NEW TO DRAGON QUEST - Playing Order + Best Versions of Each Game

[@sackchief]

Join the Discord to talk to other Dragon Quest fans! discord.gg/paZstqqkBu

[@oda_luli]

DQ 1,2,and 3 have a collection cartridge and so far playing it when i have time, likewise thanks for the help whem i dont know what to do.. currently nearing the end but due to curse artifact cant enter the castle

[@TheClassicnathan]

So basically ---------------------------------------------------------- Dragon Quest 1,2,3, and 4 for mobile 5 and 6 for DS or moblie 7 for 3DS 8 for 3DS or PC 9 for DS 10 (if your willing to pay monthly for all the content) for Switch, Wii U, PS4 and PC (I assume you can probably just skip this game otherwise) and finally 11 for Switch

[@RizalBoon]

Nice TL;DR. I can use this as reference while marathoning the series.

[@summerycast7936]

... I'm just going to get 11 then watch some video explaining the references to other titles.

[@RizalBoon]

@Scott Whatever Well, you can play most of the classics on mobile. That's a good start in my opinion, unless you do not own a smartphone

[@lunarlady03]

I dont have that much money tho

[@alexlong9107]

Scott Whatever there’s plenty of emulators for most if not all the games online some of which even allow you to play the games off the websites them selves or just download the ROM and emulate it directly off your computer so while I hate to sound like that kind of guy that says pirate it, it is an option at least and she’ll still be able to buy 11 legitimately since it’s been on steam since 2017

[@christianlopez707]

Nice to hear that people are generating more interest in the series.

[@Swordmaster7th]

Thank Smash Bros for that. It's how Fire Emblem got popular.

[@christianlopez707]

@@Swordmaster7th Smash is the ultimate marketing tool, and yes I just made a pun.

[@jojonta2119]

And this is why neku needed to be in smash lol

[@christianlopez707]

@@jojonta2119 I would love to have Neku in the game but sense DQ is the bigger series/game it obviously took priority.

[@onewingedren2228]

Me too

[@cassiuss8007]

I'm just so happy to find a small community of Dragon Quest lovers, it makes me so sad that the wider western audience hasn't discovered these great games.

[@Hijynx87]

Cassius S well since xi it’s been gaining traction from People like myself. I’ve actually “played” dragon warrior back in the day as a rental, but I was a kid and didn’t get it. The gbc games seem pretty good, I’ve got them on my snes classic.

[@WaltherPPK007]

Cassius S thanks to smash ultimate they will bruh

[@cassiuss8007]

@@WaltherPPK007 I really hope so!

[@jumpkicking]

My uncle gave me dragon quest 8 when I was like 10 or so and I've loved DQ since, but I've never found one as good );

[@mybonescrack1360]

Im still waiting for DQMJ 3 on Europe :(

[@Luchiop]

I played 5 and 9 on my nightshifts working on an island resort. Best gaming memories ever. Truly wonderful games .

[@Arany-Csillag]

God that sounds so amazing. I'm jealous.

[@joonpak]

Island resort?! What was that experience like?!

[@DrCoeloCephalo]

You forgot to mention 5's monster collecting.

[@sparklesparkle3370]

Dragon quest 5 is a monster collector?

[@Bokune9999]

@@sparklesparkle3370 in 5 some enemies have a small chance after battle to join you as companions... unfortunately they pulled the nonsense they pulled in robopon 2 and gave the monsters level caps meaning their usefulness varies wildly (not all of them have level caps though and cap at the standard 99 while others cap as low as 8 which is incredibly odd to say the least)

[@joshsnipes4851]

He’s mentioned it in another video

[@MarsTohum]

He forgot to mention a lot of things

[@pr0jectzero281]

I started with IX and to this day I consider it the best game ever made. The replay value is high for me and it features a great story with characters that I’ll always remember. Then there’s the post game which adds so much more

[@HarryScutt]

It's fascinating to me just how much content they managed to cram onto a DS cartridge, and how much detail they got into the story when the protagonist and party are all silent and emotionless. Truly an incredible game, I hope to god we get a switch remake. Imagine Stornway castle with the detail of Heliodor Castle.

[@yourtdu5683]

​@@HarryScutt like pokemon was for the gameboy. mind blowing

[@HerohammerStudios]

Judt got it. I'm really excited to try it out. Loved 8

[@jordbailey9268]

Facts

[@TheSpartanS196]

Playing in order is the best way... to get people to lose interest in the series. A newbie should play 11 and 8 first, being the more "modern" and graphically pleasing to the eye games of the series. If a person doesn't like those, they can just leave the series as it is not for them: instead, a person could not tolerate the years the other games have on their backs if they're not into retro gaming. By becoming fans of the series FIRST, through 8 and 11, they can go back and maybe enjoy the older ones and close an eye on the fact they are old. While a person that plays 1 first and finds it terrible because it's really outdated and clunky, will probably lose the chance to play 8 and 11 and maybe they could have loved them instead. I'd never advise someone new to the series to play them in order. It's like telling someone to start playing pokemon from Pokémon Red. No. The fact they're the "origins" and we, as fans of the series, have affection towards them doesn't change the fact that, in 2019, for a person that is NOT already a fan of the series but COULD be, they aren't the best way to experience the series.

