’t wait to play more Dragon Quest this year. I also hope that we’ll be in store for even more DQ goodness on the Switch sooner rather than later!

Are you a fan of the Dragon Quest series? Which Dragon Quest game are you looking forward to the most this year? What DQ game do you hope comes to the Nintendo Switch next? Let us know in the comments!

Next week: I’ve been playing Detroit Become Human on the Playstation 4 lately. I got it because it was free on Playstation Plus this month! I have thoughts about this game and I’ll share them next week.

More Thoughts From Me is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed here are mine and mine alone. SLIME!