Remaking a piece of gaming history is always a delicate task, especially when those games played a significant role in establishing what their genre could become. Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake is Square Enix's latest attempt at doing exactly that, as it revisits the origins of one of the most influential RPG franchises in gaming history. Dragon Quest 1 and 2 are foundational titles that helped define the role-playing genre as it is known today, and they have now been reintroduced with Square Enix's signature HD-2D art style. However, rather than merely arriving with a new coat of paint, Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake is a complete reimagining of the classics in a way that aims to appeal to modern audiences while still honoring their legacy.
Both Dragon Quest 1 and 2 have been either remade or re-released more than a handful of times since they first launched in 1986 and 1987, respectively, but never have they looked, sounded, and played as well as they do in their HD-2D remake state. However, after spending roughly 40 hours across both games in Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake, what I've found on the other side of those hours is an experience that feels like it might appeal more to veterans who want a fresh playthrough than those who have never played either title.
Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake Delivers Stunning Presentation and Stronger Storytelling
As implied by its status as an HD-2D remake, Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake's presentation and art direction is one of its strongest features. Using Square Enix's signature HD-2D engine, first introduced with Octopath Traveler, Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake is a gorgeous game with the best visuals either of the original games have ever received in a remake or re-release. The colors are vibrant and crisp, the environments are incredibly detailed and breathtaking, and the pixelated character models have more personality and distinct characteristics than the series has ever given them.
These details are most noticeable in Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake's world design, which can truly be taken in while players are exploring each game's overworld. The original games offered a basic sense of travel from one town to the next, but the HD-2D remake turns the overworld into something that feels alive. Villages glow with warm lantern light, rivers glisten under the sun, and forests and ruins finally feel like dramatic destinations rather than simple map tiles. Traveling from place to place carries a stronger feeling of discovery thanks to the new environmental detail, and it helps both games deliver a more fulfilling sense of adventure in the end.
Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake's visuals aren't the only thing contributing to its strong presentation either, as each game's fully orchestrated soundtrack is right up there with some of the best modern RPGs. Apart from the music, both games feature classic audio bits for a wide variety of combat and exploration actions — like attacking or traveling to another area — thereby preserving some of their most nostalgic traits. That mixture of classic and modern audio elements really acts as an effective bridge between each game's past and present. Perhaps the only caveat to the remake's audio is how short each musical number is, which results in them becoming repetitive rather quickly as they continuously loop.
Speaking of audio, Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake marks the first time the games have featured voice acting, and though it doesn't happen all that often, it's very well executed. Just as similar games like Octopath Traveler have done, Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake features voice acting only at pivotal story moments. Those moments can feel few and far between, but they nonetheless help bring the main story to life in a way that feels modern and more immersive than ever.
The main drive of each game's story is preserved in Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake, but Square Enix has certainly taken its liberties with this one. The original Dragon Quest's story, for example, was lean by today's standards — you are the lone hero, you set out, you fight the Dragonlord, end of story. In the HD-2D remake, the narrative has been expanded with new allies, greater world context, and additional cut-scenes that make for a more emotional and fulfilling arc by the end of it. And considering how anemic the original Dragon Quest 2's story is, the remake does it quite a bit of justice as well.
While that makes the journey feel deeper and more cinematic, it also means the experience isn't quite the same as what veteran players remember. If you go in expecting a perfect recreation, you'll find something new; if you go in expecting only the old story, you might miss how the new additions help revitalize the original experience. By and large, it should still feel like the Dragon Quest 1 and 2 experience players remember, but with a fresh coat of paint, new characters and encounters, and a more modern approach to storytelling. If nothing else, it does a great job of finally tying the narrative of the first two Dragon Quest games to Dragon Quest 3 for a more cohesive arc altogether.
Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake Shows Its Age in Gameplay
On the gameplay side, Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake is ironically a bit of a different story. As a longtime fan of classic JRPG turn-based battles, and one who can still both stomach and enjoy it today, Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake's combat didn't impress me very much at all. For starters, battles are, by default, painfully slow. Fortunately, the remake has a wide variety of accessibility options that can help modernize the gameplay experience, but this ultimately saw me bumping up both the text and battle speed to Ultra Fast.