[@TheSpartanS196]

I like the way you want to give visibility to the series but you make the mistake of thinking that what you think is best for you as a veteran and long time fan of the series (like me) is also what a person who is new to the series would enjoy

[@sackchief]

Appreciate the input. It’s just my opinion that becoming a veteran of the series makes XI more enjoyable.

[@summerycast7936]

sackchief In the end, I think your offer is sound since you mentioned that they'd enjoy it more if they understood the references BUT it's not necessary to understand them to enjoy 11's stand-alone story. That leaves up to them to decide to play the first three DQ games or just jump straight into 11. I like this approach.

[@conorneligan7694]

eh I started the series a few months ago and I definitely think that people should start with the first one, the way I did. I then played the GBC version of 2... and now I'm playing 8? Perhaps I should've played 3 first. GBC or Super Famicom version of 2 is definitely the way to go imo, the NES version is ridiculously difficult, and unbalanced towards the end. Most people say it's the worst game in the series but I quite enjoyed the GBC version.

[@TheSpartanS196]

"Look at me I'm a true fan I started from the worst game" I honestly don't care that some dude somewhere decided for some reason that starting from older games was a good idea, if I want the series to be known I can't bore the shit out of newbies saying them "yeeeeah 8 and 11 are great but first you should play those 7 prehistoric games buddy". They ARE good games, I love them, but the games most people are going to like first are 8 and 11, not everyone likes retrogaming. By starting with 8 and 11 and eventually falling in love with them, to go back to older DQs is probably a natural step if someone wants more of that, while not liking 8 and 11 means you're not gonna like any other DQ anyway. While as I said, someone could find 1 and 2 terrible, clunky, grindy and outdated while that same person could love 8 and 11, but they'd drop the series thinking "I didn't like the first two games, maybe it isn't my cup of tea". No, it's just that not everyone in 2019 can appreciate games from 1986/87 with 30+years on their backs. Gaming has changed and evolved, retrogaming is not for everyone, DQ 8 and 11 are

[@megabob40]

Man, DQ9 was my obsession for a long time. I picked it up on release, and I remember waiting impatiently each week for new costumes to drop and spending countless hours exploring grottos.

[@laggyhuman4169]

omg yes! I was OBSESSED with DQ9 for such a long time I love that game so much

[@kewa_design]

Same this game NEEEEEEDS a remake 😢

[@decusq]

Actually i heard that the team behind Dragon Quest 9 could possibly be in talks to create a remake of DQ9 for the switch. There are no definite plans right now but the fact that their talking about it gives me hope another great dragon quest game will come to the switch

[@jamiehoward6505]

"Great"

[@TheGreatBackUpVIDEOS]

@@jamiehoward6505 Yes, great.

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

No its not great. The story is tedious much like the middle section of DQ11 but for the whole game. Remake the best story and world DQV with the monster hunting and with DQ11 balanced and status affecting bosses gameplay...masterpiece

[@goticogordo]

As long as they keep the franchise turn based, I think they can and should remake them all for more people to play it, but, yeah, never change to brain damaged action rpg like final midtasy

[@Tom-zf8yw]

Started with VIII... Did not regret that choice at all. Great video dude!

[@sackchief]

Thanks!

[@ajfatca]

my first as well on ps2 back in the day, great game

[@Tom-zf8yw]

AndyF1130 Nice!

[@raulrojas9253]

8 is like the best DQ game and even today i stick to that Opinion. DQ XI was so close to beating 8 but Square enix shitty practices happened.

[@mashi956]

Grate grammar

[@mrsmith1938]

Imo Playing DQ in order is like watching Star Wars episodes in order. I would recommend playing 8 or 11 to see if you'll be into the series

[@TiMSKiii]

Dragon Quest III for GBC is fucking amazing.

[@emanuelepolloni4002]

Well, it’s the game that basically created the jrpg genre. Every game that came after it were inspired by Dragon Quest III, even Final Fantasy.

[@skins4thewin]

@@emanuelepolloni4002 Pretty sure it was the first DQ game that created the genre. No clue why you're saying that 3 was the one that did. Final Fantasy came out well before DQ3 did. That being said, I've actually never played the GBC version of the game & very much want to try it. I have played thru the NES and SNES versions many many times.

