# What is the best Dragon Quest game of all time?

> Spanning nearly four decades and every major platform, these RPGs range from groundbreaking 8-bit originals to sweeping HD epics. Which era of Dragon Quest captured your heart?

*By YPB Team · Published May 10, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-dragon-quest-game-of-all-time*

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## Current results (0 votes)

1. **Dragon Quest I**
   The 1986 NES original that single-handedly popularized the JRPG genre in Japan, featuring a lone hero on a quest to defeat the Dragonlord.
2. **Dragon Quest II**
   The 1987 sequel introduced a party system and a larger world, following three descendants of the original hero.
3. **Dragon Quest III**
   Widely considered a masterpiece, this 1988 epic introduced the job system and the day-and-night cycle that defined the series for decades.
4. **Dragon Quest IV**
   The 1990 NES title told its story across five distinct chapters, each following different characters who eventually unite for a final showdown.
5. **Dragon Quest V**
   An emotionally resonant 1992 SNES saga following a hero from childhood to fatherhood, featuring the beloved monster-recruiting mechanic.
6. **Dragon Quest VI**
   A 1995 SNES entry exploring parallel dreamworlds and a flexible vocation system that lets characters master multiple job classes.
7. **Dragon Quest VIII**
   The beloved 2004 PS2 entry brought the series to full 3D with stunning cel-shaded visuals, a charming cast, and a deep alchemy crafting system.
8. **Dragon Quest IX**
   A 2009 DS hit with robust character customization, a Vocation system, and co-op multiplayer that made it a worldwide sensation.
9. **Dragon Quest X Online**
   A 2012 massively multiplayer RPG that expanded the Dragon Quest world into a persistent online realm, beloved in Japan.
10. **Dragon Quest XI**
   The critically acclaimed 2017 modern masterpiece that combined everything the series does best with gorgeous HD visuals and an epic story spanning two timelines.
11. **Dragon Quest Builders**
   A 2016 creative spin-off blending Dragon Quest lore with Minecraft-style building mechanics in an alternate-history world where the Dragonlord won.

Tags: games, japan, rpg, dragon quest, jrpg