From Square Enix comes the long-awaited ‘Dragon Quest III 2D-HD Remake’, and they have knocked it out of the park. This game keeps everything we love about the original. Still, it makes it fresh, beautiful, and way more accessible for new and old players. Whether you’re a long-time Dragon Quest fan or totally new to the series, this is one remake you won’t want to miss.

For an older RPG, Dragon Quest III actually has a pretty deep story. It’s the classic “young hero goes on a big adventure to save the world” setup, but it dives into themes of legacy, courage, and self-discovery. As you go from town to town, helping people, fighting bad guys, and uncovering secrets, you get this real sense of growth and purpose.

The gameplay keeps that old-school, turn-based combat that fans of classic RPGs love, but it’s been polished to feel smoother and faster. Battles are simple but satisfying, and the new controls and menus are way more intuitive, so you’re not spending ages cycling through lists or figuring out what to do. It keeps all the strategies that make RPG combat fun without outdated clunkiness.

A big part of what makes Dragon Quest III so special is the job system. You can switch your character jobs (like Warrior, Mage, or Thief) to mix and match different skills and abilities. You can go full-on spellcaster with a bunch of Mages or balance things out with a Fighter and a Healer. This remake makes it super easy to experiment with different jobs and setups, so the combat never gets old.

Inventory management and saving are much easier with the introduction of autosaving. No more losing progress after getting ambushed by a surprise boss or accidentally turning the game off. It’s like all the best parts of a classic RPG but without the hassle.

There has been a ton of small but meaningful updates to make Dragon Quest III 2D-HD feel modern without taking away any of its retro charm. The map system and quest hints are a huge help, letting you find your way without having to memorize every little detail of the massive map. There’s some bonus content that wasn’t in the original, so even O.G. players of Dragon Quest III will have new stuff to discover.

Another big improvement is the pacing – no more endless grinding just to level up or find the right gear. You’re still in for a challenge, but the game moves along faster, making the adventure feel more exciting without losing any of the old-school difficulty.

The 2D-HD art style grabs your attention. The game takes those classic pixel graphics and brings them to life with gorgeous, magical lighting and depth. Fields, towns, forests, and dungeons all look like hand-crafted scenes out of a storybook, complete with shimmering rivers, sunsets that cast real shadows, and forests that feel alive. It’s all familiar, but the visuals make it feel brand new, and every location has this cozy and fantastical vibe that makes you want to explore every corner.

The character sprites are classic but updated, so they’re still in that charming, pixelated style we love but more detailed and expressive. And everything has this amazing depth like the world is stretching out around you.

The music in this remake has been fully re-orchestrated, and it is greatly appreciated. The tunes capture every emotion; whether you’re chilling in a village, preparing for a big boss battle, or dealing with a major story moment, the music pulls you right in. Although the game relies on text and text dialogue for storytelling, combined with the new visuals, even familiar scenes feel bigger, more emotional, and, honestly, more meaningful.

The Dragon Quest III 2D-HD Remake is one of those rare remakes that totally respects the original while still making it feel fresh. Square Enix somehow managed to keep the heart of the game while upgrading it in all the right ways.

If you love RPGs, this game is a must. It’s full of charm, adventure, and enough heart-warming moments to remind you why we all fell in love with these types of games in the first place. It’s classic Dragon Quest but as you’ve never seen it before.

Written by: Emily France