[@emanuelepolloni4002]

@@skins4thewin Because it codified every idea and element that all jrpg followed since, even the final fantasy series.

[@skins4thewin]

@@emanuelepolloni4002 Again, that was the first game, and then the 2nd introduced most of the mechanics games follow today. the 3rd only expanded upon 2 a bit. 2 was actually a much bigger jump from the previous game than 3 was.

[@emanuelepolloni4002]

@@skins4thewin True, 2 introduced some elements, but they weren't very well implemented and the game was very broken to the point that one of the 3 playable characters is absolutely useless. 3 improved those elements and added a lot more stuff, like multiple playable classes and a more complex plot.

[@Anu_Sol]

I'm new to Dragon Quest. I decided to get into the series after The Hero's reveal for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The past few weeks I've been marathoning the games in numerical order. I'm currently up to VI and totally loving it. I'm playing the mobile versions of the games which generally seem to be the best versions from what I've seen, plus they're cheap and convenient to aquire and play. I'm glad I decided to play in numerical since so far they're getting better and better (well VI doesn't seem to be quite as good as IV and V but it's still great). I'm looking forward to playing through the rest of the series and maybe trying a few of the spin-offs.

[@sackchief]

Glad your journey is going well.

[@rexusthevaliant6311]

Watch out for series fatigue

[@BowmansWorld]

7-11 are a blast, especially 9 and 11. And if you have a bud u can co op 9 locally.

[@rexusthevaliant6311]

@@BowmansWorld Ive played through 9 twice but couldnt finish i think 3 it was. At one point you get control of this mermaid character and hes way weaker than all the enemies around him and i couldnt figure out where to go.

[@WhirlyBeepBoops]

I plan to do this for at least the first three as I wait for 11S. Just grabbed 1, wish me luck!

[@MassacreSoldier423]

Where does Dragon Quest: Rocket Slime fit into all this?

[@sackchief]

It’s a spin-off with some lore similarities to DQVIII.

[@bathtubbarracuda2581]

Rocket is the DQ hero with the most personality

[@dolphinboi-playmonsterranc9668]

"Why was Hero chosen for Smash, none of them even have names" Horii: ホズマッド

[@JackEGee-il9mz]

I’m personally playing: 1. Dragon Quest (Nintendo Switch) 2. Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of a Legendary Line (Nintendo Switch) 3. Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation (Nintendo Switch) 4. Dragon Quest: Chapters of the Chosen (Nintendo DS) 5. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (Nintendo DS) 6. Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie (Nintendo DS) 7. Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past (Nintendo 3DS) 8. Dragon Quest: Journey of the Cursed King (Sony PlayStation 2) 9. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (Nintendo DS) 10. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Sony PlayStation 4)

[@jeremy8473]

DUDE you gotta play dq8 on 3ds and dq11 on switch playstation always gets the crap while nintendo gets to have added content, in 3ds version of dq8 you get 2 extra party members and more endgame stuff, in the switch version of 11 you have much more content and the story feels more connected with the side stories of your party members, also you can choose between orchestral and synthentic music

[@ffxiarcadius]

what's the best?

[@Steph11e]

I soooo want a DQ9 remake!! I started the series with this game and would love to see a remaster/remake of this game on the switch

[@sackchief]

Would be great.

[@TheGreatBackUpVIDEOS]

For now, playing it on MelonDS is the closest we get to a remaster :P

[@Mario1080p]

seeing how 11 references the Trilogy so much, kinda makes me wish that THIS is Dragon Quest 10 instead of the mmo Japan got.

[@dragonfly866]

I don't really understand why they didn't make it a spin off given how it's an mmo

[@Dr.Farewell]

@@dragonfly866 following final fantasy, plus putting it as a mainline title people are gonna buy it up.

[@taxjax]

Dragonfly' well Final Fantasy 11 and 14 are a mmo but are still main series entrys and not spin-offs

[@Zodrex]

@@taxjax Heck I'd say that DQ10 fits the main series more than FF11 and 14 did to the Final Fantasy series.

[@koopakape]

Man, as a lifelong DQ fan it brings me so much joy to see people generating and sharing so much interest in the series now, and so many younger people coming into the fold. The excellence of XI, Builders 2 and Hero in Smash is an awesome triple-whammy to finally give the series the relevance in USA it's always deserved. ... Now give us a modernized IX, a good translation of X and and a new Dragon Quest Monsters already, SE :P

[@samuelsouza7670]

I hate being a DQ fan when I hear that there's more content in some versions than the others and hearing that I can't never play some of them cause I don't have some platforms or like DQ IX there's no way to get dlc cotent or DQ X that they never bothered to bring a version to us and I'm not even counting the spin-offs with tons of content and infinity torneko's side stories to me DQ series seems very neglected at least in this side of the planet. Honestly I hate being a DQ fan but I can't help it

[@pyroflare7774]

@@samuelsouza7670 actually there are 2 ways you can get the DLC content into IX, first way is to link up with a copy that has it and join their world then leave it and it gives it to you and the other way is to use a code from an Action Replay

[@bongo2962]

You should take fan translations into account. Dragon Quest 3 for the Super Famicom has one, and it should be listed as the definitive version imo.