However, even speeding up combat didn't help its repetitive nature, especially when playing Dragon Quest 2. Dragon Quest 1 was challenging enough that I had to plan my next moves carefully, but since Dragon Quest 2 introduces full party mechanics, all I needed to do was perform a simple Attack and the other party members would handle the rest with ease. There is an option to control the other party members by changing their Tactics to "Follow Orders," but it's a hard change to justify when it's so easy to win by default.
This can make traveling through Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake's overworld feel like a chore at times, especially considering encounters occur every 5–6 seconds on average without the use of items to discourage them. The remake does introduce some new combat mechanics like Sigils and Scrolls, but they are so unnecessary most of the time that their existence doesn't really add much to the experience. In the end, this means succeeding in battles in Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake mostly comes down to the gear players have equipped — although, again, Dragon Quest 1 is a bit more exciting on the combat side, but only just a bit.
Grinding is still very much a thing in Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake, as it's very easy to encounter foes who are far too powerful if players attempt to streamline the story. That being said, the Dragon Quest 2 remake grants players Elevating Shoes near the start of the game, which offer bonus experience when equipped. In the Dragon Quest 1 remake, though, players can expect to spend plenty of time wandering around the overworld defeating foes if they want to tackle the rest of the game successfully.
It is important to note that Square Enix's decision to keep the combat in Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake simple isn't an inherently bad design choice. Many players who prefer traditional JRPG combat might actually still enjoy the remake's willingness to preserve its roots in that respect, and since tradition has always been a major part of the Dragon Quest series' identity, it could be argued that the remake's approach to combat is better for it. It's largely the fans of modern RPGs that might find its combat to be slow, shallow, and repetitive.
All of that said, there is a clear overall gameplay winner between Dragon Quest 1 and 2 in the remake, with Dragon Quest 2 taking home the trophy. Dragon Quest 1, while its story has been improved in the remake and its combat is more challenging than its successor's, still pales in comparison to Dragon Quest 2. The original Dragon Quest 2 has long been regarded as a stronger game than its predecessor, and it seems Square Enix agrees with that sentiment, as its remake appears to have received more attention from its developer than the first game.
Even before it was remade, Dragon Quest 2 introduced several major gameplay upgrades from its predecessor, like a party system, a wider world map, better exploration, and more content overall. Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake retains that much for the second game but even expands on it with a fourth party member, an entirely new beautiful underwater region to explore, and the franchise staple "Mini Medals" system. Plus, with the remake's presentation being as good as it is, Dragon Quest 2's superior narrative to the first game shines all the brighter.
I can't help but feel that the remake for Dragon Quest 1 might have benefited from some bigger changes and additions like those given to its sequel, because Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake otherwise feels more worth getting for the second game, not the first. In fact, even with the improved presentation and more challenging combat, Dragon Quest 1's HD-2D remake can feel like a slog to get through. Add to that each game's preservation of the original titles' archaic English, and even the dialogue can feel like it requires too much work to follow. All of that inadvertently plays into whether the $60 price tag on the remake bundle is worth it to some players as well.
The quality-of-life improvements introduced in Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake (which were also implemented in the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake) do help the overall experience in the long run, as I couldn't imagine playing through each game without them. Map markers, objective indicators, improved UI options and battle settings, as well as a host of other customization choices really make Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake an easier classic to get through, but with all of that being entirely up to the player, the remake still leans heavily on outdated design that can feel slow and tedious if those options aren't adjusted from the start.
Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake Is a Classic Experience Made for Fans
Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake is a respectful return to two foundational RPGs that still have value today, even if they don't age so gracefully in every area. The visual overhaul is excellent, the story additions work far better than expected, and the world feels more alive than it ever has. However, the shallow, slow, and repetitive combat, frequent encounters, and grind-heavy pacing hold it back from being as inviting as it could be for new players. Longtime fans will appreciate how faithfully these classics have been recreated, but anyone looking for a modernized experience may find that Dragon Quest 2 carries most of the weight while Dragon Quest 1 struggles to justify itself beyond nostalgia.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- October 30, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Artdink
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Gorgeous HD-2D visual overhaul
- Stronger storytelling with new scenes
- Nostalgic charm preserved faithfully
- Dragon Quest 2 greatly improved
- Combat is shallow and repetitive
- Dragon Quest 1 still feels dated
Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D Remake launches on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on October 30, 2025. The Best War Games was provided a PC code for the purposes of this review.