Verdict
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a beautiful and modernized overhaul of two classic JRPGs that are essential for any fantasy fan’s Nintendo Switch 2 library. It combines stunning graphics with engaging gameplay and storytelling for the complete portable package.
After the successful launch of Dragon Quest III's HD-2D Remake last year, Square Enix has returned to bring us the rest of the Erdrick trilogy for the modern age with Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. As someone who grew up on Akira Toriyama's animated work and whose interest in the Dragon Quest series has recently reignited, I was understandably eager to dive in and experience the games that started it all.
Despite coming out before Dragon Quest III, both Dragon Quest I and II take place after the events of the third game, following the Erdrick bloodline as its members continue to perform heroic deeds throughout the kingdom. 1986's Dragon Quest follows a lone descendant of Erdrick as he journeys to defeat the revived Dragonlord and save the Princess, and the 1987 sequel follows three of his descendants as they team up to fend off evil that's spreading across the land.
In our modern era, these stories may seem a little cliché: fight monsters, save the kingdom, get the girl. But that's because they were the first to do it, defining the JRPG genre for decades to come, and I think it's important to revisit that history. Although you can already play these games on mobile thanks to existing ports, this HD-2D remake not only overhauls the graphics but also adds extra story beats, gameplay features, and quality of life upgrades that bring it up to speed with the games we love today.
So, let's talk about the graphics. Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is my first experience of HD-2D spritework and gameplay, and I have to say that it is gorgeous. I grew up glued to my Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, so I'm particularly fond of good pixel art, and HD-2D takes that skilled art style and elevates it to another level, allowing for complex lighting and environments that I could stare at all day. Both of these games look stunning and run wonderfully on the Nintendo Switch 2, both on the big screen and in handheld mode, and the modern technology with a retro feel works perfectly for such a classic game.
If you love the classic JRPG gameplay loop of accepting quests, fighting monsters, and looting dungeons, then you can't go wrong with this game. I went into this review expecting to spend a decent amount of time grinding for levels, but to my surprise, I didn't face any major challenges in Dragon Quest I for a while. In hindsight, this makes sense as the remake stays true to the original game's length of around 10-15 hours for the main story. The plot feels fast-paced and urgent, and I haven't found myself hitting any walls.
Dragon Quest II is a little different, with a much longer storyline and a team of fighters to manage; there's more to think about, but the grinding is still enjoyable. I'm playing on the base difficulty level, but there are three modes to choose from to customize your experience, and you can change them at any time from the menu. This extra addition makes me certain that Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is the best way to get into Dragon Quest in 2025, as it introduces all of the series' core mechanics in a beginner-friendly and, most importantly, really fun way.
Each game also offers a lot of tactical flexibility. In Dragon Quest I, you only have to worry about yourself, so every magic scroll or weapon you find is just another tool in your arsenal. You can focus on melee combat, buff and debuff spells, or all-out magical attacks, depending on which spells and equipment you find on your journey. Dragon Quest II instead takes a party-based approach, meaning you have to think strategically about who should get which spell or item, if they're able to use it in the first place.
You can also adjust how your party members act in battle. If managing three to four party members' skills and items feels like too much, you can simply control the main character and assign the others an array of different presets. My companions are set to Act Wisely, and while they sometimes use their MP too quickly for my liking, it's worked for me so far. Turn-based battles also have three speed settings to lessen the grinding time, and you can now attack groups of enemies at once, which wasn't a feature until later Dragon Quest games.
As a naturally curious (or nosy) person, I love how much Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake rewards exploration. Whether you're peering in every barrel you find, looting people's wardrobes, or wandering into secret areas on the overworld map, there's always something to find. Half of my party's income at any given time comes from looking inside pots, and finding enough tickets to hit the jackpot on the tombola earned me an overpowered set of clawed gloves to cleave through my enemies. This remake also adds mini medals to the games for the first time, which I highly recommend searching for if you want some help in the late-game.
Of course, immersion isn't just about gameplay and graphics; sound plays a huge role in how we feel about any piece of media, and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake's soundtrack and overall sound design are wonderful. The grand orchestral tracks serve to heighten the fantasy setting while including the famous motifs from the series that we all know and love. Attacks sound impressive and like they hurt, and god forbid you let a party member die, because you'll certainly know about it. I want to give particular props to the Princess of Moonbrooke's Japanese voice actor, Sumire Uesaka, whose emotional performance made me start crying after a boss fight. You'll know it when you hear it.
Overall, the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a massive win for me and other JRPG fans out there. The HD-2D graphical overhaul is stunning, the stories are engaging, the combat is fun, and the world is a blast to be a part of. Some will argue that it's not worth the $60 price tag as you can play the originals on mobile for much cheaper, but the additional story content, entirely new graphics, and quality of life features make it a great choice for people who love a good RPG on the Nintendo Switch 2. There are over 50 hours of main story gameplay, two complete stories, and tons of replayability thanks to the difficulty settings. Of course, it depends on how you like to play games, but for me, this is a no-brainer.
This isn't the only awesome Dragon Quest game I've played recently, either. Check out my Dragon Quest Smash/Grow beta preview to see how Square Enix is tackling the roguelite genre for mobile, and read our list of the best DS games to learn about my favorite entry in the series, Dragon Quest IX.