[@DrakonLameth]

Having played both the FanTrans and the GBC versions a ways, I'll vouch that I feel the fan translated Super Famicom is the better version.

[@cashnelson2306]

This is good to hear, as someone who doesn't play mobile games ever but is about to delve into 1-3. Fan translations on my big TV only, please!

[@modelrailpreservation]

Yeah, I noticed fan translations, and using an emulator to get around IX's lack of DS server function was not mentioned. Probably some bureaucratic legal reason or another. Having said that, our of the Erdrick Trilogy, III on the SNES, the fan translation, was the best. I also played the fan translations of V and VI on the SNES, but found the DS versions were much better.

[@TheGreatBackUpVIDEOS]

...Did you find one I could not? Last time I tried a fan translation, no was yes and yes was no. They...they mixed them up. I daren't even imagine what else went wrong.

[@Mahaveez]

If any new version incorporates the GBC version's content and animations and the mobile/Switch version's dialogue and soundtrack, it would be definitive beyond question.

[@switch1e]

Thank God someone made a video like this. Entering the series is definitely complicated.

[@sackchief]

Just doing my job

[@switch1e]

@@sackchief Update: finished the first two games on SNES. Thank you for the recommendation.

[@sackchief]

switch1e Glad to hear it

[@muhammadfaizmohdnasiruddin2889]

I got interested in Dragon Quest after playing DQ 11 and I can't wait for the Definitive Edition. Playing through DQ 8 right now while waiting. This series has been really fun for me and when I saw your video on the significance of Dragon Quest in Japan, it made appreciate the series even more. So, thank you!

[@sackchief]

Glad I could help

[@justdrinkingmycoffee]

How ironic I was just talking about DQ thanks to you and my friend in the community tab and this perfectly came there

[@humzakhan30]

I got the ps2 version of dq8 and honestly im loving it, its old school but beautiful and the music is amazing. I really like the world and towns.

[@emanueleborghini3186]

0:24 "in my opinion playing the games in numerical order is the best way" Me an intellectual: plays 8, 9, 7, 6, 5, 11

[@palladiamorsdeus]

For me it was 1, 4, 7, 2, 3, 6, 5, 8, 9, 11.

[@DomTheSub24]

for me it was/will be 6, 9, monster joker 2, monster joker 1, 4, rocket slime, 5, 1, 2, 3, 11 (currently finishing rocket slime)

[@zekegregory9130]

9,4,5,6,3,7,11 with the 2 monster joker's games in there too.

[@restless276]

For me it was 5... yeah I’ve only played so DQ5 far (still need to finish it)

[@RubenGarcia-eg6mi]

For me, it was none of them

[@8bitMahoujin89]

It's worth noting that the SNES version of DQ3 and the PS2 version of DQ5 have very good fan translations.

[@sackchief]

They do.

[@shadowtheimpure]

This is the first I'm hearing of a Dragon Quest movie...now I'm hyped.

[@pkilljoy5797]

Thank you so much! No regrets playing 1 and 2 on mobile so far, falling in love with the franchise! I also bought 3 and 4, and have 11 preordered for switch. Super excited!

[@societyman9219]

My first dragon quest was Dragon Quest Monsters Joker on the ds. It was awesome, I later discovered the other games and been a fan ever since.

[@phantomblack678]

1-3 coming to Switch, seemingly being the mobile ports, is also convenient for people who don't play mobile games that much. Like me. I just wish those three were a bundle instead of three separate releases.

[@Morgil27]

Literally got a Dragon Quest ad before this video.

[@Rubberman202]

Thanks to this video, I'm going to buy the first three Dragon Quest games on my phone and play them before Dragon Quest XI comes out on Switch!

[@sackchief]

Good plan

[@BryanRollinsTV]

Started with 8 on 3DS. Likely going straight into 11. I don’t like standard RPGs byut was convinced to give DQ a try since there aren’t random encounters and I fell in love.

[@jeremy8473]

youre lucky you got the 3ds version because theres no random encounters, but 1 2 3 4 5 6 and sometimes 7 has random encounters

[@roqueadeleon]

This series always seemed interesting to me because of the art style. I remember seeing the ads for DQ8 back in the day for PS2 When I finally get a Switch I’d like to pick up DQ11...but JRPGs like this can be so long and I unfortunately don’t have a ton of time to play. Maybe I’ll pick up builders for Switch & Rocket Slime for my DS

[@oromain]

Builders is really, really fun. I actually like Builders 1 more than Builders 2 but both games are pretty fun

[@rocketjude4723]

imagine if they made dragon quest 9 for the ps4

[@plopizy8214]

That would be awesome

[@TheGreatBackUpVIDEOS]

I wish it was multiplat, PS4, PC, Xbox, Switch....SouljaBoy. (Sorry)

[@skins4thewin]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if we got a remake one day.

