During the Nintendo Direct, Square Enix revealed another teaser trailer for Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake. This remake recreates the franchise's first two games using the HD-2D engine, bringing new gameplay changes and additional content and completing the story of the Erdrick trilogy. Despite their numbering, the already released Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a prequel that kicks off the legend of the hero Erdrick, while the other two games serve as direct sequels.
There's no specific release date for Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, which is slated for 2025. The teaser briefly shows the hero of Dragon Quest I exploring the overworld, but no gameplay images were revealed. Fans familiar with the original know that the first game only had a single playable character throughout the entire adventure, so it remains to be seen if the remake will stick to that system. Meanwhile, Dragon Quest II HD-2D Remake originally featured a three-member party, each with their own specialty, but the video shows a fourth character joining the lineup.
The three Dragon Quest remakes are part of Square Enix's ongoing initiative to bring classic games to modern consoles. The developer has already done this with Live A Live, revamping the SNES RPG with the HD-2D visual style pioneered in Octopath Traveler. The company's lineup also includes several other remasters from various series, such as SaGa Frontier Remastered, Legend of Mana, and Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster. As for new releases, few projects have been announced since Square Enix restructured its launch strategy. We've only had a glimpse of Dragon Quest XII: Flames of Fate and a nearly 3-year-old Kingdom Hearts IV trailer.
Aside from remasters and remakes in recent years, the company released Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which cemented itself as one of the best games of 2024, earning numerous awards at the TGA and other major events. In 2023, Square launched Final Fantasy XVI, which, despite dividing the fanbase and still being under scrutiny due to its sales numbers, was also a critical success. But outside of these titles, the past few years have been harsh on the developer, with multiple flops, studio sales, and internal restructuring affecting its operations.
For classic JRPG fans, there's always hope that another remake is on the horizon. If you're a Dragon Quest fan or looking to dive into the series, there's no better way to start from the beginning. To save some cash, keep an eye on our comparator for the cheapest deals on Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake and grab the duology before it launches later this year for all consoles and PC.