Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Becomes Japan’s Best-Selling Game Of 2024

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Becomes Japan's Best-Selling Game Of 2024

Key Takeaways

  • Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is Japan’s best-selling game in 2024, with 821,770 copies sold across Switch and PS5.
  • Erdrick’s success over FF7 Rebirth can be attributed to multiplatform availability, particularly on the Nintendo Switch.
  • The game’s success may lead to more HD-2D remasters from Square Enix.

As a long-time fan of RPGs, and more specifically of the Dragon Quest series, I am absolutely thrilled to see the phenomenal success of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D. Having grown up with the original game in Japan, I can attest to its cultural impact and the sheer joy it brought to countless players.


In just a week after hitting the shelves, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D has claimed the title of Japan’s top-selling video game, with approximately one million enthusiasts now owning it.

In the Western world, Dragon Quest is considered a specialized series, but in Japan, it’s a major moneymaker. It has become a significant part of Japanese culture, and new installments are often released close to weekends to discourage employees from taking sick days.

2024 is nearing its end, and throughout the year, some major releases have been unveiled. However, in Japan, a remake of a 1988 game has emerged as the top-selling game of the year. As per Genki_JPN on Twitter/X, the game managed to sell 821,770 copies on both Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 platforms.

Most of these sales took place on the Nintendo Switch, amounting to 641,195 units sold. Given the Dragon Quest series’ extensive legacy on Nintendo consoles, this outcome seems fitting.

How Dragon Quest 3’s Remake Beat Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Becomes Japan's Best-Selling Game Of 2024

It’s quite surprising how Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D managed to outperform Final Fantasy 7 Remake in sales, given that the latter comes from such a massive franchise.

It’s because Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which continues the story, is exclusively available on the PlayStation 5 at the moment, making it harder for Erdrick (who might be using a different platform) to play against Cloud.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is available on the Nintendo Switch as well. This console ranks among the top three best-selling systems globally and boasts a vast, engaged user base, particularly in Japan.

It would be great if the success of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D demonstrates to Square Enix the importance of investing significantly in multiplatform approaches in the future.

Hopefully, Square Enix recognizes that the success of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D indicates a strong demand for more high-definition 2D remastered games.

It’s been verified that Square Enix plans to release remakes of the initial two Dragon Quest titles. Here’s hoping that they’ll eventually rework games 4 through 6 as well.

As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but express my excitement for potential HD-2D remasters by Square Enix! Titles like the original six Final Fantasy games, Chrono Trigger, and Final Fantasy Tactics are timeless classics that could truly shine in high definition.

At the close of 2024, if Erdrick’s sales surge significantly, it might trigger a resurgence of classic games that have been reimagined, largely due to the strong influence of the Dragon Quest brand.

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2024-11-21 19:08