[@Abobus101]

Have never played Dragon quest games before, but recently picked up DQ11, and it turned out to be a quite good JRPG. A they say, DQ11 is the prequel to the Erdrick trilogy, so now going to give first three games a try.

[@lunexbot8437]

Only played 9 back in... well... 2009! Looking forward to immersing myself in the series again.

[@TheLegoMaster261]

Thank you for this video! I’ve been wanting to get into the Dragon Quest, but didn’t know where to start.

[@sackchief]

Glad you like it

[@EntermateStar]

Just so everyone knows, if you would like to wait a little bit just to make sure. There's already been listings of the definitive edition of 11 for the PS4 found, so it'll prolly be released as a expansion DLC on other platforms a couple months or a year or two down the line. Similar to what Square did with World of Final Fantasy Maxima. Just in case you don't want a switch and don't mind waiting around a bit to make sure if it's true or not

[@RoboticEdward]

Back in July I posted a comment on this video saying that I finished the first Dragon Quest in preparation for DQXI. I had to take a detour because Fire Emblem: Three Houses came out at the time and wanted to focus on that. Afterwards I started DQII in late August/ early September and thought it was... alright. It has a lot of issues but I don't hate it compared to other people. DQIII though really was a step up in every single way and was impressed by the amount of things were possible gameplay-wise. Zoma gave me a good amount of trouble but I pulled through. Seeing how DQI NPCs praised Erdrick like he came from.the heavens and experiencing what they meant when playing DQIII was so cool. As I type this I just finished DQXI and just... wow. The standalone story was great but the way it connects to the original trilogy is just beyond incredible, and honestly had me crying. Absolutely phenomenal game and I have to wonder how Japanese gamers reacted to the end. I don't know if I'll start DQIV and onward since I want to play other RPGs first, but DQ is starting to become a favorite series of mine and I want to thank you for trying to get other people into the series. I first found out about you thanks to the Erdrick Smash video and you made me realize just how monumental DQ is in Japan and changed my opinions on it for the better.

[@mac9365]

DQ builders 2 Everyone likes Minecraft.

[@bennel3588]

I have no interest in Minecraft. Why are there people speculating what everyone likes and hates? The whole world cannot be into liking the same thing nor hating the same thing. Just because something has a very high popularity does not mean that everyone likes it.

[@mac9365]

@@bennel3588 good for you bub

[@cabbagedurp._.7234]

Feels a bit different than minecraft though. Not saying that it’s bad, but that it’s good in other ways than how minecraft is good, but still pretty similar overall.

[@shevrett2658]

Caleb Hopkins you’re right, but people like to say that when a lot of people like the game

[@TheHummChannel]

I hate minecraft it's very boring but I do love (addicted) to dragon quest builder 2

[@kennymichaelalanya7134]

Amazing how the Symphonic soundtrack changes the game so much . Wish they had symphonic soundtrack on all DQ games that are 3D

[@deefour28]

I’ve been waiting so long for someone to make this video

[@despeinado340]

IN YOUR DEFENSE, the original Dragon Quest was the first I played and I fell in love with it... over 10 years ago. Only recently did I replay it and remembered how much I love it. I'm going through DQ2, and hopefully I'll stick through the entire series this time

[@jaegarw]

My playing order so far that I do not recommend: 1 -> 7 -> 2 -> 11 -> 3 -> probably 8

[@williaml3025]

As someone who loves RPGs but never really thought about getting a Dragon Quest game until recently, thank you for the help!

[@sackchief]

Glad it helped!

[@JohnSmith-fe3di]

I’ve recently got into the series with 11 and enjoyed it enough to buy it again on switch. Great starting game imo. I’m also almost done with builders 2 and have dq 8 coming in the mail. Great series that I’ve ignored for too long.

[@christaylor86]

Beat Dragon Warrior on GBC today thanks to this video. Thank you, truly, for introducing me to this series.

[@bobjeezorham7658]

Thank you for this video, ever since seeing Hero in Smash I've been finding myself more interested in trying out the series. I have been thinking of trying out Dragon Quest XI S, but it's good to hear that I should play through the Erdrick Trilogy first.

[@Ayoo_Arc]

You can play with ever suits you best

[@michalcz10]

You don't need to start from Dragon Quest 1. If you're want to dive in Dragon Quest series, you can starts straight from Dragon Quest 4 on DS (or if you really want to start from DQ 1 and then next in chronological way)

[@julianestebanperezsotelo298]

It's difficult to keep up with so many games at the same time, but this encouraged me to take in DQ, thank you!

