Best Dragon Quest Prequels, Ranked

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As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that delving into the world of Dragon Quest has been nothing short of a nostalgic journey through time itself. The series, with its rich lore and engaging gameplay, has always held a special place in my heart, and exploring its prequels has only served to deepen that connection.

The “Dragon Quest” franchise, now nearly forty years old, is an impressive feat for any video game series. Originating as a basic Role-Playing Game on the NES, it swiftly gained popularity in Japan. One of its distinctive traits lies in the humorous names given to its monsters, which are also visually appealing.

Here’s one way to rephrase that paragraph: It’s straightforward to understand. A fascinating fact is that numerous prequels and mainline games make up the series. With caution regarding potential spoilers, let’s explore the most compelling ones and their connections to other entries. Will the recently released remake, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D, be among them? Let’s delve deeper to discover whether it belongs on this list or not, taking care to avoid any spoilers along the way.

7. Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart

A Forgotten Prequel From Japan

  • Developer: Tose
  • Publisher: Enix
  • Release Date: March 29, 2003
  • Platform: GBA

The game titled “Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart” was exclusively launched in Japan for Game Boy Advance (GBA). However, enthusiasts have managed to modify it, allowing those interested a glimpse into the precursor of “Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past”. The game revolves around one of its main characters, Prince Kiefer, who accidentally ends up in the realm of “Dragon Quest 2: Luminaries of the Legendary Line”, known as Torland. Joining a fresh team, he ventures across the world capturing monsters to battle on his behalf. This style of gameplay is typical in most spinoff games from the “Dragon Quest Monster” series.

6. Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry’s Wonderland 3D

A Remake And A Prequel All In One

  • Developer: Tose
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Release Date: May 31, 2012
  • Platform: 3DS

In Japan, there’s another forgotten gem waiting – it’s titled “Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry’s Wonderland 3D”. This is essentially a modern-day reincarnation of the original “Dragon Quest Monsters” game that was initially launched on the Game Boy Color. The plot takes place before the events of “Dragon Quest 6: Realms of Revelation”, focusing on characters Terry and Milly, who are depicted as much younger versions in this 3DS edition, having starred in the original story.

Once more, individuals will take on the role of Terry, venturing to gather creatures for combat, similar to a Pokemon-style game. At present, fan translations have made limited progress with this title, and few 3DS games share this feature. However, there’s always hope that Square Enix may reintroduce it again in the future.

5. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince

In The Role Of A Villain

In summary, “Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince” stands out among prequels due to its focus on the antagonist character, Psaro, who appeared in the main game “Dragon Quest 4: Chapters of the Chosen“. Unlike previous monster-catching games, this title is accessible in North America and has only recently been released. Notably, it offers a vast open world to explore on the Nintendo Switch. Moreover, it effectively delves into the backstory of Psaro, providing insight into why he became the villain we know, adding depth to his character.

4. Dragon Quest: Young Yangus And The Mystery Dungeon

A Thieving Roguelike

  • Developer: Cavia
  • Publisher: Square Enix
  • Release Date: April 20, 2006
  • Platform: PS2

The final game on the list that was exclusive to Japan is titled “Dragon Quest: Young Yangus and the Mystery Dungeon“. This game serves as a prequel to “Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King“, featuring one of its main playable characters, Yangus. In this prequel, Yangus is depicted as a young thief embarking on his initial trade endeavors. The series, known as “Mystery Dungeon“, has expanded to include various other characters from the “Dragon Quest” universe, as well as characters from games like “Final Fantasy” and “Pokemon“. As a roguelike game, “Dragon Quest: Young Yangus and the Mystery Dungeon” offers an adventure heavy on dungeons with significant elements of risk-reward in its gameplay.

3. Dragon Quest Treasures

A Brotherly Dungeon Crawler

The game Dragon Quest Treasures features a younger incarnation of a character from one of the main series. This character is Erik, who hails from Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age. In that game, Erik discusses his sister Mia being cursed. The prequel allows players to witness Mia and Erik growing together, with the option to play as either character at certain points. Similar to the Dragon Quest Monster spin-offs, monsters with both mobility and offensive skills can be recruited in this game to aid in combat. However, unlike those games, this title is an action game, filled with numerous dungeons and treasures to gather.

2. Dragon Quest 3: The Seeds Of Salvation

The Original Prequel And Start Of Vocations

In “Dragon Quest 3: The Seeds of Salvation,” we find ourselves venturing into the series’ past, marking it as the initial prequel installment. This game takes us to the very beginning of the timeline following the events of the first two games. A significant milestone indeed! Another groundbreaking feature is the introduction of a system called Vocations, which allows players to choose their character’s class or profession.

As a dedicated gamer, I’m thrilled to dive into the enhanced world of Dragon Quest 3 with its stunning HD-2D Remake! The latest iteration brings numerous improvements for a smoother gaming experience. And here’s a heads up from Square Enix: Get ready for the time-traveling adventure of Dragon Quest 1 & 2, also in the captivating HD-2D style, coming soon!

1. Dragon Quest 11: Echoes Of An Elusive Age

Taking Things Back To Ground Zero

In Dragon Quest 11, it’s unveiled that the game serves as an unexpected prequel, but this revelation only comes about if players reach the true ending. If they do, they get to witness a scene of a woman reading her child a tale about the Luminaries, which is the title given to the protagonist in the game. This sets up events for Dragon Quest 3 and subtly hints that Dragon Quest 11 now takes the position as the first game in the chronology. It could also imply a time loop or an alternate timeline emerging, since time is crucial in the climactic scene of the game. Regardless, it was a delightful Easter egg for fans to ponder whether they consider it a legitimate prequel within the series’ canon or not.

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2024-12-04 15:34