[@EdgardoJCruz-dk5kv]

You should talk about the extremely underated Dragon Quest Dainoboken, (DQ: The Adventure of the Hero Dai), manga & anime. Though mostly the manga. While it started out as homage to the games it ended becoming its own unique series. Of which would later influence the games as well. Most notably DQ8, 9 & a bit of 11. Heck some even had several cameo characters. Also most recently Dai was made a playable character in Jump Force as part of the ingame roster.

[@iZAYYYYYYY]

Love the Earthbound series, wanted to check out Dragon Quest series! Thanks for the help!

[@spinobimkiii7443]

I decided that I would get into DQ if Erdrick got in Smash a few months ago, just like how I decided to get into Castlevania if Simon got in, and I started with Castlevania 4 and loved it. So, after E3, I bought a copy of DQ5 on the DS after some anon on /v/ recommended it, and I've been absolutely loving it so far, even if I havent been able to play it everyday. I cant wait to play the other games once I've finished it! Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go rescue my wife.

[@sackchief]

My favorite in the series.

[@capnslurp3071]

I started with 3 on the gbc way back in then. After playing pokemon red so many times I wanted a new kind of adventure. I used to hangout with my cousin and her boyfriend and watch him play ff7. I was wanting something similar in terms of gameplay. One day with a pocket full of birthday money I saw it on a shelf at kb toys and immediately knew this was gonna be a game/series I will cherish for a lifetime.

[@tenaciouscreator5787]

When you forget DQ Builders and it’s sequel (which I just got an ad for).

[@palladiamorsdeus]

Not real Dragon Quest games. More like...builders with a Dragon Quest skin. Which is fine, I love the games, they just don't fit.

[@oromain]

Story wise, they're sequels to the first two Dragon Quest games. Well, Builders 1 is an alternate timeline after DQ1 in which the hero accepted the Dragonlord's deal. Not entirely sure about Builders 2's connection to DQ2 since I haven't beaten B2 nor played DQ2

[@FushiguroMegumi79]

This is the quality content I signed up for. Thank you friend

[@sackchief]

Glad you like it. 👍👍

[@gamerk316]

Dragon Quest as a series has gotten better with every single game released. While it may *feel* quint, the way individual stories are told has improved in each game. It's long overdue to get some attention here in the west. If you have a few bucks, getting I-VI on your mobile device of choice is well worth it. (Note that III comes before I & II and VI comes before IV and V chronologically, if you care about such things).

[@palladiamorsdeus]

I disagree. The series peaked at 8. 9 was a massive step down, and while 11 was a step back up, it couldn't reach the lofty heights of 8.

[@TheCodingGamer]

You're not a true DQ fan unless your first game is a Torneko Mystery Dungeon entry... 😏 Great vid btw

[@sackchief]

Thank you.

[@Griffnix]

That game... I was near the end of the 'tutorial' dungeon and died on the last floor because I ran out of food. It was stiff fun though.

[@seth7726]

This joke is the perfect equivalent of ''You're not a true Megami Tensei fan unless your first game is Jack Bros. for the Virtual Boy''

[@raulrojas9253]

then i guess i m not a true dq fan then.....asshole.

[@slashingkatie7872]

So many DQ games that never got an official North American release. 😥

[@cynicthehedgehog385]

Congrats on 3k! I started with uh... I think the first DQ game I played at all was a demo of builders in 2016 while I worked at Best Buy. I never liked Minecraft much but something about builders clicked right. Maybe it was the visuals and sound charming me, maybe it was the structure and progression, idk. But I bought it for vita sometime in 2017 and couldn’t put it down for days. Later I bought Heroes and played it for quite a while without finishing. Finally I bought my first mainstream title this year, XI! After getting to the final boss with all party lvl 99, I wiped twice, but it’s still been the best adventure I’ve had in gaming in years. I’m now 17 hours into VIII on 3DS and I can’t see myself dropping it anytime soon!

[@sackchief]

Thank you! Glad you’re enjoying the games.

[@giovanniherrera6037]

Tbh 8 or 9 are great ways to start the series. Imo get a 3ds to play a majority of the games

[@palladiamorsdeus]

9 is a terrible way to start the series. A ton of the features therein are not repeated in any other entry in the series, it has the worst story of any of the main line starting with 4, and your only agency is through a literal exposition fairy. 8, on the other hand, is also probably a bad place to start since its arguably the best in the series. I'd suggest 4 or if that's too dated, 5, 6, or 7.

[@toxicmeijin]

THANK YOU! I WAS JUST WONDERING THIS

[@sackchief]

You’re welcome

[@RayOfTruth]

I personally prefer the GameBoy's translations of 1-3 because it's quicker and easier to understand than the NES' pseudo Shakespearean.

[@Radien]

Thanks, that was very helpful!! I'm not sure how keen I am on playing the entire series 1-11, so it's a good thing that I already played 2-4 long ago. (I've absorbed so much about DQ1 over the years that I doubt I need to play it.) Anyway, this will definitely help me get back into Dragon Quest, especially knowing what I'm working towards (the definitive DQ11 on Switch, of course!)

[@sackchief]

Glad it was helpful!

[@yarh79]

My favorites are DQV and DQXI. DQV is amazing I played it on almost every platform that was released because I loved it so much, and I can't wait for DQXIS!!

[@darkmatter7668]

My grandmother bought me Dragon Warrior I back in 1989 because it was the cheapest NES game in our local store 😂. First RPG I ever played. Just picked up DQ XI a few weeks ago and am thrilled to see the spirit of the game hasn't changed!

[@sackchief]

Glad you have good memories of it

[@MegaTomPlays]

Been a long time fan of this series! 3 and 5 are my favorites

[@sackchief]

Good choices

[@InstrumentManiac]

This was insanely helpful to watch thank you! I've always wanted to get into the series but never knew where to start (besides 1 obviously lol)

[@mitchfinn6690]

I played DQ3 for the first time on mobile. It’s pretty outdated but I really enjoyed the experience!

[@palladiamorsdeus]

Dragon Quest 4 is still one of my favorites of the series.

[@gloweyesca5339]

Thanks for the video! I've always had an interest in trying out the dragon quest series after Hero got into smash bros, and this video helped me finalise my decision along with where to start. Thank you!

[@sackchief]

Glad to help

[@gloweyesca5339]

@@sackchief :)

[@-shockwu-1698]

All i simply gotta say is thank you for this *im probably going to be one of those people who get 11s when it comes out*

[@sackchief]

Hope you like it

[@george_MF_washington]

I had a difficult time playing 11 but then I understood what type of game it was and been having fun ever since. Can’t wait to play 8 after

[@PazuChill]

I want a physical release of the first 3 games in some shape. Europe has never got that.

[@JackEGee-il9mz]

ZGoten I can’t stand playing games on mobile. It’s just something I really don’t like doing. However us Europeans don’t have a choice for the first three

[@Gil64x]

Thank you for this. I'm new to the Dragon Quest series and only played the DQ11 demo. This video was a perfect guide on where to start.

[@sackchief]

Glad it helped. 👍

[@bugsterlincapoop7900]

This is perfect timing !

[@sackchief]

I try my best.

[@bugsterlincapoop7900]

@@sackchief I already finished Dragon quest 1 2 3 now I'm ready for 11 and I love LOVE THE LORE THE WORLD BUILDING IT MAKES THE STORY RICH AND BEAUTIFUL I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE ORIGINAL 3 and now I'm playing DQ4 I hope I can get to buy the 2 3DS main series' and builders for expanding the main story of DQ 1 and 2

[@AmandaWspoon]

I played theses all out of order, mostly as I could only get my hands on a few at first as it was inbetween 8 and 9 release when I was introduced and Dragon Quest quickly became my favorite series. I played, 8, 5, 9, 4, 6, 1, 2, 3, 7, 11. Your way is the best way nowadays.

[@diegog1853]

So basically... Get a 3ds and you can play everything from 4 to 9 in their best verions. For 1 to 3 i personally enjoy the game boy versions for their portability and medal collecting in 3. But i would understand if people like the snes or mobile versions (i hate playing on mobile in general)

[@sackchief]

I’d recommend 4 on mobile

[@0tt0z]

I started with Dragon Warrior 1-4 on NES back then. Recently i began replaying them and im currently on Dragon Quest 6. Its cool that you can play the newer games in the old style which im more accustomed to. I look forward to playing them.

[@kazap6690]

I started with DQ IX and then continued with IV, V and VI. Back then I was very confused because it was completely different

[@sackchief]

Yeah, they all feel somewhat familiar at least, but every game has something different about them.

[@idk-zj4cz]

I recently finished VIII as my first Dragon Quest game. I’ll be sure to play I, II, and III before XI.

[@BarrowDev]

I've only ever played number 9 but can confirm 10/10

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

Play V.

[@SpriteDuel]

Man, I want a DQ9 Remake for the Switch so badly.

[@Unkown7able]

Thank you so much for explaining.. i just finished my DQ heroes 1 on ps4’ I like story it okay , but i found there are some heroes not belong to this series, they belong to previous one ,. Then i decided to play all of them to understand them more .. So now i play 1,2 on mobile 3 on snes pc emu i don’t have snes 4 on Ds emu as i dont have it even the game.. 5 on ps2 6 on ds 7 ps1 8 ps2 9 ds That what in my mind ,. Thanks and sorry my English is second language.. 🌹..

[@TrouserRocket]

Great video! Just what I needed after finishing XI.

[@sackchief]

Glad you like it. 👍

[@orbit-ing-u]

Thanks man! I intent to play it for the first time! I love this types of games! Just finished all FF saga

[@gclewd4989]

i personally recommend starting with DQV since it doesn't have classes, it is quite Beginner friendly(though the start can catch you off guard if you are not careful) and it has a great story to keep you invested(Not familiar with the IOS version but the ds version is great, also debora best girl dont @ me). And if you are pokemon fans, you will enjoy the monster collecting aspect of it(though 8 and 4 are great starting points too). And i recommend DQ7 as the last one since it is the longest one and it can be quite the daunting game if you have no previous experience with dragon quest already. (And yeah, the 3ds version of DQ7 is the definitive way to play it). Have a good day!

[@thefastestlink5637]

DQ 9 was my first, and i was around for the online content. sadly, i didn't get that far into the MASSIVE postgame... (heck i didn't even beat baramos lvl 1)

[@KamenRaiden]

Im glad youre giving credit to the best versions. I previously mentioned in your top ten that it would be more accurate if you gauged them based off those.

[@atomicwedgie6756]

I tried to play XI recently as I heard it was a great starting point for newcomers. I wasn’t able to get into it though, dropped it to play the first game on switch and I’m loving it so far. I think I’ll revisit XI and appreciate it more after playing some of the older titles

[@Enzed_]

That's what happened with me and ff7. I didn't quite enjoy it on my first play through so I jumped back to the first game and after finishing the older games I appreciated ff7 more.

[@jonathann.5754]

3K already? Dayum

[@sackchief]

I know right

[@jonathann.5754]

@@sackchief And this video got you 100 more in just 1 day Going strong man

[@Braydostrescuatro]

Hey Sack, love your channel. I find myself going back to rewatch your videos multiple times over while I do other stuff since they're so interesting and good Dragon Quest content is so scarce on KZbin. If it interests you, I think a timeline, theory video made by you would be very fun to watch. Keep up the good work bro

[@zdenshadowdragonbyzideodi8819]

I saw your video reviewing all Dragon Quest Games and you made it seem like Dragon Quest 1 was the worst entry in the series, so hearing that made me want to by the third game first because of how awesome it sounded. I was going to get the normal version of VIII but... i'm kind of a cheap-skate... so I was think of getting the mobile port for only $19.99!! Plus I was really siked to get that one cuz Goku's the main character.

[@sackchief]

Sounds like a good idea. DQI is still worth playing imo

[@zdenshadowdragonbyzideodi8819]

@@sackchief Yeah. I'll still try out Dragon Quest II and I after that and watch the Dragon Quest Anime???

[@JulioCezarMari]

Loved the list, gonna play 1-3

[@Swordmaster7th]

Really appreciate your opinion on this, I thought I should give this series a try. Was wondering where you would rank DQ 11 in with the other 10 as to which is the best and worst dragon quests. Would want to play the best ones.

[@sackchief]

DQXI is close to the top imo. I think it’s much better than DQVIII.

[@Swordmaster7th]

Cool! Thankyou for the reply and really like your videos dude.

[@mac9365]

@@sackchief 11 is gonna be the top with the definitive edition lets be honest here.

[@Bullminator]

I recomend sentinels of the sky. As it gives you some freedom when creating your characters. Best to get it on emulator. Only thing it lacks are character in party talk. Or you could just get Dragon quest builders 2. There is a lot of references of the older games.

[@palladiamorsdeus]

If you're in a Dragon Quest game for a character creator then you're in the wrong series...

[@erikb454]

"Dragon Quest 7 takes a long time to beat" Understatement of last year ;) Very fun game, but I had no clue what I was getting myself into.

[@meitnerium2483]

I think I will get dragon quest XI S first. Will be a great introduction I think

[@AlexRN]

Meitnerium it definitely is, my friend. Don’t let some insane hardcore fan tel you you should play the first 10 games in order, that’s bullshit and a surefire way of scaring off potential newcomers. DQ11 was my first one and since then I’ve checked out earlier games but not even now could I sit through a 33 year old JRPG like DQ1.

[@Moonlight7starz]

thank you from france for this DQ guide.

[@Zephyrs009]

Got An ad for the best Dragon Quest game to start with; *Dragon Quest Builders 2*

[@MunitionsDudTester]

Pro-tip: There's guides on how to play X as a non-Japanese speaker, and you also have a free trial that includes all of the base game plus some of the first expansion for free before ever needing to subscribe. The game is only around $39 USD and the sub is only about $8 or $9 a month.